The graphics involved in the making of 2K5 are incredible. Both actual gameplay and the cut screens to show replays and players warming up prove to be awesome. Body types vary, facial features are as close as many games get to the real thing, and movements of the players continue to mesmerize the competitive gamer. Each player has his unique batting stance and swing perfectly matched, while each pitcher counters with an unparalleled individual likeness. Throw in the extended cut scenes with ESPN graphics from their baseball show, and a gamer will become absorbed in the game play as if they are involved in a game in front of 40,000 screaming fans. Everything is life-like (except for some overdramatic plays in easy situations) when it comes to fielding, hitting and throwing. About the only thing that didn't seem correct to the real game was catchers trying to catch runners stealing, it just didn't play as smoothly with the correct graphics as the rest of the game.

The one thing that has given baseball its many die-hard fans over the course of the century has been the atmosphere that it embodies. 2K5 does an excellent job in capturing that atmosphere that makes watching live and broadcast baseball enjoyable. Each stadium and its surroundings are impeccably unmatched. Each view can be a snapshot taken from any seat in the house, as well as when the players are on the field. The music is choreographed correctly with each stadium and situation. It truly does give a feeling as if you are there at the stadium (or at least watching it on TV). The announcers do an excellent job of keeping pace with the game. The lag on some comments can be heard throughout a game, but they are generally close to where they should be. As in all games with special announcers, over time and play some discussions can get overused and annoying. There also was a problem during the introduction of games, when Karl Ravech of ESPN gave his intros and they many times did not match up to game situations. For the average player, this might be overlooked, but for the Baseball Tonight baseball fan who wants it all, it will be noticed.

Playing the game did not take a long time to get used to, even for a gamer just starting out his X-Box game playing. The controls set up nicely for a baseball game, in that the buttons are set up in a diamond formation which made throwing to bases effortless. Using the thumbsticks to control the fielders was fun, as you could cause them to sprint using a turbo trigger, run fast with the thumbstick, or jog and walk based on how hard you pressed the stick in the player's direction. This just added to the real life experience of watching a real ballgame on TV. Hitting was easy with the controller buttons and the different types of swings the gamer can take. Power or contact is the option for full swings, or the Y button to bunt. Bunting in the game is as real as it gets, only a bit more difficult to master in the videogame than in real life. Baserunning is done with the triggers. The game does an excellent job in giving you a view of the runners in the corners of the screen, but it still was (and is) difficult to maneuver runners around the bases. Many times I would get caught up with runners moving to extra bases and trying to get them back, or runners who should be advancing running back to the bases they once occupied. I also did not like that you could not steal unless you were in the baserunner mode. Giving control to the computer for my hitters during this time of the game did not seem like a good thing to do. For a person who still has trouble tying his own shoes, this game did an excellent job in making the game playable for anyone picking up a controller.

The game play of Major League Baseball 2K5 is awesome. It is a game any baseball fan can really indulge in. It is smooth in its play and rich in options. Since there are so many options, there are unlimited times this game can be replayed. With its Franchise Mode, GM Mode, Home Run Derby, Skybox Bame and Trophy Areas, and unlockable features, this game will give a player numerous hours of entertainment. Any stat-monger will get sucked into the numerous big league stats that the game offers. As the gamer progresses, so can the difficulty, with four different levels as well as a custom level to drive the playability even deeper. 2K5 will also appeal to the video gamer by using the video game mode and special features like incredible catches. Finally, the new K-Zone pitching style, modeled after the version used on ESPN, will make purist cry. This gives the pitcher a more difficult time in hitting their spots, as well as giving the batter a chance to jump on a mistake, just as in the real game. As the pressure builds, so does the difficulty in hitting spots. The hitter can also guess locations of pitches and direction of pitches to increase their chances of beating a pitcher. What was nice about the pure baseball option was that pitchers did not get beat often on good pitches, which with games of the past was one of the most annoying and frustrating problems.

This game had many things going on and in it. This is a good thing, that gives the game so much replayablility, but it can also be a detriment to the game, bringing a few bugs. While playing the game, it did freeze up a few times and had to be reset to continue play. At times the game did not keep the right stats for some of the players, or some stats were placed on different players. Other bugs that were noticed were that other game scores were posted during the World Series, and the announcers were off in some of their commentary on how well a team was playing.

As you might be able to tell, I am one of those baseball purists. I played to a very competitive level and always expect many things from a baseball game, since I understand many of the intricacies of the game. 2K5 did give me many of the things I was looking for in a game, especially the pitcher-batter battle that happens on every pitch. I also enjoyed the fact that as a manager, you could not pitch the same pitcher each game because they did get tired, or hurt. The GM mode and moving players from the farm system up and down, as well as resigning players, gave the gamer many looks into professional baseball. If you have a lot of time, you can get lost in the many options this game gives you. If you are a fan of fantasy baseball, this is a game definitely worth purchasing. If you do not like buying these types of games each season, rent it first to see if the game is worth it. If it is not, wait until next year; I am sure some of these issues will be addressed. You can play seasons at different lengths and the Xbox live feature just opens the door for more competition. Power of the general manager, manager, and player are all at your fingertips to play any way you would like. The game types are endless; you won't be disappointed in this game.