MLB Power Pros

MLB Power Pros is a baseball video game developed by Konami for the Wii and PlayStation 2 video game consoles. It is part of the traditionally Japan-only Power Pros series of video games, and is the first game in the series to be released outside Japan. It was released in October 2007,[1] and is published by 2K Sports. A sequel, MLB Power Pros 2008, came out in 2008. Another sequel, MLB Power Pros 2010, came out on iOS and Android devices in 2010.[2][3]

MLB Power Pros
Wii boxart
Developer(s)Konami
Publisher(s)2K Sports, Konami
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Wii
Release
  • NA: October 3, 2007[1]
  • JP: October 4, 2007
Genre(s)Sports, Anime
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Gameplay within MLB Power Pros features "easy pick-up and play mechanics".[1] The game contains over a dozen gameplay modes,[1] including a Season Mode and a Success Mode.[1] Within the former, the player takes the role of a General Manager of a Major League Baseball team,[1] with the goal of winning the World Series.[1] The player will have control over all the aspects of the team,[1] including training players, purchasing better equipment, and trading players between teams.[1] Maximum playtime is 10 years, or the team points run out and you lose (game over).

Exhibition mode

In this mode, players may play a baseball game against a Major League team. There are options for a day game or night game, number of innings, what stadium to play at, lineup selection etc. Players may also play exhibition mode with two players, or can watch a game against two teams with the computer controlling both teams and take the role of a spectator.

Success mode

The story-based Success Mode, which has been a regular element in the Japanese series (main series) since the third release, mixes traditional role playing elements with baseball scenarios, following the player as he starts from a college baseball player with the goal of becoming a Major League player.[1] The player will train their character in numerous games while dealing with other social situations such as the character's academics,[1] teammate Marvin, and gaining a part-time job.[1] Unlike the Japanese installments, My Life mode is not placed in this installment, but it has an ability editor which Japanese version never had, due to the importance and popularity of success mode in Japan. (note: Success mode is the mode which Power Pro Series create original players).

Your character has three years to impress a scout so you will make it to the minor leagues. You will have to improve your character by practicing, studying, earning money in a part-time job, dating, and of course, playing baseball games. You can play any position such as a starting pitcher, reliever, closer, or fielder. Also, you will be given Fate Cards to make a decision. These cards are "yes," "no," "challenge," or "Marvin."

Season mode

In season mode, you play a General Manager (GM) for ten years (game time), that is, unless you run out of money by the beginning of the year.

You will begin by choosing Major League mode or Expansion Mode. Major League mode is the 30 major league teams only, Expansion mode is 2 teams and the 30 major league teams. The 2 teams are teams which you can create. You can create their uniform, team name, etc.

Your main goal is to try to win the World Series.

You can also trade players, play games (or fast forward them) and more. After each season, you can try to negotiate contracts with your team. There is also Spring Training where your team can learn new skills (new pitches, etc.) and develop previously taught skills faster.

Arrange Team

You can create your own fantasy team and/or fill it with your own created players. Be warned, however, that in order to use an arrange team in season mode, you must complete Success mode at least once and earn 100,000 in game shop points. This usually requires several days to several weeks of gameplay.

Wii Remote and Home Run Derby mode

You can use the Wii Remote to play an Exhibition game or play Home Run Derby. In home run derby, you will try to hit home runs with any player (including pitchers) at any stadium in 10 swings. If you hit a home run on every one of those 10 swings, you get extra swings until you get out. You can try to beat your high score. Your high score includes how many home runs hit, the distance traveled, etc. You can also choose the difficulty. Same rules apply for the mode Home Run Derby, but you do not use the Wii Remote to swing. Same rules also apply to the Exhibition game using the Wii Remote, look at the Exhibition Mode heading to find the rules.

Game Appearances

Every Major League Baseball player is recreated within MLB Power Pros.[1] Every Major League Baseball player is also represented in traditional Power Pro style: a short character with a large head and detached feet. As an additional feature made by 2K sports, further appearance customization can be made in American version, including hair and facial hair. (while Japanese version are all in traditional style other than skin color).[1] In the Wii version, players are able to use Miis within the game.[4]

Like other MLB games, there are some players that are not in the game although they played during the 2006 MLB season: Players not in the MLBPA cannot be put into the game without negotiating with the players themselves. Instead of Barry Bonds, the game contains "Great Gonzales" and several other "Great" players as replacements because they are not part of the association. They do not have the same season numbers, stats, or appearances.[5] They do, however, retain the same age and similar abilities so as to stay true to the player they are replacing.

In-game commentary is provided by Jack Merluzzi.

Cover

The cover features 6 MLB stars: then-Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, then-New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, then-Los Angeles Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, then-Detroit Tigers catcher Iván Rodríguez, then-Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, and then-Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.

Reception
Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS2Wii
1Up.comA−[6]A−[7]
Famitsu30/40[8]30/40[9]
GameSpot8/10[10]8/10[10]
GameSpy[11][11]
GameZone7.8/10[12]N/A
IGN8.4/10[13]8.4/10[13]
Nintendo PowerN/A6.5/10[14]
PSM[15]N/A
Aggregate score
Metacritic80/100[16]83/100[17]

The game received "favorable" reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[16][17] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of two eights and two sevens for a total of 30 out of 40.[8][9]

References
  1. rawmeatcowboy (August 3, 2007). "2K Sports and Konami Announce MLB Power Pros for Wii". GoNintendo. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  2. "MLB Power Pros 2010 Available". Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  3. "Konami smashes onto the App Store with MLB Power Pros Touch 2010 App". Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  4. "『実況パワフルメジャーリーグ2/実況パワフルメジャーリーグ2Wii』 2機種で発売決定！" (in Japanese). Famitsu. August 10, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2007.
  5. In MLB Power Pros 2008, Kosuke Fukudome, who did not belong to MLBPA, was put into the game, since Fukudome agreed to put himself into the game, mainly because he had been playing in Nippon Professional Baseball, the background of the original Power Pros series, for a long time.
  6. Zuniga, Todd (October 16, 2007). "MLB Power Pros (PS2)". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  7. Zuniga, Todd (October 16, 2007). "MLB Power Pros (Wii)". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  8. Gantayat, Anoop (October 15, 2007). "Gaming Life in Japan (Page 4)". IGN. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  9. rawmeatcowboy (September 25, 2007). "Famitsu review scores". GoNintendo. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  10. Provo, Frank (October 17, 2007). "MLB Power Pros Review". GameSpot. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  11. Villoria, Gerald (October 10, 2007). "GameSpy: MLB Power Pros". GameSpy. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  12. Lafferty, Michael (October 24, 2007). "MLB Power Pros - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  13. Bozon, Mark (October 8, 2007). "MLB Power Pros Review". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  14. "MLB Power Pros". Nintendo Power. Vol. 222. December 2007. p. 82.
  15. "MLB Power Pros". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. No. 1. December 25, 2007. p. 80.
  16. "MLB Power Pros for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  17. "MLB Power Pros for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
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