All Star Baseball 2002 - PS2

In European territories, Acclaim has a healthy reputation as a developer of a wide range of great games, not least sports titles. In the company’s homeland of America, they are especially well known for Baseball games. Rarely do games of an American bent reach further than Japan, and when one hits the high street shelves of Britain, it’s likely to go pretty much unnoticed. All Star Baseball 2002 is one of these exceptions, and what’s more, it’s on PlayStation 2.

Those of you with more than a modicum of knowledge of the sport will be pleased to hear that all 30 Major League teams and over 700 players have been incorporated into this millennial update. All player features and stadium environments have been replicated with a great level of accuracy and precision, thanks to the PlayStation 2’s capabilities. But as a sports game, commentary and audio quality are of great importance and can add a heightened sense of realism to the game. Acclaim has shown it’s fully aware of this and has utilised the voices of Bob Brenly and Thom Brennaman. An in-game real-time scoreboard adds a nice touch to All Star Baseball 2002.

In terms of gameplay mechanics, this game has a well-developed interface with a 3D batting power/contact swing selection. This feature alone enhances the experience of the game greatly. There are a variety of game modes that include Exhibition, Season, World Series and Batting Practice. The game boasts a wide range of camera angles, engrossing gameplay and a simple control system that is easy to learn but challenging to master. It’s a well-balanced game that’s been superbly executed. What more could you ask?
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