"...Slugfest still promises to deliver more arcade-style action..."

Platform: GC, PS2, XB

Genre: Sports

Publisher: Midway

Developer: Midway

ETA: Spring 2003

MLB Slugfest 2004

Spring is just around the corner (thankfully), and baseball is getting ready to begin another season. Like its more simulation-based counterparts, Midway’s MLB Slugfest 2004 is promising a slew of new features this year. Don’t worry, though: Slugfest still promises to deliver more arcade-style action, more hit batsmen, more diving catches, and more power hitting. Check out this list of features for a quick peek:

Exclusive Challenging Adrenaline-Style Gameplay: Turbo running, fielding, batting and throwing. Midway Sports kicks the level up a notch with hard-hitting, gas-throwing, plays-of-the-week caliber fielding to give the player the best possible baseball videogame experience.

NEW Create-A-Team: Create your own All-Star team by combining your favorite players from both leagues into one powerhouse ball club, then work your way to a World Series championship.

NEW Customizable Instant Replay: Relive your towering home runs or diving catches with instant replay. You take control of the camera and can view your highlight-quality plays from any angle you desire.

NEW Home Run Derby: Pit your favorite MLB players in a home run derby and square off against the most feared long ball hitters in the league.

NEW Pitching “On Fire”: Pitchers in both leagues have the opportunity to get “on fire” by constantly shutting down the offensive team.

NEW Authentic Batting Stances and Pitching Motion: The batters look and swing like the real MLB batters and the pitchers look and throw like the real MLB pitchers.

NEW Expanded and Updated Rosters, Schedules, Uniforms and Stadiums

NEW Fantasy Stadiums and characters

NEW Music:Featuring Hoobastank’s hit song, “Crawling in the Dark.”

Unmatched Player Animations: Nine motion capture actors and more than 1,500 player animations in the game. MLB SlugFest has the smoothest running, fielding, batting and pitching animations for a baseball game, ever!

Revolutionary Player Models and Graphics: Recognized by virtually everyone in the industry as having the most beautiful graphics of any baseball videogame.

Players have faces mapped to their exact likeness and every stadium is rendered out to perfection.

Every MLB Team, plus Fantasy Players: MLB SlugFest 20-04 comes loaded with your favorite MLB players and stadiums from around the league. With more than 10 fantasy stadiums as well as hidden teams and players, MLB SlugFest will keep gamers stepping up to the plate for more.

The Best Controls and AI: MLB SlugFest is recognized for having the best computer AI and easiest controls to pick up and play.

Officially Licensed by MLB and MLBPA: Every MLB team is represented as well as your favorite MLB players.  

We enjoyed Slugfest last year, and we’re certainly looking forward to getting our batting gloves on this year’s version. Look for a full nine-inning review soon.

- Peter J. Skerritt, Jr.