High Heat Major League Baseball 2002

Imagine playing baseball anytime or anywhere. The crack of the bat, the whirr of a 98-mph fastball zinging past a batter, the roar of the crowd when a ball has been hit deep and the resounding umpire cry of “you’re out!” are all available for the palm of your hands.

The game is High Heat Major League Baseball 2002, a Game Boy Advance release from 3DO and Mobius. It combines stunning batting graphics with an option package to suit any baseball fan’s taste or skill level.

Bottom of the 9th and Jason Kendall is coming to the plate for the Pirates. Runners are on the corners; the score is tied with only one out. All Kendall has to do is lift a sacrifice fly deep enough to the outfield to score the runner from third and win the game.

Anxiety produces sweat in your palms. The woeful Pirates deserve this win, they fielded well and the pitching was outstanding. Quickly you stab the A key to send the opposing pitcher into his motion, then hold the up arrow on the D-pad as the pitch is delivered. It’s been grooved! Quickly you stab the B-button and Kendall steps into the pitch. He connects and the camera switches to an overview of the ballpark, the ball gets bigger as it climbs higher into the sky. The outfielder drifts back to the warning track and camps under the ball. It’s been hit deep enough! You stab and hold the up arrow again as the outfield makes the catch. The runner on third breaks for home, but the throw has no chance and the Pirates win.

Controls on this game are extremely easy to use. If you don’t want to control the fielding, the game has an option that allows you to let the fielders move automatically. You will still have to make the throw and decide which base to throw to. Pitching is a matter of selecting your pitch with the D-pad, and then set the pitch’s location with a spinning target ball. The A button delivers the pitch. The game only uses the A button, B button and D-pad.

There are a couple of different ways you can play the game. You can go nine innings in an exhibition game, or take part in a season (16, 81 or 162 games), or move right into the playoffs. You can set the innings (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) for any exhibition game, or take part in batting practice, or a home-run derby.

The batting graphics (the perspective is from about five feet behind the home plate umpire) are excellent, and the fielding graphics are simple but effective. The sound effects of this game are well done – nothing too fancy, but still solid.

Because the game is built with the backing of Major League Baseball Player’s Association, you can expect all the team, players and stadiums. The rosters are not those from the start of the year, but rather have been updated.

High Heat is an incredible and fun romp with the “boys of summer.” It contains intuitive play, and still enables game players to work batting strategies like a hit and run. You can even try to stretch that single into a double, or that moon shot to the warning track into a triple if you have a fast enough baserunner.

This program is a home run in the realm of baseball games.

Gameplay: 9
The options package gives players great control over the amount of time they wish to spend in the ballpark. Pitching setup takes some time, but the batting portion is kept simple, enabling game players to move quickly through a nine-inning game.

Graphics: 9
The fielding overview graphics may be a little simple, but the batting graphics are very well done. Set-up interface screens are also extremely nice.

Sound: 7.5
There may not be a whole lot here, but what is here really supports the video and lends itself well to the feeling of playing baseball.

Difficulty: 7.5
It can take a while to get used to swinging the bat. The pitcher is distant and goes through the entire motion before delivering the pitch. That can be distracting – as can a baserunner on second moving off as the pitcher goes into his motion. The game allows those who don’t want the hassle of running the fielder to the spot to play the ball an auto-fielding switch, but for those who want the challenge, it is available.

Concept: 8
The baseball genre is well trod when it comes to the world of games. However, credit must be given for a game that looks good and plays very well.

Multiplayer: N/A

Overall: 9
Great graphics and gameplay, and a great options package all combine to make this a pennant winner.