Major League Baseball 2K9 (Wii)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 5.5 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Brett Todd
• Reviewed on: 03/18/2009
• Released on: 03/03/2009
• Originally published on GameSpot: Major League Baseball 2K9 (Wii) Review

Scientists have long pondered the existence of other universes in which the physics are totally different than they are here. In these strange dimensions, up would be down, fast would be slow, and Major League Baseball 2K9 would be a realistic depiction of the national pastime. However, in our own mundane reality, 2K Sports' latest look at the grand old American game skews baseball so much that you seem to be viewing the diamond action through a fun-house mirror. Although the Nintendo Wii version of the game is superior to its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 counterparts due to the catchy, motion-sensing controls and some much-improved on-field animations, this remains a frustrating experience that never quite feels like real baseball.

Most features are identical to what they were in MLB 2K8 for the Wii, so you still have the options for single games, franchise play, playoffs, situational play, and the home-run derby, as well as matches against buddies on the couch. The Internet support offered in the 360 and PS3 versions of the game has been dropped on the Wii, as has the living-roster frill that lets owners of the other consoles automatically update their lineups based on what is taking place in the real Major Leagues. The interface has been refurbished with the addition of nested menus, so despite the wealth of options they're easy to navigate. Some items aren't where you might expect them to be, but after you spend about five minutes figuring your way around, you can navigate the interface with the Wii Remote almost as easily as if you were using a mouse.

Hitting, pitching, and fielding are carried over largely intact from last year, with Wii Remote movements and the Nunchuk handling just about everything. Taking swings is accomplished by wielding the Wii Remote like a bat, swinging it as if you were taking real cuts. Getting good wood on the ball is tough, though, because you have to time your Wii Remote swing to coincide with pitches crossing the plate and also target one of nine boxes in the strike zone by moving the Nunchuk's control stick. This is a real test of your reflexes, given that fireball hurlers such as cover boy Tim Lincecum don't give you a lot of time to figure out where a pitch is headed. The game is unforgiving when it comes to pitch location. If you predict an inside pitch, for instance, and get a ball low and away, at which point you'll either whiff or slap the ball weakly to the opposite field. As you might expect, this presents you with a pretty stiff challenge at the plate. It also presents your forearms with a repetitive motion that can be rather ache-inducing over the course of a nine-inning game.

Stepping onto the rubber has its issues as well, but for entirely different reasons. Whereas hitting is perhaps a little too difficult, pitching is far too easy. You select a pitch type and location with the Nunchuk and hold down the B button on the Wii Remote to begin a windup, then pull the Wii Remote back and flick it forward to emulate the motion of releasing the ball. That's it: instant Nolan Ryan. The only challenge comes from a collapsing red-yellow-green target that you have to hit when flicking the Wii Remote forward, and even it doesn't seem to affect your pitch too much. Even though you're supposed to time your release to keep you in the green, firing while in yellow or red rarely seems to result in a mistake in which you lob one down the pipe. Catchers also work with you, calling pitches and picking locations. They do a reasonably good job of switching up pitches and moving the ball around, too, so the end result of all of this is that you can pitch on automatic. Considering that you rarely have to worry about 450-foot consequences to a mistake, you can easily paint corners and mow down a dozen or more batters in just about every game.

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Major League Baseball 2K9 (Wii): $26.99 - $28.99

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