In addition to the exhibition mode, you can play Inside Pitch 2003 in
playoff and season mode. The season mode can be configured to allow you
to play up to a full 162 game season, but the GM features are limited to
putting together trades and responding to the computer's quirky trade
proposals. There's no option to carry your team beyond one season in a
franchise mode, so you miss out on the really interesting aspects of building
a team into a consistent winner. Inside Pitch 2003 also provides support
for online play through Xbox Live, but the opportunity to play against human
opponents is tempered by the fact that the game itself is not all that great.
 |
| Safe at first. |
One mode that is a lot of fun is the Championship Challenge. This
mode recreates game situations from the 2003 season and challenges you to
match player performances such as hitting four home runs in a game or hitting
for the cycle. Each challenge focuses on the featured player, so you
won't have to play through an entire game just to give you the opportunity to
hit four homeruns with the same player. After the challenge is complete,
your performance is rated and you are awarded with points that can be spent to
create custom players. You can also replay the challenges in an attempt
to beat your best score. This mode is great fun and gives you the chance
to let loose without worrying about winning or losing the game. The only
complaint here is that there aren't enough challenges in the game - this mode
is the most enjoyable aspect of the game but you only get a handful of
challenges.
Graphically the game gives you some really nice looking stadiums, good
looking players, and a very limited stock of player animations. In fact,
you'll see most of the animations in the game after playing a game or two.
Baseball fans will appreciate the level of detail in the stadiums, including
the actual ads and scoreboard animations shown in the parks. The player
faces are rendered nicely as well, and you'll be able to recognize the players
from their faces without much trouble.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated:
60%. Too simple and shallow for
baseball fans, too many gameplay issues for arcade sports fans - Inside Pitch
2003 is destined to be a benchwarmer.
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