Ah, not since those after-school days in fourth grade have I felt so close to Little League. The small fields, the sound of aluminum on a hardball - those are good memories. And you can experience them too, whether you're still in the fourth grade or if those days are long gone, with Little League World Series Baseball 2008 from Activision. What's great about this game is that it captures the very essence of Little League. This is not a full-blown baseball simulation with complex detail and strategy. Nor is it too dumbed down and simple. It's somewhere in between, and that's what Little League is all about.
From the moment you turn on Little League 2008 you can tell that the game is all about fun. From the approachable art style to the inviting menus, the presentation is excellent - and easy to navigate through. There are numerous play modes available from the start, including Exhibition, World Series, Training, and Skill Challenges. This last mode includes such games as Home Run Derby, Horse, and even Bowling. Well, not that kind of bowling. Yes, you do knock over pins, but it's by throwing a baseball. Kind of strange, kind of intriguing, but it still adds to the overall product.
Thinking confidently, I jumped right into the World Series mode. I wasn't going to shy away from some Little League game after all. And, well, I quickly lost. This game is no push over, to say the least. It took me a few runs at the World Series mode before I was able to make any progress whatsoever. Unfortunately, however, part of the reason for this difficulty level is the gameplay. First of all, the batting mechanics are slightly awkward, and they change based on whether the batter is a righty or lefty. Add to this that you can seemingly swing on time and hit nothing but air, and you'll have a difficult time hitting. And then there's the problem that sometimes you'll perform the stylus motion to swing, and your hitter won't swing. The combination of these flaws lead to a sometimes frustrating experience.
Besides the batting though, the game is generally fun. The pitching mechanics are especially unique and interesting. They require you to quickly and precisely perform certain stylus motions based on what pitch you want to throw. And the more quickly and precisely you do this, the faster and more accurate your pitch will be. It successfully made the pitching side of the game fun, which is more than I can say for some other baseball games. Defense is taken care of automatically, except for throwing the ball to the correct base. A quick stylus stroke will instruct your player to deliver the ball to the base you choose. The problem is remembering to do this, as it is easy to be lulled to sleep by the auto-fielding.
Now, Activision, I apologize for the following, but as a baseball enthusiast, I feel obliged to point out a few shortcomings relating to the rules and mechanics of baseball. First of all, a runner should NEVER or at least VERY RARELY be thrown out at first base when he hits a ball into the outfield. It just doesn't happen in the game of baseball. Unless of course it's Oprah Winfrey running to first base. This happened numerous times in the same game, and it's just not acceptable. Secondly, when a runner scores, and the third out is then made by a tag-out (not a force play) the run COUNTS. Errors such as this might be overlooked by some players, but not those who know baseball. And I'm assuming this game is targeted towards baseball players.
In short, Little League World Series Baseball 2008 is a balancing act. It teeters on the brink of fun and frustration, just as it balances the arcade and realistic styles of baseball. But overall, it is an enjoyable game to pick up and play, especially if you're a baseball fan. Besides, who doesn't want to go back to Little League and hit a few home runs?
Review Scoring Details for Little League World Series Baseball 2008
Gameplay: 6.4
The pitching mechanics are unique and actually make the defensive side of the game interesting. That's a nice twist. Fielding is taken care of automatically, but throwing to bases can feel a bit clunky. On the offensive side of things, batting was often the most frustrating aspect of the game. I swear the ball must have been going right through my bat half the time. And I'm not a newbie when it comes to baseball games.
Graphics: 8.2
The dev team (NOW Production) has done a nice job with the presentation here, striking a perfect balance between caricature and realism. The characters are short and stubby renderings of baseball players, but in all fairness, they translate well as Little League Ball Players. Animations are a little less than fluid in some places, but overall the graphics create a fun, light-hearted atmosphere for a baseball game.
Sound: 7.0
For the most part the sound effects and music are well suited for the game. The metallic ping of Little League aluminum bats brought me back a few years to say the least. One strange - yet funny - aspect in the sound department was the crowd noise. After finally figuring out that it was indeed supposed to be crowd noise, I decided that it sounded more like a haunted house than a baseball stadium.
Difficulty: Medium
What seems as an easy game at first turns out to be quite a tricky customer. Unfortunately, part of the difficulty is due to the confusing and seemingly faulty gameplay. That said, it took multiple tries before I was able to advance deep into the World Series Mode. And I imagine the target market for this game (little leaguers) will have at least as difficult a time.
Concept: 7.5
The idea of a Little League World Series game was new to me at first. But Activision took the opportunity to create a not-so-serious, arcade-style baseball game for the younger market. It's a little less complex and perhaps a little more fun than your average run of the mill baseball game because of this.
Overall: 7.0
Little League World Series Baseball 2008 has a lot to offer in terms of depth - you'll never play the same game twice, and that keeps things fresh. There are plenty of modes to keep you interested, including Exhibition, World Series, Home Run Derby, and even a baseball-themed Bowling game. Little League World Series Baseball has its moments of greatness, but it is often plagued by gameplay issues that obscure its full potential.
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