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IGN Review of The Bigs 2
When versions of console games make the transition to portable systems like the Nintendo DS I expect to see features trimmed and gameplay that's suited to the respective system. It makes me sad when developers gut their games for the casual gaming-minded portable audience. Had 2K Sports simply mirrored the modes that we see in the console (and even PSP) versions of The Bigs 2, DS players could have been treated to a decent baseball experience. I'm disappointed to report that is not the case.
As you might have guessed the biggest problem with The Bigs 2 is its feature set, though the gameplay doesn't pan out all that spectacularly either. To call the list of available modes "light" would be a massive understatement. With no semblance of a season or franchise mode and with the console versions' career mode completely removed, The Bigs 2 on DS is a pitiful offering despite its twenty dollar price tag. Your only options wind up being a single game, homerun derby, or homerun pinball. I'm not sure what you expect from your baseball games, but I wanted a lot more.
Once you make your way to the field you'll notice that the controls have been appropriately outfitted to the DS's dual-screen layout. When pitching you'll find your pitch selections on the lower screen. You'll need to select one of the four pitch types, pick your location with the stylist and then try to max out a power meter. Throwing strikes will build your turbo meter and making great plays in the field will build your score. Much like in the other versions of The Bigs 2, points are used for Big Blasts and Big Heat while turbo is used on a play-by-play basis to give your boys a boost.
Pitching works fine on the DS, mainly because it doesn't make very creative use of the stylist and touch screen technology. Batting, on the other hand, is a bit different than you'd expect. While the buttons can be used to hit the ball, I found the touch screen provided the most fun. Basically you pull a bat back to determine your level of power on the lower screen. There's bunt, normal and power swings and you'll need to use your stylist to bring the bat back and then thrust it forward to swing. You'll notice that there really aren't many groundballs on the DS version of The Bigs 2 which means some players will get hits when they don't necessarily deserve them.
Artificial intelligence is also a bit lacking. You'll see players mis-play balls and baserunning mistakes are common place as well. Even still, the on-the-field gameplay is decent and would've provided for some fun times if there was a single mode to support it. I can't help but reiterate the fact that there's really nothing to do in The Bigs 2 on DS. Thus there's no real reason to come back and pick up the cart after you've played a few games. It's absolutely criminal that there's not even a wireless multiplayer option.
Graphically The Bigs 2 isn't stellar, either, though it is able to rise above the disappointment of the rest of the package. Player models move fluidly despite very repetitive animations. The crowd is very drab, featuring only little dots that blip back and forth. None of the visual presentation is jarringly bad, but it isn't exactly a treat to behold. The same goes for the audio presentation which is vacant for the most part. Effects are decent but there's no commentary to fuel the action so the baseball experience winds up feeling empty.
©2009-10-05, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved
As you might have guessed the biggest problem with The Bigs 2 is its feature set, though the gameplay doesn't pan out all that spectacularly either. To call the list of available modes "light" would be a massive understatement. With no semblance of a season or franchise mode and with the console versions' career mode completely removed, The Bigs 2 on DS is a pitiful offering despite its twenty dollar price tag. Your only options wind up being a single game, homerun derby, or homerun pinball. I'm not sure what you expect from your baseball games, but I wanted a lot more.
Once you make your way to the field you'll notice that the controls have been appropriately outfitted to the DS's dual-screen layout. When pitching you'll find your pitch selections on the lower screen. You'll need to select one of the four pitch types, pick your location with the stylist and then try to max out a power meter. Throwing strikes will build your turbo meter and making great plays in the field will build your score. Much like in the other versions of The Bigs 2, points are used for Big Blasts and Big Heat while turbo is used on a play-by-play basis to give your boys a boost.
Pitching works fine on the DS, mainly because it doesn't make very creative use of the stylist and touch screen technology. Batting, on the other hand, is a bit different than you'd expect. While the buttons can be used to hit the ball, I found the touch screen provided the most fun. Basically you pull a bat back to determine your level of power on the lower screen. There's bunt, normal and power swings and you'll need to use your stylist to bring the bat back and then thrust it forward to swing. You'll notice that there really aren't many groundballs on the DS version of The Bigs 2 which means some players will get hits when they don't necessarily deserve them.
Artificial intelligence is also a bit lacking. You'll see players mis-play balls and baserunning mistakes are common place as well. Even still, the on-the-field gameplay is decent and would've provided for some fun times if there was a single mode to support it. I can't help but reiterate the fact that there's really nothing to do in The Bigs 2 on DS. Thus there's no real reason to come back and pick up the cart after you've played a few games. It's absolutely criminal that there's not even a wireless multiplayer option.
Graphically The Bigs 2 isn't stellar, either, though it is able to rise above the disappointment of the rest of the package. Player models move fluidly despite very repetitive animations. The crowd is very drab, featuring only little dots that blip back and forth. None of the visual presentation is jarringly bad, but it isn't exactly a treat to behold. The same goes for the audio presentation which is vacant for the most part. Effects are decent but there's no commentary to fuel the action so the baseball experience winds up feeling empty.
©2009-10-05, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved