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Major League Baseball 2K9

(2009, Video Games - Sports, Rated E, Play it on: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Windows, Xbox 360)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 9.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Baseball sim little easier than MLB 09 The Show.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    This is a great way to learn baseball strategy and common terms.
  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    The major sponsors for the game are Pepsi and State Farm. Their ads can be seen throughout the stadium. Some baseball companies such as Majestic are also present.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Major League Baseball 2K9 was written by Brett Molina

Parents need to know this is a sports simulation based on Major League Baseball. Players control their favorite teams for individual games, and can even guide them through an entire season. Pepsi and State Farm are big sponsors of the game, and their ads are visible in every stadium. The game is also playable online, a feature Common Sense Media does not recommend for children under the age of 12.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about how the game compares to the sport. How accurately does this game capture the sport of baseball?
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More on Major League Baseball 2K9

What’s the Story?

While Major League Baseball teams prepare for the start of the season, video game players can get a head start with the release of MLB video games. One of those titles, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 2K9, returns with simplified controls and a solid baseball experience overall. Players take control of their favorite MLB team and lead them to victory in exhibition games, or guide them through entire seasons. Franchise Mode allows players to manage teams more closely, performing tasks such as signing and trading players.

The controls have been simplified to make pitching and hitting easier. The three-step pitching process from last year's game has decreased to two. Pitches are thrown by executing a series of moves with the right analog stick. For example, to throw a slider, a player pushes the stick to the left then makes a half-circle motion toward the right. When hitting the ball, players simply pull back on the right analog stick and push up. Major League Baseball 2K9 also introduces Living Rosters, an online feature that provides daily updates to the game's rosters based off real-world events. So if a player gets hurt, his virtual version will be injured in the game.
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Is It Any Good?

Major League Baseball 2K9 is a solid game for beginning players, but longtime baseball video game players may have a difficult time enjoying the experience. The game seems to emphasize a flashier, faster game. Computer-controlled opponents play inconsistently. They swing at the first pitch every single time. Pitchers place every ball in the strike zone, making hitting a breeze. Whacking homeruns out of the ballpark is a bit too easy to pull off.

Visually, the game looks great. Players look very realistic. The stadiums are full of boisterous fans. However, players don't move fluidly. For example, when a player goes from throwing a ball to standing in place, the transition between these movements looks very abrupt and unnatural. The game still offers plenty of depth, from the robust Franchise Mode to Inside Edge reports detailing players' strengths and weakenesses. Although Major League Baseball 2K9 offers a satisfying experience, it's not in the league of competitor MLB 09 The Show.
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Publisher’s Details

Released on 3/3/2009, price $59.99, online enabled
ESRB rating: E (for (No Descriptors))

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