MLB Slugfest: Loaded

Written by Matt Swider  on August 05, 2004

Full Review: It's the only baseball game in which hitting players doesn't consist of an affectionate ass-tap, but of a punch to the head.

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Midway hit a homerun with MLB SlugFest 2003 because it introduced an over-the-top arcade baseball game to an industry full of simulations. This resulted in the number-one selling baseball game in 2002. Midway extended its lead the next year with MLB SlugFest 2004, but fell short of bringing everyone back for a second season due to a lack of drastic improvements. MLB SlugFest: Loaded, on the other hand, has taken on the needed changes in the form of a deep franchise mode and an intense online mode. These two new modes produce the perfect baseball mismatch that appeals to most baseball diehards as well as those that dabble in the sport. SlugFest also sports an overhauled presentation, and while it doesn't look as authentic as other baseball titles in terms of graphics, it's still the only authentic arcade game in the ballpark.

For those not yet familiar with the series, there are a lot of unique elements that define the SlugFest-style of baseball and help it cream its competition. It's the only baseball game in which beaning players is more than an accident; it's a dirty habit, it's a winning strategy, and it often results in an ass-kicking on the mound. It's the only baseball game in which fastballs are thrown in excess of 120 mph and the 7^th inning stretch occurs in the 5^th inning. It's the only baseball game in which hitting players doesn't consist of an affectionate ass-tap, but rather physical attack. And, it's the only baseball game in which the batgirls are flaunted just as much as the cover athlete, Sammy Sosa.

The SlugFest series has always been about being more aggressive while keeping the game of baseball intact. Loaded balances this better than ever. Players can pick from a variety of options that bend the rules or bring things closer to the MLB handbook. While playing without the fire, turbo, trick pitches, and super jumps isn't the same and defeats the reason for owning a game like SlugFest, it's sure to keep some sim fans happy. The franchise mode will make them even happier due to its incredibly deep micromanagement. In addition to setting the batting order, pitching rotations and field positions, there's the ability to alter strategies, call up pitchers and batters, make trades, and sign free agents. This can take a toll on your team's budget and its payroll as you must manage the front office as well as the clubhouse in the course of the franchise mode.

The franchise mode is surprisingly deep for an arcade game, but exactly the shake-up this series needed in order to stay fresh. I only wish that it didn't mean the end of the tournament and challenge modes and that a playoffs, World Series, or create-a-player option would finally step up to bat. "Loaded" just seems a little light now that quickplay and franchise are its main modes. At least there's still a Home Run Derby mode that allows you to hit baseballs like an athlete on steroids. Loaded does include an online mode where head-to-head headbutting can take place between fans and where roster updates can be downloaded. Although it's a significant accomplishment, the downside is that the server is often empty and void of life. It may pick up as time goes on and more copies of the game are sold, but the mode remains a bit broken at the moment.

At least no one can claim that the controls are broken because even new players can easily break into the button scheme within a single inning. Throwing the ball to the correct base takes the most effort, but other than that it's a cinch on PS2. The Xbox version actually takes a little more practice since the controller doesn't have an extra pair of shoulder buttons, but rather the awkwardly placed black and white buttons. Reaching these buttons is more difficult when attempting to advance a runner, so it's best to stick to the PS2 version in this case.

The one advantage that the Xbox version of Loaded has is that it looks a little bit better than its PS2 counterpart. However, the difference is minimal and the graphics of both is leaps, bounds, and a super jump above the first set of SlugFest titles. It's not up to simulation standards, which go as far as featuring dirt stains on players. However, it represents the best of what we've come to expect from an arcade-over-simulation experience. Let's just hope you're more enthusiastic about it than the 2D spectators that fill the stands of each stadium.

Even though there's zero movement from the crowd, if you hit a foul ball during the course of the game, some one will let out a scream from time to time. It's always a funny reaction to get and it goes along with the other hilarious audio moments from commentators Tim Kitzrow and Jim Shorts. The two return to give us more than the average play-by-play calls, the best being Jim's comment on the Civil War, thinking everyone was saying "Silverware." It's just a shame that the lines are repeated so often in games and that there's not more commentary from Tim and Jim. I do miss the original Midway Sports menus and the opening voice saying "Welcome toЕ" that was hauled during the overhaul. Instead, there's some decent music and awful PS2 load times that take its place.

The setup for unlocking the invented teams, invented stadiums and interesting clips is open and done in an objective-like fashion. So instead of plugging in pin codes, players must hit a specific number of homeruns, hit a homerun in a certain stadium, or make a specific type of play. The clips of the commentators doing their "Left Field" call-in talk show are really funny to listen to and the teams are funny to watch play, especially the Rodeo Clowns, Bobble Heads, Scorpions, Sub-Zeros and the Montreal Expos. Oh wait, that last team was real, but who would know the difference. Just be sure to save, save, save! There doesn't seem to be an automatic save function after opening up the goodies and starting over isn't so fun.