From the Manufacturer

Not enhanced, not adjusted, not tweaked, and not updated. Major League Baseball 2K5 is all new and sets the standard for baseball video games. Dominate the diamond with innovative pitching and batting controls, all-new Maximum Fielding and On Command baserunning featuring active picture-in-picture display, quick select controls, and a plethora of slide options. Indulge in the true MLB atmosphere as a brand-new graphics engine brings stadiums, player models, animations, weather effects, and cut-scenes to life in breathtaking detail. With an exclusive ESPN presentation system featuring expert commentary from Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, and Karl Ravech in-studio, Major League Baseball 2K5 is your ticket to the Big Leagues.

Features:

• On Command Baserunning: own the basepaths by taking complete control of any baserunner with active picture-in-picture baserunning and utilize Maximum Sliding to hit the dirt utilizing multiple slide types with the flip of your right analog stick.
• Maximum Fielding: intuitive right analog stick controls make big defensive plays a reality with all new diving catches, sliding catches, wall climbs, robbed homers, and bang-bang double plays.
• K Zone: on the mound, K Zone Pitching flawlessly captures the true essence of baseball with unmatched control over pitch accuracy and pitch velocity, while a new batting interface allows for control of swing location and swing type.
• Best Franchise in the Business: dive into the nuts and bolts of franchise management as you scout and track minor-league talent, take on GM Mode and even compete multi-player as the best franchise mode in the business gives you all the options you need to create a big-league powerhouse.
• Presented by ESPN: new broadcast camera angles, chase cam, GameCast Live, and commentary featuring Jon Miller and Hall of Fame legend Joe Morgan dissecting the action with Karl Ravech delivering the in-studio analysis, all in the style of "The Worldwide Leader in Sports."
• The Skybox: choose from multiple skybox layouts each with their own Hall of Fame wing, and deck them out with your favorite in-game action shots as you earn tokens to unlock classic teams, mini games, stadiums, and more.
• Your Game, Your Music: just as the players select the songs that play as they stride to the plate, now you can customize the sounds of the game with your Xbox by using your own downloaded music to add some true stadium atmosphere.
• Online Leagues: the standard-setting online quality that you have come to know from the 2K series now includes online leagues and tournaments, updates of other games in progress, and an advanced messaging system and a buddy list that lets you keep in touch with your opponents at any time.

Review

After another heart-breaking season, Visual Concepts gave struggling developer Blue Shift the Steinbrenner surprise (a swift kick of the boot and phone numbers to a handful of scouts in Japan). Rather than playing the free agent game, Visual Concepts turned to its own bankroll to fill this starting role. Making like Bo Jackson, Kush Games, which has proven to be skilled in both professional hockey and college basketball, is stepping onto the diamond and adding a third sport to its impressive resumé.

Fitting right in like it had been releasing baseball games for years, Kush knew exactly what players would want. The company's approach to pitching is reminiscent of a Charlie Hough knuckleball. It's wildly inventive and loaded with twists and turns that you wouldn't expect. Through brilliantly conceived timing-based and pressure-sensitive meters, player skills are put to the test with each and every pitch. In other words, it's the perfect solution to the mechanics in MVP.

Interestingly, there's more to batting than just taking a cut. Honing in on the mind game that occurs between the pitcher and batter, you can guess where the hurler may throw the ball. I absolutely adore this element. Guess correctly and you'll get the chance to jack it out of the park. To much surprise, Major League Baseball captures the war between the batter and pitcher even better than MVP's excellent approach.

Kush has also made base running an integral part of the game. No longer limited to a tiny picture-in-picture display, players can now transition from the batter's box to the runner on base. As you take your lead, you can tell the batter to swing away, bunt, or be conservative. Another nice touch is how you have to jam on the button to make your player run faster.

Fielding is the area where this game isn't playing at an all-star level. From clunky R-stick moves to strange transition animations, it feels like you have Jose Canseco playing every position for you. This area definitely needs some work.

In the front office, GM Career does a good job of tracking the day to day business. Fictional minor league teams are now included for AA and AAA levels, but you won't have any control over them as the CPU plays the games and manages the rosters for you.

Without question, Kush did a phenomenal job in its first year on the mound. Questionable fielding holds it back from capturing the Golden Glove. MVP still holds this honor, but Major League's innovative techniques make it this year's most exciting baseball game.