Features and Modes
The features list for MVP Baseball 2005 is very impressive. All 30 MLB teams are represented as well as each of their stadiums recreated in exact detail. There are also over 1,000 real players in the game as well. All of the minor league A, AA, and AAA teams and players are also included in the game. As you play the game you earn points that you can use to buy bonus stuff which is two legendary teams, 83 legendary players, fifteen classic stadiums, and over 100 old school uniforms.The list of modes is equally as large and impressive. There is an exhibition mode as well as two different franchise modes and even a manager mode. The first franchise mode is a standard dynasty mode where you can manage the rosters and play through up to 120 seasons. The other franchise mode is called owner mode and it lets you adjust prices, upgrade your stadium, and more in addition to all of the other stuff you have to do in dynasty mode. Manager mode is purely simulated and results are communicated to you through text so you don’t actually get to see any of the action. A scenario editor is also available which lets you adjust twenty different variables in order to create any possible scenario.
All of the modes available in MVP Baseball 2005 are extremely well done and there is really something for everyone. The game keeps track of a huge number of statistics and watching stats and records through 120 seasons is surprisingly interesting and satisfying. There are also injuries and suspensions and you can move players up and down through your minor league teams so there is a lot to keep track of here. Of course, the micro management and mountain of statistics is a big reason why a lot of people like baseball, so MVP Baseball 2005 is extremely close to the real thing and will keep all fans very happy.
Gameplay
Having a bunch of modes and 120 years of stats doesn’t mean much if the gameplay isn’t worthwhile, but luckily MVP 2005 features some of the most in depth gameplay and tightest controls you’ll find in a baseball game. You have an insane amount of control over every aspect of batting, pitching, baserunning, and fielding. And the best part of all this is that you have the option to turn off the things you don’t want to do. You can let the computer handle fielding and just focus on hitting and pitching and still have a great time playing the game. Even better is that there is a tuning options menu that allows you to adjust 46 different options such as AI, physics, game speed, hitting power, and much more. You can make the game as realistic or as unrealistic as you want. When you start the game it will offer as realistic of a version of baseball as possible, so simulation fans need not worry. I love the fact that you have the option to play the parts of the game you want and adjust the gameplay to be anything you want. Choice is always good and MVP 2005 lets you do whatever you want which is always a good thing.Pitching
Pitching in MVP 2005 is amazingly satisfying because you have so much control over it. Your pitcher has four or five pitches assigned to different buttons and the way you pitch is you press and hold a button in order to set the strength and effectiveness on a little meter. When it is in the red zone, you release the button and the meter will go back down the meter towards yellow and green zones where you have to press the button again to set the accuracy of the pitch. Before the pitch you can also adjust where the ball is going to go, of course. What all of this does is give you a ton of different types of pitches to throw with a lot of different results. As you play through a game your pitcher’s stamina will decrease and it will be harder to throw good pitches which is realistic. Another thing that makes the game realistic is the fact that you don’t have to throw perfect pitches to be successful. It is all about making the batter think one thing and then doing another and MVP 2005 recreates that perfectly.
