MLB 2K13 - Xbox 360 Review

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Having put in 35 innings of "work" with MLB 2K13 and time skimming through Association and MyPlayer modes there's really no reason to dig any deeper into the game. Conjecture that it would be 2K12 with a roster update and only the absolutely necessary changes like the Astros to the AL and new schedule was in fact on the mark and as it turns out generous. It's a product that on its own is certainly not 2K9 levels of bad, it's okay for those who don't care all that much about baseball or haven't played recent iterations of the series, but represents a year that was not utilized to improve it yet the price remains the same.

2K Sports has essentially insulted consumers by failing to offer anything of worth with MLB 2K13 vs 2K12 and instead marketing the Perfect Game Contest as a distraction. In past years the contest has been propped up alongside the changes but nothing accompanies it this time around. There are no distinguishing differences in the gameplay or presentation and the primary modes appear to be exactly the same. Though it has been assumed to be the case the reason why the company failed to highlight improvements in 2K13 turned out to be due to the lack of any being present. Even worse, the feature set has been reduced, as Online League functionality has been removed. That's right, Online Leagues have been stripped out.

On the plus side of things cosmetic changes have been implemented. The Astros have their new uniforms and Safeco Field has its new outfield dimensions and video screen. The correct schedule appears to be in place within Association/MyPlayer modes. Outside of those type of elements though one would be hard pressed to point out anything different from 2K12. The menus and interfaces are the same, no work has been done to the dated graphics including the jagged shadows and ugly player faces, and the player pictures are outdated even for someone like Ichrio who has been with his new team since last season. Poor Yoenis Cespedes is still stuck with his cyberface from last year. The pitcher-hitter battle remains strong but only because that was already a positive in 2K12.

There are the off-putting animation speed inconsistencies often seen in pitching and catcher throwing motions and then oddities like (see Pastapadre Youtube page for videos). Of course none of it is surprising as the same problems were seen in 2K12. The throw meter takes some getting used to again as the "green" area to hit can be tough to judge in a split-second and missing (even going soft thinking it's safe) usually results in an error.

In a full season sim within Association mode the Reds came out with the most wins (99), Jose Bautista led the league in home runs (54) followed closely by Curtis Granderson (53), Bautista won AL MVP, Aaron Hill won NL MVP, and the respective Cy Young winners were Vance Worley and Dan Haren. The AL West had all teams but the Astros over .500 and even they won 79 games. The Playoffs in the AL were comprised of the Mariners and Angels (play-in) along with the Rangers, Twins, and Rays. In the NL it was the Brewers and Diamondbacks (play-in) plus the Reds, Rockies, and Braves. The Braves would go on to win the World Series in six games over the Rays.

Commentary, what has been the strength of the series, is largely recycled. There are a few throwaway lines in about a team's performance last season or for the players who had high profile 2012 campaigns like Mike Trout or Bryce Harper, but otherwise there isn't much new. Even the Astros' move to the AL wasn't touched upon at all in the multiple contests I had them involved in with the hopes of hearing something about it.

There is also no reason to expect post-release support of any significance. If there is a patch it will have to wait until after the Perfect Game Contest period as was the case last year. MLB Today Season mode never even worked properly in 2K12 no reason to think it will here. Support was dropped around midseason for MLB Today period. Occasional roster updates could be all that's ultimately delivered post-release.

The MLB 2K series still presents decent fun factor but the swindle 2K is trying to pull by putting practically the same game on the market for a second straight year minus an important feature can't be overlooked...particularly when factoring in the $60 sticker price. Criticize any other league licensed product on the major consoles all you want but no other has ever attempted to release with zero gameplay enhancements or changes to primary modes and nothing additional for the feature set. If MLB and 2K had any thoughts of sticking together into the next generation of consoles this game should completely bury that possibility. The league should be embarrassed and 2K has shown no pride in the franchise and no ambition to continue it.

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-Update-

I originally rated this game at 3 stars which I now changed to 4 stars. Everything I say in the rest of the review applies, but the thing I realized is since the release date I have played no other game besides this. I'm truly addicted to this game. Iv played already a ton of games in my franchise mode, and to be honest I'm enjoying it. I know it's exactly the same as 2k12, but I loved 2k12. I was hoping for 2k13 to have many new additions and revamped graphics but that's not the case, so I got passed that and just started to enjoy what it is, not what it's not. It's not a great looking game, there may be bugs and exactly the same as 2k12, but we don't have the option to play the show so this is the hand we were dealt. If your a true baseball fan, just get the game.

After putting much time into 2k13 I can truly say it is exactly the same as 2k12. Not just similar, with a few upgrades I mean exact. The only new additions in this years copy is new music and roster updates. To prove how exact of a copy this is all players that have a new team this season from free agency or traded all are wearing there old teams hat in there picture. Ichrio Suzuki who has been a Yankee for a while now, still has a mariners hat on. But it's not just him, many other players have old hats on.

To me that's just inexcusable and plain lazy,

No new game modes or any new gameplay upgrades as well, from all the games I played the players faces all look exact as well from last year.

Also 100% of the achievements are the same as 2k12. All 50 of them are the same.

Gameplay-7.5

It's not bad, but I have encountered a few bugs

Commentary-9

They really haven't added much new lines, but it's still really good.

Graphics-7

Personally I think the stadiums look great and so does the field but players look disgusting.

Music-10

I loved the music in 2k12, and I love the music in this game as well.

Upgrades from 2k12-5

Like I said exactly the same.

Overall-7

To be honest I was hoping for more, I know it was announced late but come on. They could have done some thing. I just hope they fix this series on the next Xbox or I will buy ps4 strictly for the show.

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I can't say enough bad about this game. My son and I played 2K10 quite a lot. Head to head and taking players through the minors. We finally thought that it was time to update get new rookies in the rosters and update uniforms. We also expected some gameplay and graphical improvements as well. Nothing.

The animations are worse than 2k10. The different animation sequences batter leaving the box and running full steam do not connect well at all. There's a huge jerk between the two. This seems like just a visual problem, however if you tell a batter to go to the next base and then immediately tell him to go back, the jerky animations mean you could probably go and get something from the fridge before he actually goes back (and usually gets tagged out). Fielders suffer the same problem. An infielder running to get a grounder will come to a complete stop and hesitates before he starts his throwing motion costs double-plays half the time.

The batting interface seems worse for some reason over 2k10. After a week I still can get the timing I cannot tell the difference between a foul to the left, to the right, or a base hit up the middle. I cannot try to hit to the right side (behind the runner) or try to pull a fly ball like I was able in 2k10.

A real waste of time and cause of aggravation.

Even the graphics aren't updated. While other games are going to photo faces, you can't make the faces of players look like anyone you know and the models don't look any better than 2K10.

Don't waste your money on this game. Buy 2k10 or maybe 11 or else find a different game altogether.

>>>After a couple of months playing the game I remain unimpressed. I have figured out the hitting interface but only on rookie level. The game is obviously made by people who have never played baseball. The computer continually bunts with 2 strikes, tells me to steal third with 2 outs, and other baseball foolishness. The commentary is good however they repeat themselves over and over. For example, "He hit a homer the last time up. Last time up he hit a home run to left." They also can get behind the play and be talking about your at bat when you're already back in the field. I turned them off rather quickly. I am very upset to know that if you have an Xbox, this is the only option for a baseball game. It's a very poor excuse.

Honest reviews on MLB 2K13 - Xbox 360

I bought is game in April and it is awful! It's the same thing as 2k 12 and looks like they copied last years game onto a disk and changed the music and menu screen and them named it 2k 13. I totally regret buying it and I stopped playing it a few days after I got it. DON'T GET THIS GAME. I wish I had a ps3 so I could get the show instead on terrible 2k.

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I'm SO sick and tired of these LAZY, CHEAP, NEGLIGENT, UNPROFESSIONAL, seemingly careless and HASTILY put together sports games for xbox360. Every year its basically the same as last year and this time its no exaggeration. Once again we have a game with very FEW to NO improvements, glitches errors and inconsistencies, and poor online play. The only improvements we can count on is a new cover, updated rosters, and new music/soundtrack. THE EXCLUSIVE LICENSING OF SPORTS GAMES HAS RUINED THE SPORTS GENRE!

You're a fool if you pay $60 for this game or purchase it at all. Just read any review out there, this game gets no better than a F grade across the board (4-5/10). Thankfully my friend let me borrow his MLB 2k13 copy for a weekend. I haven't purchased a 2k baseball game since 2011, and any other sports game I buy is either on sale or used for less than $25. NO WAY I'm ever paying $60 full price for any sports game with all the mediocre sports games being released for xbox360 nowadays.

I just don't get it...these companies have an entire year to build on last years game and make a better product, and yet they can't do it! OR they choose not to do it...I mean what the hell is going on!?!

STOP BUYING THESE POORLY MADE SPORTS GAMES PEOPLE! OR AT LEAST WAIT UNTIL THE PRICE DROP which won't be long. I think that's the only way we'll get these gaming companies like 2K to make better games, or let another company takeover that really wants to make great sports games.