So far the Sega Sports franchise has given us plenty of outstanding sports titles that would make a grown man (and woman) weep with joy and it has proven it thus far with the 2K3 sports games that range from NHL hockey to NCAA basketball.  And, to top it all off, they just keep getting better each year.  The same can be said about World Series Baseball 2K3, a baseball title that comes back strong this year to claim its place at the top of this much loved genre.  

One thing gamers will surely notice is that this game isn’t big on the game modes and you surely won’t find many of the extra goodies we’re seeing so far with games like High Heat Major League Baseball 2004 or even MLB 2004.  What you will find is improvements in past game modes such as Franchise, Season, Playoffs, Exhibition and there’s even a Big League Challenge mode to see how well you stack up against other players (via a code you receive to post on the Sega Sports website).  And believe me; these improvements make a world of difference . . . enough that you’ll forget about a Home Run Derby feature.

For starters, the Franchise mode really outdoes itself this time around by continuing to pile on things we love about this mode.  The coaches, managers and scouts have more to do in this year’s game.  If you want to strengthen your team’s pitching, you can have your pitching coach spend more time with your pitchers.  Depending on the number of seasons you chose to play, scouts make more of an effort this time around to weed out great potentials and make some really great draft choices.  New to the game is the fact that a player’s loyalty to the team can diminish depending on the performance of your team as well as how much (or how little) he’s used in the given season.

The game’s controls from last year have been improved a bit as well.  Pitching remains relatively the same, which is a good thing really because the pitching interface is fun to deal with.  Yet it still manages to miss the little things you’d catch in other games such as wild pitches or bean balls.  Batting offers more options this time around by adding a power swing along with the normal contact swing.  New to the series is the drag bunt that will give you a chance to drag a bunt and hopefully catch the opposing team way off-guard to make a fast run for first base.

Out on the field, gamers will find some new features as well such as having one of your base runners increase his lead to the next base by allowing you to take each extra step you feel comfortable with.  And one of my favorite new features is the fact that you can attempt to rob a home run by having your outfielder scale the wall and press the R1 button (using the default controls) in a timely fashion.  Sure it’s not easy, but if you happen to do it at the right time it sure looks mighty sweet.

As an added bonus, the game also features some vintage player uniforms your players can wear just for the fun of it.  Los Angeles Dodger fans want to see what the Dodgers were wearing when they were still in Brooklyn; all you have to do is select it.  You can also get to play in some historical ballparks of yesteryear such as Shibe Park (Philadelphia’s ballpark from 1909 to 1970) or the Polo Grounds (New York City circa 1911)--and they even come complete with old-time advertisements.  These things definitely make this one fun baseball experience.

And, to top this all off, this is one terrific looking game.  The player models this year are as sharp as ever and highly detailed down to the uniforms that realistically fold or crease in all the right places and the facial details are really surprisingly good--check out that Shawn Green!  Animations are also plentiful in this game, especially out in the field when your players are making double plays or trying to snare some would-be home runs.  The stadiums look great too and are faithful to the real deal, although many of them lack the little details that make up the charm of each particular ballpark.

The sound in this game is also at the top of its class with the booth commentary fantastically done by Ted Robinson (play-by-play) and Rex Hudler (color commentator).  Both add a more in-depth--and occasionally wildly spontaneous--presentation with accuracy and charming wit.  There is also plenty of background noises that, if you increase the background noise in the options menu--will really allow gamers to distinctly hear everything from the musical clips coming through the PA speakers to the sharp “Yer out!” of the umpire.  This is really good stuff, trust me.

World Series Baseball 2K3 is baseball at its most purest form and sports fans everywhere will more than thoroughly enjoy this one.  While there are a few things that were left out, the level of depth this game features more than makes up for it in every way.  If you only have money for one baseball game this year, sports fans, this one is worth your hard-earned cash.

 
Gameplay: 9.2
This game just feels so right and you’ll know it the very second you pick up the controller and start playing.  Yes, this is the kind of game you can pick up and start playing--although getting use to the batting and pitching interface takes a bit of practice.  Fans of the series will also recognize the game’s new features and improvements in old ones.  Still, it’s great to be jumping on the wall to catch a home run or make different dives for the ball.  I would have loved it even more if they added some sliding, but what is showcased here is still good enough.

Graphics: 8.7
The visual improvements are clearly evident the second your players take to the field.  Aside from the ESPN style broadcast feel of the animation, the player models will do a great job of adding true realism to the game.  Face scans are done right and many of your favorites are recognizable off the bat (no pun intended), especially players like Barry Bonds or Ichiro.  Gamers will be impressed how wonderful the player’s movements are and the practically dozens of double play animations are impressive.

The stadiums are also wonderful to look at and are just like their counterpart in everything except for a few minor details here and there.  This is nothing, though, that gets in the way of enjoying the detailed graphics featured here but it would have been nice to see these little details you would normally see on television or watching a game in person.  There is still much to see here and all of it is really surprisingly detailed.  I can just imagine what this game will look like on the Xbox.

Sound: 9.0
The game’s sound really excels here with the great two-man commentary team that is veteran and favorite Ted Robinson and color commentary from Rex Hudler who normally is color man for the Anaheim Angels.  Ted does a great job of calling the plays as they happen and Rex is just something else with his often colorful remarks towards players and specific plays.  Make a boneheaded play and he’ll comment on it . . . with really hilarious results.  Also, their voices are not found constantly throughout the game or talking over the entire experience.

The background noises win the biggest points, though, and you’ll know why once you manage to individually pick out each distinct sound.  You’ll hear everything from vendors to the PA announcer making quick reminders that Thursday is T-Shirt Night.  Hecklers are also player-specific when it comes to their taunts.  For example, when Raul Mondesi comes up at bat, you’ll hear a heckler shout out “Yeah right, Raul!”

Difficulty: Medium
The game features four difficulty settings (Rookie, Pro, All-Star and Legend) that add their own unique challenge.  Playing the game on the Rookie setting, for example, will give gamers a heads up on where on the grid a pitcher will throw the ball.  The harder the challenge the better the CPU players become at making plays.   

Concept: 9.0
World Series Baseball 2K3 does lack many of the extra game modes seen in the majority of baseball titles seen in other baseball games such as High Heat or All-Star Baseball, but the game as a whole features a smooth game with some new 2K3 features.   Aside from the obvious gameplay features such as the drag bunt, this game features classic uniforms for your favorite teams (check out the Brooklyn Dodgers uniform) as well as getting the chance to play in some historic ballparks like Forbes Field (Pittsburgh circa 1909) or Crosley Field (Cincinnati circa 1912).  There are also plenty of stats to really sink your teeth into.

Multiplayer: 8.9
This is just one of those game you should really share with a friend who appreciates a truly entertaining baseball title.  There are plenty of teams to choose from to play through the two-player Exhibition mode.  This, of course, will bring me to my obvious complaint.  With most of the 2K3 games going online, why isn’t this game online enabled?  Online features would have really made up for the lack of a Home Run Derby (a mode that could have been used with multiple players if you wish like in High Heat Major League Baseball 2004).  When are they going to learn that online plus great game equals HUGE SUCCESS?

Overall: 9.0
Clearly the top of its class, World Series Baseball 2K3 manages to take everything we love about the sport as well as the fun of physically playing the game itself and compressed it all into a PS2 disc.  This is one of the most enjoyable console baseball games so far and definitely an improvement from last year’s game.  And while there is no overabundance of game modes, it’s the highly addictive action that will win gamers over.  Now everybody sing along: Take me out to the ballgame . . .