Except for the undeniable excitement of the home-run, every dimension of the true game is sorely absent. The Triple Play series has always lagged behind the rest of the EA Sports line in terms of visual appeal, and this latest game is no different. While the 3D-accelerated graphics aren't specifically bad, they are awfully plain. Stadiums have been stamped by some sort of digital cookie cutter.
Even the most historical ballparks in the grand old game appear like the latest creations. The character of Wrigley and Fenway is exactly the same as a good-looking update like The Ballpark at Arlington and abominations like the Metrodome and Olympic Stadium.
And that's just not right. Animations are quite good, though, with players taking fairly realistic cuts and moving in a lifelike manner on the field. Yet, once again, this is damaged by the speeds at which events take place. I find it tough not to laugh at the way Shawn Green throws lasers to the plate and Derek Jeter spins like Nadia Comaneci whenever he turns two.
They're doing the right things, but at velocities that only those with the chemical composition of a Ben Johnson can even approach. It's more slapstick than sporting event. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the comet-like tail that the ball trails. Thankfully, this can be switched off.
One major problem I've experienced with the graphics is a dark shadow surrounding the backstop all the way to the edge of the home plate.
This occurs in domed stadiums and during cloudy daytime games; night games are unaffected. I'm assuming that this is a TNT-related bug, but this might be a design feature gone awry. The shadow seems too perfect for it to be some sort of programming error. It's probably supposed to be there -- just not so impenetrable. Olympic Stadium and Fenway Park: Can you tell beauty from the beast here? In a similar vein, the quality of the audio is excellent. What's there, however, is very questionable.
Every movement on the field is accompanied by an overblown special effect more appropriate to an episode of Xena. The ball makes a loud 'whooosh' as it travels through the air.
Gloves smack like gunfire with every catch, no matter how routine. Home runs and long, loud outs literally explode off the bat. None of these added touches can be switched off. So if you don't appreciate a baseball game with all the subtlety of Lucy Lawless beating the hell out of a bunch of barbarians, Triple Play is definitely not for you.
Jim Hughson and Buck Martinez are back for the play-by-play and color duties. They handle things well, although there's little difference between what they were saying two years ago and what they're blabbing on about now. Jim still boldly states the obvious "That's another ball! And they're still shilling for Lobster Cola. As someone who's been a member of the "I Hate Hughson" fan club for a decade now, I wasted no time in shutting the two off.
If you haven't been exposed to the exquisite pain that is a Jim Hughson-helmed hockey broadcast in which he typically says "That's hockey! After spending far too many minutes with Triple Play , I'm left with the same question that haunted me for days after removing Triple Play 99 from my hard drive: Who was this game designed for?
Baseball purists won't go near the title. Less than five minutes with gamepad in hand will send them scurrying for the uninstall command and the safety of the latest Baseball Weekly.
Casual baseball fans who want some semblance of reality will likely be turned off by the football-like final scores and ridiculous audio effects. So what does that leave?
The only answer I can come up with here is people who hate baseball. Those who think that the sport is too slow and dull to watch or participate in. But why would someone who can't stomach the real game bother with its computer counterpart? It makes no sense why a company would bother with the Major League license if they're not intending to create a true baseball game.
Another new feature is the Defensive Point of View that takes the camera down to field level. This gives the player the experience of fielding pop flies and reacting to screaming line drives! The folks at EA have done a good job translating the feel of a real baseball game into this video game version.
The announcers, Buck Martinez and Jim Hughson, sound like real commentators and add to the game flow. They comment on the game, do an occasional gag product plug, and give situational information on batters, pitchers, and plays. Controls are a strong point with most EA Sports games and this one is no different. Players can dive for balls, have a burst of speed, climb the outfield fence, and reach over the stands, into the crowd, to snag a foul ball.
You can control everything or change the settings so the computer controls certain aspects. There are the usual game modes: a home run hitting contest, a legends homerun, full or modified length season play, playoffs, and world series action. This is a realistic baseball simulation -- the actions and movements of players look good, very lifelike.
The graphics are clear and run smoothly. The players' heads have the correct faces plastered on the front. The swings, batting stances, and pitching styles are modeled off certain superstar players, so they definitely look realistic. The stadiums look good and besides the four new ones added this year there are also three "extreme" stadiums: Construction Site, Castle, and Living Room. As for the audio, all of the sounds of baseball are in the game.
The crowd will razz the players and even get together for chants! After striking out or a close play at the plate, players will be shown arguing with the umpires. These small touches help to recreate the baseball game experience.
There are always pluses and minuses with buying a "franchise" or sequeled sports game that has been around as long as Triple Play. Besides the basic control, the pitcher can perform other functions like pitchouts and pickoffs while dives, jumps, and even wall climbing can be done by the infielders.
Although the batting is probably too easy as homeruns are repeatedly hit, the rest of the control structure works well and functions better than other games available.
The graphics are a mixed bag as some of the best looking stadiums, even giving a sense of their size, are in represented but the players don't have the same quality. Player recognition requires some imagination and the body structures appear slightly out of proportion.
Especially when batting, the player's shoulders are either to small or their heads are too big. Whatever it is, it doesn't look right and on top of that, the player's faces aren't near to the quality of some of Triple Play 's competitors. This is one area where they're about to fall behind the curve and will start to lose customers if it isn't improved by the next release. Although most of the audio is average, one part that was improved over last year is the commentating.
In addition to the new recruits, the play calling and commentary have also noticeably improved as Bob Costas brings to Triple Play what has kept him at NBC so long. Besides that, the rest of the effects are at least average with some successfully thrown in to bring the baseball experience home, like vendors heard selling popcorn in the stands. Triple Play offers a decent game with solid a control structure but falls short in a number of key areas.
With other games offering more modes of play, better graphics, and more in-depth gameplay, those that do their homework before buying will think twice when its compared to the rest of the market.
Triple Play does present a well designed game compared to what was released two years ago, but unless you are a die hard EA Sports fan you may want to look at the other baseball games on the market first.
Some baseball games try to impress with mountains of stats, every conceivable option, and details most could give a crap about. On the other side, EA's Triple Play shoots for a flashy presentation and friendly, arcade playability.
It's worked so far, so why mess with a good thing? The graphics in Triple Play are what set it apart from other baseball titles. Batting visuals are the best in the business. You can see very distinct and very smooth swing types that look like the real thing. The stadiums are beautifully rendered and very detailed. Umpires make realistic gestures and occasionally a player and the umpire will argue over calls, particularly at first base.
The only real complaint I have about the graphics is the way that running animations are depicted. Outfielders chasing down a ball do not look very much like players I've seen do this in real life.
It looks as if the Madden running graphics were used as the model for how baseball players run, because they appear like lumbering football players chasing fly balls. The ball tail exists in full force in Triple Play , but somehow it seems appropriate in this game. Throws will have the tail and hits will even sport different color tails depending on the power of the contact. The arcade nature of the graphics shows up in full force whenever a run is scored or a home run is hit, thanks to big, pop-up letters.
Jim Hughson and Buck Martinez are back to deliver a very smooth description of gameplay. The field sounds have arcade-level intensity. I nearly jumped out of my chair as two players ran into each other. The crash I heard was louder than explosions in some real-time strategy games I play. Hit the ball with any power and another explosion will be heard.
Otherwise, hits sound like hits in real life. One thing EA Sports really knows how to do well is to use catchy music in their games. They even make bass fishing seem exciting in the opening video of Championship Bass. Triple Play is no exception and the intro video is excellent. If you own a Microsoft Sidewinder gamepad and are at-bat in Triple Play , you only need to know the letter "A.
Just keep pressing "A" and watch balls fly around the stadium. I use the word "ball" very loosely because the Pong tennis ball square has come out of retirement and taken residence in Triple Play And just like that wacky Pong ball would do crazy things in years past, so will your "baseball" after it makes contact with the bat in this game.
I had the following sequence occur during one game. Ball is smashed down the first base line and curves in the wrong direction. Accurate physics are optional in our fantasy baseball land. Hughson then informs me that the outfielder should have had that one and an error was charged to the right fielder. One option I forgot to mention was the option of turning off the errors in the game.
I would advise that you do this, because like Microsoft Baseball , Triple Play has way too many errors in the game. Not only are there too many errors, but there are phantom errors like the one that the right fielder received.
I've read complaints from people about Triple Play where they can't understand why EA Sports isn't fixing some statistical bugs in the game, or why the game can't perform a double switch. I just have to scratch my head and wonder if the complainers understand that this game really isn't about baseball. People complain about the lack of a real editor in Triple Play Fortunately a fan utility allows you to do what EA Sports seems unwilling to provide.
People complain that buying things in the Season Store make their players unrealistic! Pitchers are recorded as making appearances in the game when they do not make appearances and folks seem surprised by this. Triple Play isn't about baseball.
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