Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the US, but translating it into a dynamic and exciting videogame is a bit of a gamble, given its rather static nature. 2K Sports brilliantly succeeds in capturing the very fragrance of baseball, without turning the entire gaming experience into a tedious one, delivering the perfect mix between arcade fun and realism. Those hoping for an 100% accurate simulator may be slightly disappointed, but otherwise The Bigs 2 is simply the best baseball game available.

Without a doubt Major League Baseball would have been far less exciting without the strong influence made by Japanese, Cuban or Dominican players, adding extra value and flavor to the best championship in the world. Granted their important contribution, playing in the MLB is every athlete's dream so it was only natural that The Bigs 2 would focus on this US/Canadian joint venture. Outside North America though, baseball is less popular so 2K Sports was bound to come up with an explicit, easy to pick up tutorial to help the newcomers getting familiar with this sport.

Fortunate enough I've been dealing with baseball for a long time now, so reviewing The Bigs 2 was a reason to rejoice, but I've got mixed feeling about the tutorial. 2K Sports did a great job in explaining the basic elements of the game, focusing on both pitching and batting mechanics as well as presenting the scoring system. On the other hand more subtle terms and notions are barely explained or even skipped entirely, making a novice's job incredibly difficult in the early stages.

You don't have to be a baseball guru to know about homeruns, strikeouts, pitchers, batters or catchers, but terms such as flyout, bunt, RBI (runs batted in) etc will puzzle many newcomers. It's only fair to say that you can progress with the campaign and win games without having any idea about many rules and notions, but occasionally you are required to complete certain challenges demanding in-depth knowledge. On the other hand it's easy to assume what double play, stealing bases or relief pitchers mean, so despite the shallow tutorial it's fairly easy to learn the game step by step.

While it is possible to play a single match against any team in MLB, most players will decide to take on their favorite club and surge through the standings during a full season, hoping to clinch a play off spot. To see the team progressing all the way to the World Series, should be particularly rewarding for those supporting the lowly Royals or Nationals, but all baseball fans will be equally delighted to lift the trophy. Besides the inherent fun, this mode provides you with countless hours of quality entertaining and breathtaking matches, given this sport's unpredictable nature.

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The highlight of The Bigs 2, remains the "Become a Legend" mode, where you are supposed to pick up a former star, now crippled by injuries and trying to regain his former status. You start playing for a small Mexican club, during your rehab and after completing a couple of minigames and defeating the local rivals you are recalled back to the majors. Since your stats are incredibly low, this player will be the weak link for most of the time and determining his place in the rotation is crucial. There's no reason to worry though, since these figures will gradually improve, allowing you to hope for the big prize: a shiny place in the Hall of Fame.

Since our struggling star is not going to be a starting pitcher for the team, he only plays a minor part in the team's success and other established players will carry you in the first stages of the campaign. Interesting enough your stats will improve not by actually playing games and scoring runs, but by completing certain mini games, more or less related to the actual sport. Granted their instructive role, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed when some of my game deciding home runs had no impact on the player. On the good side these mini games are entertaining and short enough not to become a nuisance and they provide a welcomed distraction from time to time.

The rosters of all teams include real life superstars and I was delighted to notice that 2K Sports paid a lot of attention in preserving their traits. Pitchers throw strikes exactly as you'd expect them to do after watching games on ESPN, some being proficient with the fast or curve balls while others are capable of striking out batters by using just three knuckleballs. Sluggers such as Ortiz, A-Rod or Pujols can easily hit a no-doubter home run, so it's wise to intentionally walk these guys instead of risking a devastating blow. Those hardcore baseball fans will probably complain that many established players are missing from team rosters, but overall The Bigs 2 includes just enough stars to resemble the MLB.

2K Sports did a wonderful job in recreating most of the baseball mechanics, but took both hitting and pitching to a whole different level by greatly enhancing them. Each successful strikeout, scored run or accurate catch awards special points that can be then used to boost a player for a brief period of time. Pitchers and batters alike benefit of a turbo feature, making a pitch nearly unhittable or a transforming a regular hit into a home run if the batter connects with the pitch. Earn enough points and you'll unlock super moves like Big Heat, Big Blast or Big Slam, which can easily turn into game decides if used in the appropriate manner.

Big Heat allows you to throw three turbo pitches to one batter, making him susceptible to suffer a strike out, while Big Blast turns your next hit into a home run. The Big Slam feels a bit overpowered since it presents you with the ability of loading all bases and then hit a home run, in a fast four pitch sequence. Equally impressive and unrealistic is the Legendary Catch, a move accessible only to a few players owning a legendary glove, that makes them extremely mobile and capable of reaching inaccessible balls. All these fantastic abilities hurt the game in terms of realism, but the benefits are vastly superior, turning a regular baseball match into magnificent show.

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Conclusion:

Think of The Bigs 2 as a borderline title between sports simulators and arcade games, combining the best elements from both genres to create a spectacular game, appealing to baseball fans and novices as well. Either you succeed in becoming a legend, win the World Series with your favorite team or simply score home runs in some of the most exotic locations, you'll always feel like you've got all the premises to make it big in the glamorous world or baseball.

Gameplay: 88

The Bigs 2 is really a cool game to play and those compromises made by 2K Sports by cutting down on realism to maximize the fun eventually paid off. Becoming a legend can feel a bit overwhelming from time to time, but it never gets you frustrated or annoyed, but instead increases the motivation to succeed. Choose the difficulty level carefully (because super hard mode translates as downright impossible), and you've got a good chance of spending some enjoyable hours in front of the console.

Graphics: 90

2K Sports can be really proud about what they've achieved in terms of visual effects, the resemblance between players and real life figures being uncanny, with convincing animations and facial expressions. Recreating the stadiums of all teams in MLB is equally impressive, with imposing arenas filled with lively audience creating an outstanding atmosphere.

Sounds: 87

It's impossible not to be charmed by the way the entire stadium roars when you hit a big home run or when a player manages to catch a high flying ball, or be overwhelmed by regret after an important strikeout. The commentary is very good as well, with plenty of amusing one liners, but eventually it becomes less interesting due to its repetitive nature.

Multiplayer: 88

The Bigs 2 is a game destined to be played with friends and against other skilled gamers online, so it's only natural to try this at some point. There are not many games, ranked or unranked but those willing to take the time and look for an available opponent, will be pleased to enter a new dimension of excitement.