6.ESPN Major League Baseball; Sega

Earlier we called FPS: Baseball the most underrated game on the list. That might be true, but if so, ESPN Major League Baseball is a very, very close second. Critics heaped praised upon the game the year before when it as called World Series Baseball 2K3 – before Sega grabbed the ESPN license.

Fact is, ESPN MLB was a much better game than WSB 2K3. Basically, the ESPN game was a huge patch for the previous version as it cleaned up its bugs, added online play, tightened the gameplay screws and “finished” the project. Of course, critics blasted it because it didn’t have enough “new” stuff but this was a highly refined game with a deep, satisfying career mode and believable hands on gameplay with stellar play by play.

The Xbox version is an underrated classic of baseball gaming and far outshined any baseball game EA Sports has ever made (the exception being the aforementioned MVP 05) and was also the last time Visual Concepts and Blue Shift collaborated on the project as the next year Kush Games took over with MLB 2K5 and the series has never been the same since.

5. MLB Power Pros ; 2K Sports

Yep, Power Pros. The game that looks like it was made for an eight year old. Not only is this far and away the best baseball game for the Wii, it was also the best American arcade baseball game of 2007—better than MLB 2K7 and better than The Show’s first run on the PS3. It might look a tad silly, but the gameplay is amazingly addictive, moderately realistic, and undeniably fun—plus you can whip through a full game in 30 minutes, which is something more of today‘s games should strive to do.

The game’s “success” mode is like a mini version of the Road to the Show in Sony’s game, only with this game it’s more “relaxed.” Toss in a full career mode and more statistical data than you would ever imagine possible for a Wii game that was seemingly made for the younger crowd and you have a recipe for a sleeper hit.

What strikes me about Power Pros is that despite its look, the on the field gameplay is arguably more “real” than any baseball game to date. Hits down the line are doubles – looping singles will easily score a runner from 2nd – it is literally all here. And ya’ know, I love the graphics. The little Power Pros are loaded with personality and after a while I don’t even notice their “kiddie” appearance. The game harkens back to an older time when baseball games didn’t need ultra realistic player models and light sourcing. It’s just plain fun. There have been a lot of baseball games made since the days of the Atari 2600 and Power Pros without a doubt is one of the very best – kiddie look and all.