The Bigs 2

When we picture what a sports-based video game will be like, our opinion is often marred by the many true to life examples within the genre. Graphics, physics and official licences for each sport are usually the main focus of these games to provide the most authentic sporting experience possible. Well, there was a time where these games played more like arcade style titles and The Bigs 2 continues this trend that its predecessor offered back in the day, aiming to provide an arcade style baseball title to remember.

This game plays like other baseball titles such as MLB: The Show or the Major League Baseball series. However, it has a much more lighthearted and arcade-like approach seen in games like Mario Superstar Baseball, Super Mario Sluggers or other sports games of this nature like FIFA Street, NFL Street or Super Mario Strikers. This game tries to take the popular American sport and offer players a much more fun and whimsical take on the sport. Let’s see how they got on in our review of The Bigs 2

Become A Legend

If there is one thing that sports fans love, it’s an underdog story. So with that in mind, The Bigs 2 decides to offer the players a chance to follow this exact narrative in the form of a campaign mode. The player will take control of a player who suffers a tragic injury and due to this, you’ll have to start in the Mexican leagues and rise to prominence once again. It’s an appropriate story considering that the game is made to idolise and romanticize The Bigs. So chasing them down in a rags to riches campaign is perfect.

This concept is excellent but sadly, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The gameplay sees the player wrestle with controls, deal with hearty doses of RnG. Plus, when you reach the late game content, the game has a harsh and unfair artificial difficulty spike that makes the whole experience a chore. This moment should be the climax of the game and the payoff for hard work but it makes you wish you were back in Puerto Rico playing against gas attendants.

Games within Games

The big appeal of ‘The Bigs’ as a series is the mini games that players will encounter during play. This game isn’t simply going to dish out a baseball simulator. It instead offers a series of mini games that will determine the outcome of matches. These could easily have been quick time events but thankfully they are much more detailed and fun than that. Plus, they really do add to the intensity of the game and the spectacle.

The Verdict

As for as novelty sports games go, this one is exactly that, a novelty. As the player pushes through this title, you’ll find there are pockets of fun scattered throughout the run. However, holistically this game simply doesn’t cut the mustard. The minigames help keep the player engaged, as does the motivation to make the big leagues provided by the campaign mode.

Pros:

• Mini games are a great way to ramp up the excitement
• The rags to riches ‘be a legend’ mode is a great idea

Cons:

• Game gets increasingly difficult and tedious as the campaign progresses
• Game relies on RnG too much

Fun is the word that always springs to mind when I think about The Bigs 2. Before there was only one baseball game on the market that people cared about, us fans actually had a choice. What I think made this such a great game was that 2K did not try and make this an ultra-realistic baseball game. Instead, they made it so it would be fun for people who are fans of the sport (especially those with an interest in the history of the game) however even casual baseball fans could have fun with this game.

Taking On A Full Season

One of the most awesome things that they did with The Bigs 2 was allow you to play through an entire season. You play as the players on the field, but you also have to run the team as well. This means that you are responsible for trading players, drafting players, and making all the decisions that make your team tick. It is very addictive and it is the kind of thing that you can sink hundreds of hours into and not get bored.

Stepping Up To Bat

The batting mechanics in The Bigs 2 are just so much fun. Each player has their own stats and you can press one button to do a contact swing or another to do a power swing. There is this thing called “the sweet spot” and if you manage to nail the ball in this sweet spot, you are usually guaranteed to make it to a base. The hitting feels very satisfying and that it is more skill-based than just being lucky.

Throwing The Ball

The pitching and fielding in the game is pretty much the same as what other baseball games offer. Each button represents a different base which makes it quick to throw the ball to a particular base, it also means that there is very little room for error here so if the ball gets thrown to the wrong base that is on you. Pitching is done with a bar system where you have to select your pitch and then throw the ball just at the right time.

Over The Top Action!

One of the things that makes The Bigs 2 stand out from other baseball games is the areas where it goes a bit over the top. I mentioned before that players have stats; well you can earn legendary stats in every category. Getting legendary stats is hard and time-consuming, but it makes you pretty much unstoppable in every area on the field. The Bigs 2 also offers power-ups with the majority of players have a power-up. There are many different ones such as every homer is a no doubter which gives certain players an edge when they step up to bat or are on the field. It gives the game a bit more of an “arcade” kind of feel to it.

Pros:

• This game is just all about having fun
• Power-ups, turbo, and so on give the game a fun arcade feel
• It is accessible to pretty much everyone
• The game has held up very well

Cons:

• We never got a Bigs 3!
• Some players can be a tad overpowered