Sports games have started to turn a corner, taking a road back to the early days of gaming.  Instead of being an in-depth, almost simulation like experience, we’re starting to see sports games focus on just having fun.  Forget the complex pitching and hitting patterns, just swing your controller like you’re swinging a bat or throwing a pitch.  Say bye-bye to the motion captured ultra realistic player models, which still don’t look quite right.   Instead say hello to marshmallow shaped characters that will probably remind older gamers of the classic RBI Baseball series.  MLB Power Pros 2008 doesn’t try to reinvent the baseball videogame; instead it provides a rather thorough and entertaining game that should satisfy your baseball cravings.

The first thing that will catch your eye about MLB Power Pros 2008 is the look of the characters.  While you get all of the MLB players and team, what you don’t get is the look of a typical baseball game.  Instead we get characters that are truly old school Japanese influenced: short stocky blobs with the trademarked look of Big Head and Big Eyes.  You get all of the stadiums but with none of the ultra fine details you see in other big name sport games.  MLB Power Pros 2008 looks like it appeared from a late 1980’s video game only with a nice coat of gloss and polish.  Believe it or not the look is a breath of fresh air compared to the games that try way too hard to look exactly like a real baseball game.

Gameplay wise MLB Power Pros 2008 is a mix of motion sensing controls and the atypical controller layout.   The game supports several different configurations from the Wii Remote only, Classic Controller, Wii Remote & Nunchuk and the GameCube controller.  However you must be aware that the Wii Remote motion controls are limited to only one game mode, appropriately titled the Wii Remote Mode.  Motion sensing controls aren’t the big focus with MLB Power Pro 2008, which is disappointing considering capabilities of the Wii Remote.  Also there are only two game options in the Wii Remote Mode: Exhibition Game and Home Run.  Just as in other Wii baseball games all of the action is controlled by swinging like a bat or throwing a pitch using the Wii Remote. 

The Classic Controller, Remote & Nunchuk and GameCube controller settings all play very similar to each other.  The only differences are the button placement on the specific controllers but the functionality is still the same.  Batting is performed by moving the left analog stick to move the bat’s “sweetspot cursor” during the pitch.  If you connect with the correct sweetspot you should end up with a better hit.  Actually swinging the bat is a simple button press at the right moment of the pitch.  You have a grid display up that will show you the location of where the pitch is headed but you never know the speed or curves the pitch might take before it reaches the plate.  There is an option for a Big Swing which should give you a more powerful hit but it can easily cause you to miss the pitch.

Pitching is just as fundamental as the batting with everything done by button presses in the regular portions of the game.   You can select from several different types of pitches (with some having a secondary type as well) and the direction of where the pitch should end up.  Catching, fielding and the rest of the controls are performed with the same typical controller setup as pitching and batting.  It really is a shame that we only can use the motion controls on a Home Run derby and a stripped down exhibition game.  I know we might not want to confuse gamers with too many gimmicky motion sensing movements but at least tailor the full game to fit the strengths of the controls. 

Even with the lack of motion sensing controls the rest of the game really is a deep baseball package, just presented in an old school type of look.  There are plenty of modes available in the game that should please newcomers and hardcore gamers alike.  Success mode starts you off on a Double A team called the Green Apples as you try to make it to a AAA club and then finally on to the Major League.  You start off by creating your character, what type of player and position you will play and then practice during the year (off season and regular season) to build up your stats. 

You can focus on several different areas of practice such as hitting, fielding, accuracy, etc.  Practice too hard and you will injury yourself but don’t practice enough and you will never increase the capabilities of your player.  Success mode also includes other events such as purchasing items to increase your performance such as food or better equipment.  There is even a relationship piece in the game where you can build friendships with other players on the team.

MLB Life mode is very similar to the Success mode except this time you can start off on a farm team for one of the MLB teams.  You can even take over the career of one of the current players in the league or import your character from the Success mode.  You will keep playing until your player is eligible to retire, which can include life changing events such as getting married.  Season mode is a deep mode that lets you play through the regular season of your favorite MLB team.  There are plenty of options you can customize in the Season mode such as an Expansion Mode where you can create your own teams, a Dream Draft where all of the teams have to start over with their rosters. 

Home Run mode is just as the name describes: a Home Run Derby.  Knock as many balls out of the park as possible.  League mode lets up to six team players/teams compete in their own customized league.  Practice mode is straight forward enough; you practice on various parts of the game.  The Shop/Baseball card section lets you spend points you earn in other parts of the game to purchase Baseball cards or other items.  These are more superficial than anything since they don’t have a huge impact on the rest of the game.  Finally Arrange mode allows you to customize a current MLB team to your liking.  Change pitchers, names, jersey numbers, etc all based on your ideas.

Honestly I really didn’t expect MLB Power Pros 2008 to come packaged with so many different modes.  I saw the game and it immediately reminded me of RBI Baseball from the way back machine.  I assumed wrong that it would only be a superficial game of simple arcade gameplay.  Sure you get some arcade style gameplay with the Wii Remote mode and the Home Run modes but the rest of the game is rather deep.  The visuals might fool you into thinking this isn’t a serious game but it can probably hang with the other big name MLB games on the market.  Yet the visual charm of the game will probably bring in younger gamers and even some old school gamers who haven’t played a baseball game in a while.

Gameplay 7.2 

Batting in the game can be a tough challenge especially when you start off in one of the simulation modes.  Your character just won’t have enough power to get big hits for big plays.  The sweetspot batting really didn’t seem to produce consistent results.  Most of the time, I found myself striking out or hitting the balls short in Success or MLB Life mode.  I would go from hitting 2 for 3 in one game to getting no hits in four straight games.   It just seemed really strange that I was missing pitches that I knew I had the perfect read on. 

Graphics 8.0 

Yes the graphics have a retro look to them but they still looked great to me.  Seeing all of the marshmallow players running around on the field and getting the cheesy anime style scenes just felt right in MLB Power Pros.

Sound 8.0 

Nothing much in the music department since you hear more of the sound effects than anything else.  The play by play announcer was really good at keeping up with the action, even with some strange plays.

Concept 8.0 

I would love to see more games like this where you get the complete package but with a redefined retro look.  This game still plays like a baseball game but it just doesn’t feel like any other baseball game thanks to the visuals.

Multiplayer 7.5 

Sadly, no online multiplayer just local console only multiplayer action.  Exhibition mode only lets up to two players while League mode can have up to six different players. 

Overall 7.7 

MLB Power Pros 2008 is a solid baseball game for the Wii that is lacking in what the Wii does best, Motion controls.  Only a small portion of the huge buffet that is MLB Power Pros 2008 takes advantage of the motion sensing controller.