Triple Play 2000 - PS

The boys of summer are back!

For starters, Triple Play 2000 includes all the usual options that you've come to expect from a fully licensed baseball game: real teams, real players, real stadiums, and the statistics. You are given the choice of playing a Season, Single game, Home-run challenge, the Playoffs, and the ability to Create and Trade players.

Although the game is very similar to Triple Play '99, there are plenty of new features. While you are batting, you can swing under or over the pitch, letting you try for a fly ball or a grounder. You can also change the angle in which the batter faces the pitcher so you can hit to the opposite field if needed. With the reappearance of last year's feature of normal/power swing options, you have more control during your at-bats. Yet another added feature is the 'speed burst' for the base runners and fielders. The players will actually run faster if you start pounding the X button.

Fielding has pretty much stayed the same. After fielding the ball, you can make a conservative, accurate throw, or an aggressive throw that guns the ball to its destination, but loses accuracy. Very nice.

Along with the wide selection of pitches, there are pitchouts and pickoff attempts. Pitchers tire during the course of a game, so you have to keep an eye on your bullpen to bring in some relief.

Triple Play 2000 shines in the graphics department as well. The players really resemble their real-life counterparts, and look realistic while batting and fielding. The player animations are well done as well. Outfielders chew gum, batters grimace after a strikeout, and pitchers pump their fist after striking out the batter.

One complaint about last year's version was the changing of the camera angles during gameplay. This year, the camera is set at three different positions when batting and fielding. But in not-so-key moments like when the ball is going to be foul or over the fence, the camera changes to a more dramatic angle. This gives the game more of a TV style presentation and looks just great.

As good as the graphics are, the sound is even better. The two-man commentary is improved over last year, and their playcalling and analysis are top notch. Sound effects are solid, including the crack of the bat and the whoosh of the strikeout. To spice things up, the crowd even gets into the act, reacting to plays with cheers or jeers. They will also start to murmur if the home pitcher falls behind in the count, or boo if you try to walk a powerful batter like Mark McGwire.

But no game is perfect, right? I really would liked to have seen more of a 'Franchise' mode ala Madden '99 in Triple Play 2000. With such strong graphics and gameplay, the added depth would be widely appreciated.

Overall, Triple Play 2000 is a fine game without any major flaws. Many of the complaints from last year's version (like the sluggish gameplay and camera angles) were addressed and fixed, which is really all you can ask for. EA Sports really has to be commended for releasing a baseball game that anyone can get into and play.