The game’s MVP mode is similar to MLB 07: The Show’s Career mode. Pick a team, pick a position, create a player and have at it. The only problem here is there is heavy text, all of it in Japanese, so it’s not nearly as enjoyable without being able to appreciate what exactly is going on. Even the player names are in Japanese which makes the career aspect exceptionally tough to follow.

Customizable features include the ability to trade, edit a player and of course, since this is Japanese baseball, the ability to edit, create and copy your team song. No matter what mode you are playing, you earn VP points which can then be used in the store to unlock your usual special uniforms – but also “USA Stadium” which really doesn’t look like any American stadium known to man…but thanks for thinking of us.

The graphics make MLB 2K7 look like a PS2 game. They are absolutely stunning. Players have amazing detail in their faces and the animations are phenomenal. All of the little touches are fantastic – from the mound visit where a pitcher puts his glove over his face, to picking up the rosin bag, to different pitching animations, the game is truly gorgeous. Even the bullpen cars look great. The movement of the pitchers is remarkable – you can see the physics of how a pitcher uses his leg kick to get the ball velocity up -- yes this game is that impressive. Batting animations are also well done and ball physics are perfect (or at least positively believable). Fielding animations are amazingly smooth and well known stadiums such as Tokyo Dome are instantly recognizable. This is definitely a game to show off the graphical power of the PS3. It is without question the best looking baseball game on the planet. Bar none.

The Japanese game is somewhat different from the American game as there is some etiquette in playing that really doesn’t happen here..like not taking out a fielder at second base. Traditionally Japanese ball players are more polite. It’s like that Tom Selleck movie, Mr. Baseball. Bunting is prolific and speed is of the essence in Japan. Japanese baseball games resemble more of a soccer-like event than a traditional baseball game – and that comes through in the presentation The crowd cheers, flags wave and honestly would a game be complete without Thunder Stix? There are other differences. You get to select how long a game should last – you can call it a tie after 12 innings and there’s even a mercy rule.

The import price is about $70, with shipping, which is only a $10 premium over ‘regular’ games. Even with the language barrier, the gameplay is the trump card. On one the hand it’s frustrating that a Japanese baseball game plays so smooth and looks this good, outshining the stuff we have in America, but still – baseball is a universal language and unless the foreign setting, language, and tone is simply something that you cannot get past, Professional Baseball Spirits 4 shows you just how good a Next-Gen baseball game can be.