Major League Baseball 2K8

For a game that is undoubtedly missing some key modes and options, MLB 2K8 is still an impressive first effort on Wii, and gives us all the faith in the world that next year’s installment will have what it takes to stand toe-to-toe with the other console versions. Pitching has never been easier, and we never thought we’d actually be happy to leave two men on first and second base and instead take to the field for the defensive half of an inning. IR aiming was a gigantic leap in the right direction, and the catcher AI is unparalleled in the world of virtual baseball. On the opposite side of the ball, batting works, but has a few problems with check swings and an overall lack of player involvement (swing to swing, and that’s that). The lack of online, 2K card system, and minor league teams is a huge letdown though, especially when you consider the Wii Connect 24 integration that could have allowed for live stat streaming, updated trades (Santana is still on the Twins, for example. Why?), and competitive stat tracking. The core experience is here, 2K just needs to go all-out for 2K9, as this year’s effort ends up lacking in a few key areas.