Score: 83
Overall User Average: 8.33 / 10 (83.3%)
Gameplay User Average: 8.17 / 10
Graphics User Average: 8.33 / 10
Sound User Average: 8.00 / 10
Dark Voodoo
Date reviewed: December 28, 2003.
Overall: Baseball is arguably called America?s favorite pastime and I myself have to agree with that as I am a major Yankee fan. So, basically I buy all the baseball games on the Xbox and play till I drop. Although Inside Pitch 2003 will not be one of my pastimes, as the only award this game deserves is ?Worst Baseball Game on the Xbox?. With no Franchise mode, mediocre graphics, and forgettable sound and commentary, this game puts Microsoft to shame. Any Xbox owner looking for a baseball game for their video game library should defiantly look elsewhere.
There is one thing that saves this game from total failure, and it is its ?create a player? mode. Once you master the clunky interface you can really create an All-Star player. Problem is you?re forced to take your character through training and then bring him into the field, which isn?t bad if like that sort of realism. Then you take him onto the field and wonder why you went through the trouble of making a player, if you can?t even test him out without playing the game and all its numerous disappointments. I came into this game expecting an eye opening, grand slamming good time and left disappointed and eyesore from the horrible graphics.
Gameplay: Well, basically it sucks. It?s a baseball game so naturally there?s not a whole lot of camera views, and the few there available are stupid. The batter?s stance is really the only one the game uses (like most games), and yet it?s so far back you can barely tell if it?s a strike or a ball. So, random swinging is basically the best thing you can do. Either that, or pray you hit it. The gameplay is no different than most, save a couple of added on plays such as jumping over a sliding runner. The camera will zoom in after each play, determining the verdict, be it a steal, pickoff, or whatever
Graphics: Graphics are the cream of the game and with the Xbox power behind it, you?d expect more, especially from Microsoft. So when I heard of this game, it was previewed as pushing the Xbox to the limites. Now I?m not saying they are wrong because some times the game shines like no other, and yet it looks like you?re playing a port off the Playstation 2, not to mention playing like it as well. The stadiums and player faces all look incredible, comparible if not better than Sega?s World Series 2K3. The stadiums, particulary, look fantastic, even more so at night, with the lights glowing bright. Exact replicas, the stadium contain almost every billboard and sign the real version offers.
Now the animations are a different story, as every single batting stance is incorrect, and the players look stiff and glitchy. The pitcher is worse for wear, with bad pitching animations and control. The fact that you can underhand a ball from 2nd to 1st completely takes away from the realism.
So the graphics of Inside Pitching are a mixed bag, featuring the good, the bad and the ugly.
Sound: Sound is something that gets more and more important everyday. While no game will ever have the sound quality of Halo, some games come close. This game, however misses by a wide strike. With unrealistic ball hitting bat formulas and commentary your only wish is too shut off the game, which leaves the best sound; the background music. Yes, this is the only thing anyone would want to hear.
Suggestions: While this is the worst baseball title currently for the Xbox, it had the most potential. One thing that could have been done was to not promise so much and delivers only a quarter of it. This is a game not even worth a rental, so don?t bother tainting your Xbox with this one. Maybe next season, Microsoft will learn from their past mistakes. Inside Pitch 2003, however, failed the hype machine.
Overall: 40 %
Gameplay: 40 %
Graphics: 50 %
Sound: 50 %
markjrenna
Date reviewed: November 29, 2003.
Overall: Inside Pitch is a baseball game that is plain and simple fun. For those of you that want to have a little fun playing baseball and not worry about all the details than this is the game for you.
Gameplay: The game is not too hard and not too easy. It has the right balance for those that want to just play a game of baseball. There is a season mode but it is only one season. Stats do get kept and you can make and train your own player that you create. It is Live supported so you can play head to head as well. There are probably way better baseball games out there, but remember that if you want to have a quick fun game, than Inside Pitch is great for that!
Graphics: Everything looks and feels like it should. The detail is good and to the point. I have no complaints on how it looks. I will mention that the ball and player physics seem to be a bit off. But, like I said it is still a fun game.
Sound: Tim McCarver and Joe Buck do a fine job of announcing. The crowd is ok. Nothing special. One weird thing though is that if you are the away team and you win, you stil hear fireworks going off, Why? Anyway, I think it is good enough.
Suggestions: Not much, just make some minor improvements - base running, crowd enthusiasm, better player and ball physics, and a 10 year season would be nice. But really nothing I would worry about.
Overall: 100 %
Gameplay: 90 %
Graphics: 90 %
Sound: 80 %
Vorpal Foetus
Date reviewed: November 3, 2003.
Overall: I've been waiting for an Xbox live playable baseball game for what seems like an eternity - and here it is. If you are a baseball fanatic, perhaps there are better choices out there, but if you want a fun, intuitive Xbox live-playable game - you won't be disappointed.
Gameplay: It's a little different than other baseball games I've played, but it doesn't really detract from the online play - if anything, it makes it easy to have fun against your human opponent. I can't tell you too much about the season play, as that's not why I bought it.
Graphics: Average animations and models, but it really shines in the department of stadium visuals. I recognised all the features of my hometown (Cleveland) stadium.. cool!
Sound: Good announcing! Game sounds are average, but there are some choice heckles if you listen for 'em..
Suggestions: A little more effort into player animations might make for a better game. Keep the online content coming!
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 80 %
Graphics: 80 %
Sound: 70 %
realgamer
Date reviewed: October 30, 2003.
Overall: INSIDE PITCH KING OF BASEBALL THIS YEAR!
This is one of my favorite games. I consider it to be the best baseball game for the XBOX. Although many of the professional reviews seem to stray from this belief. This game was not designed to duplicate the exact features of other games. It was designed to simulate baseball. Of course, it is missing a franchise mode and replays. The game was made to focus on the 2002 season. In my professional opinion, Inside Pitch achieves this feat with flying colors. Of course, it's not perfect. There are very few games that achieve true perfection.
Gameplay: The stadiums, player animations, and faces are top notch. In addition, the pitcher/batter interface is extremely addictive. The AI does not allow a player to make the exact same play time and time again with flawless execution. This represents the realistic and sometimes unpredictable nature of baseball. The game is a true simulation with a bit of flare. I highly recommend purchasing Inside Pitch 2003.
#1 Inside Pitch 2003
#2 High Heat Baseball 2004
#3 World Series Baseball 2003
#4 MVP Baseball 2003
Graphics: The stadiums are simply eye candy. Of course, the game needs objects such as birds, planes, blimps, shooting stars and other things worked into the game engine. The player faces and animations are well done, but need a bit of variety. Unfortunately, it seems to be missing replays and players in the dugout. Though it makes up for this with extremely addictive training and championship challenges.
Sound: The commentary is top notch, but suffers from too much repetition. The stadiums need more crowd related audio feeds.
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 90 %
Graphics: 100 %
Sound: 90 %
Dman13
Date reviewed: June 2, 2003.
Overall: Inside Pitch is an escape from games like WSB or HH and MVP.It isn't too much of a simulation and it isn't too arcadey.This game appeals to not only true hardcore gamers but to anyone who will give it a chance.This is the NBAID of baseball which is a pleasant unexpected suprise and with it being the only baseball game with xbox-live support it's worth every penny.If it weren't for no franchise it probably would've gotten a perfect 5.
Gameplay: This is where most game rise or falls and IP rises to the stars.The control layout is pretty simple hit with A,power hit with the black buttons and so on.Home runs do not happen every other play and when they do happen you are actually excited.The championship challenge is a nice addition.Online play adds excitement to the game.It actually boosts the value of the game.The only downfall is NO franchise mode which takes away from the replay value.
Graphics: This game has incredible graphics that you will notice as soon as you see the game.I actually knew who Barry Bonds was just by looking at him.The stadiums are the best looking this year.Yes that means better than WSB.And best of all the fireworks after a homer and RALLY MONKEYS!!!
Sound: The game has great sound from the smack of the bat and the ball.To the clever line of commentary who will actually let you know when someone is leading the league in a specific statistic.And the the crowd is absolutely magnificent.
Suggestions: Although I'm sure you already have franchise mode on your list add it NOW!Come up with even more original ideas and add the Home Run Derby for the franchise.
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 90 %
Graphics: 100 %
Sound: 100 %
CrazyKane
Date reviewed: May 23, 2003.
Overall: Ok, overall this is a good game. It has is good points and its lows, but with XBOX LIVE it is a winner. I have already downloaded a new stadium and have played a number of games online with no lag problems at all. The stats kept online is cool. Games are rank by 3,5,7,and 9 inning games and you have to play smart baseball to win.
Gameplay: Gameplay is very easy to get the hang of. It is however different than all the other baseball titles out. I love the fact that the cursor to hit the ball is not in this game. That always took away from games if you ask me. This baseball game gives you more control over the game than all the other baseball games for XBOX.
Graphics: This is not the best looking game in town, but what would you rather have. Good gameplay or good graphics. I personally will take gameplay over graphics any-day. The stadiums however look awesome.
Sound: Sound is good, I have not messed around with custom soundtracks yet. Most of my music is on CD-R's and PC, and until MUSIC MIXER comes out and I can transfer my music files to my XBOX from my PC, custom sound will have to wait.
Suggestions: Sharpen the graphics a little bit and let me charge the mound (lol). Overall I am pleased with this purchase. Watch out for next year though when WSB will be online and most likely other baseball titles. Then again MS will have IP2004 and I think MS is gearing up to destroy all the competition with is devotion to online sports. Man am I glad I own an XBOX.
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 80 %
Sound: 90 %
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