When Electronic Arts (EA) snagged exclusive rights to all things NFL, Take 2 Games, the other sports-games powerhouse, countered by securing an MLB exclusivity deal that left EA with only the college baseball scene to virtualize this year. Hence, “MVP 06 NCAA Baseball” offers low-rent baseball from a high-rent publisher, which is odd, but it works.
Typical of EA Sports’ games, “MVP 06” is chock-full of authentic university teams, stadiums and gameplay modes running the gamut from quick, mini-games to full-on Dynasty mode, two player co-op and a scant, but effective, online multiplayer component.
It’s all drenched in an ESPN presentation with Mike Patrick’s exuberant play by play and former Stanford All-American Kyle Peterson doing color. There’s even a quasi-live ESPN “SportsCenter” radio upstream to your PS2 (if it’s connected).
Also, there’s create-a-player, and create-a-ballpark.
There are just enough gameplay improvements to entice you into tossing last year’s “MVP,” which seemed so complete a mere year ago. We’re talking “load and fire” hitting that uses the analog thumbstick to shift body weight and control your swing. Meanwhile, “precision throwing,” also analog, lets you pick and throw to the bases with realistic fluidity (optionally, you can keep it old school with buttons only).
Best of all, “MVP 06” retails for about $30, so even if you’re not interested in the college scene, this is top-notch baseball at generic/bargain-bin pricing.
EA Sports; PlayStation 2, $29.99. Rating: Everyone
Nothing wrong with trying to bilk new money out of old stock, which is exactly what Capcom does with “Mega Man X Collection.” It includes all six low-resolution, side-scrolling, platform-hopping, bad-guy-shooting, boss-bashing games in the “Mega Man X” series from the SNES to PS1 days and throws in a non-sequitur kart- racing game for good measure, “Mega Man Battle & Chase,” which is likewise a moldy oldie, but not seen in North America before.
It’s good, frivolous fun at a fairly frivolous price.
Capcom; GameCube, PlayStation 2; $29.99. Rating: Everyone (animated blood, violence)
Shaun Conlin is a freelance games reviewer for Cox News Service. E-mail him at shaunconlin@evergeek.com.
