Bank One Ballpark in Arizona, and the old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The player and stadium graphics are somewhat better this year than in last year's wildly popular High Heat 2001, and the several camera views show off pleasing details in the stadiums. Smooth animation But smooth, convincing animation and realistic artificial intelligence are the real reasons to buy this game. The left fielder will throw to second base when the lead-off batter singles to left, for example, not to third. The little guys on the screen finally know how to play ball.
Players express frustration when they botch a play, and are charged with an error for it.
There are instant replays on the JumboTron, beefs with the umps, everything but the overpriced peanuts. One uncanny aspect is that the digital players often have the same individual stances at the plate and the same swings that the actual players have. The cyber-pitcher's repertoire and delivery also remind me of the actual pitchers. In fact, about 120 star players have been simulated so accurately that their faces are captured on computer. OK, they're not exact, but very close.