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Major League Baseball 2K9

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

5.2 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 29 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 25 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: 2K Sports

Developer: Visual Concepts

Genre(s): Sports, Baseball

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: March 2, 2009

Summary

While attending the University of Washington, MLB 2K9's cover athlete Tim Lincecum won the coveted Golden Spikes Award which is given to the nation’s top college baseball player. He was drafted 10th overall by the San Francisco Giants in 2006. Known to fans as "The Franchise" and "The Freak", Lincecum was named to the National League All-Star team this past season while putting up astonishing numbers and leading the Majors™ with a remarkable 265 strikeouts. Lincecum also led the National League in other key pitching categories including win percentage (18-5, .783), opponent’s batting average (.221), and strikeouts per nine innings (10.51), along with ranking second in earned run average (2.62). For all of his historic accomplishments, Lincecum won the Players’ Choice Award as the National League Outstanding Pitcher this season, along with the National League Pitcher of the Year Award from Sporting News. Both awards were voted on by his peers. More significantly, Lincecum today was named the National League Cy Young Award winner, given annually to the top pitcher in both the American League and the National League, and voted on by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. [2K Sports]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Major League Baseball 2K8

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

GameDaily

Although MLB 2K9 offers entertaining base-rounding thrills for both Xbox 360 and PS3, these issues prevent it from topping Sony's higher-quality MLB 09: The Show.

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GameFocus

There’s more good than bad in MLB 2K9. While the experience has been brought down to a certain level of easiness, there’s still a lot of things that make the game frustrating and tiresome. MLB 2K9 is a great improvement over last years’ game and made me want to spend a few quality hours on it. Sadly, making a “baseball game for dummies” won’t make the games better if they keep changing the recipe and trying come up with ways to be the big boy in town…I think this is what hurts the game the most.

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Planet Xbox 360

2K9 finally sees the end of the bland Joe Morgan and John Miller era. Gary Thorne and Steve Phillips provide the analysis this time around, which is a huge improvement.

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GameZone

What is presented in MLB2K9 is more than sufficient in terms of an enjoyable baseball game. The level of detail and depth in the title is impressive, as is the overall presentation and quality. Certain aspects may be somewhat disappointing, but overall, this one is a winner.

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Xbox360Achievements

Nothing groundbreaking in the latest installment of the MLB 2K series that would set this apart from any other sports title. You will get your money’s worth with the Franchise mode and the constant free roster updates. MLB 2K9 is good enough to make it to the majors, but not quite worthy of an all-star title that we were hoping for.

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XboxAddict

If you seriously play this game with an open mind you will see that it has a lot of potential to be one of the best baseball games ever next year. Sure this year lacks some polish and options.

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Game Informer

I was hoping that 2K would build on last year’s foundation. Instead, the foundation has been altered to be more appealing to the masses. That’s difficult logic to argue with, but 2K’s approach is way off the mark.

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TeamXbox

Want a better baseball video game experience? Unfortunately it’s on the PS3 with MLB The Show. Xbox 360 gamers are stuck with this rough-hewn and frustrating game that could have otherwise been a gem. Instead, that no-hitter in the bottom of the ninth got broken up by a grand slam.

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Game Chronicles

MLB 2K9 is improving. It seems to be a best fit for someone who is a casual fan.

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Games Radar (in-house)

We’ve rarely been so conflicted about a baseball game, but MLB 2K9 is a paradox. It’s undeniably fun and accessible, offering plenty of addictive options for hardball fans. It also suffers from too many gaffes that are impossible to ignore.

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Totally360

Overall MLB 2K9 is a definite improvement over MLB 2K8, yet there are still issues that need to be addressed.

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GameSpy

A gameplay experience more fans will enjoy, but an out of the box experience that might not be challenging enough for hardcore seamheads who spent countless hours mastering how to throw the perfect curve in MLB 2K8. Still, this game is by all means a successful update.

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IGN

MLB 2K9 is an enjoyable game for a casual fan, but those who are really dedicated to baseball are certain to find the bad AI annoying.

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Extreme Gamer

In an all out brawl, 2K9 might have a little ways to go before it reaches the same level as The Show, but it seems like Visual Concepts is working hard to perfect their craft. 2K9 has its strong points and its new control scheme fit perfectly in my newbie hands.

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Gaming Age

MLB 2K9 belongs in the 'fun' category. It looks great, and most of the time the game plays great. But it's not kind online, and pitch counts and tendencies, and hitters that act like the real thing, aren't there.

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GameTrailers

Major League Baseball 2K9 is really rough around the edges. Smoothing out the frame rate has improved the fielding, but this game really needed a visit from the exterminator before it shipped.

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My Gamer

Innovation from 2k8 was halfheartedly built upon, and then watered down.

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Official Xbox Magazine

The laundry list of annoying little problems is too substantial. [Apr 2009, p.76]

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ZTGameDomain

Glitches can be patched, but the bigger problem is that the overall feel of the game just doesn't work. The batting is way too easy, even on higher difficulties. The fielding mechanics seemed tacked on to the right analog stick simply for the sake of being different.

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AceGamez

Major League Baseball 2K9 isn't a terrible game but it isn't a good one.

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GamePro

You have four major game options when online: quickmatch, play a friend, custom match and home run derby. On top of single game options you have what amounts to be the best online function any sports game could have, leagues.

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GameShark

If a truly authentic hitter/pitcher battle is what you crave, for example, this isn’t going to do it for you. If what you really want is to just sit down and have some fun playing something that looks and feels a lot like baseball, even if it’s not the most authentic game on the market, then this game will do the job.

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Worth Playing

If you're a fan of the MLB and are strictly an Xbox 360 owner, then you'll probably find something to like in MLB 2K9; after all, you pretty much have to. Unfortunately, you'll also have to put up with some of the shoddiest fielding AI I've seen in a while, and enough bugs that will cause semi-frequent frustrations with the entire game, including one that I'd consider to be pretty much a game-breaker at this point.

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Cheat Code Central

All in all, this one just can’t measure up to the heavy hitters.

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Gamer 2.0

If you’re the unfortunate baseball fan without a PS3, PS2, or PSP, you’ll have to make do with whatever you’ve been playing until now to fill the void of good baseball games to play while those on the PS3 should not even go beyond the demo in consideration of getting this game.

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GameSpot

MLB 2K9 is a deeply flawed funhouse-mirror distortion of baseball.

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Kombo

Just don't buy, rent, or play this game unless you want a good laugh.

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Gaming Nexus

2k Sports swings for the fences, but ultimately drops the ball.

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1UP

A game that tries so hard to prove that the series is progressing, but ignores fixing the issues that have plagued it for years: poor defense, sloppy animations, and catering to the home run mar any greatness this game was hoping to achieve.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 5.2 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Job a gave it a9:
where am I?I really cant believe these completly wrong reviewers.They now have a patch for the game but come on.Your all just 2K haters with your ooow ea and sony people.This baseball game is really awsome and I have 2k7 and I was playing now and --no,no,no.MLB 2K9 is the best baseball game made to this date 1-16-10.If you want to know a 2nd place its not the show,its world series baseball 2k3.I'm right and there are thousands that agree with me and thousands that are so upset cause they love there "the show"or"mvp baseball 2004,2005.Well like I said 2k in right on the money with there baseball and basketball games they just need to change a few things with there hockey title then 2K will have this locked up.They made an awsome tennis game "Top Spin 3"I commend you 2K for great work and for your baseball title I give it a 9.6

H Larson gave it a1:
The only reason I gave it a 1 is because for the 5min of game time that it isn't buggy it is a mediocre game. The bugs however make this game utterly unplayable. Go watch some of the youtube videos out there, they are sickening. Those bugs and glitches aren't rare or isolated either. Pop flys right to your player will land on his head or foot. You will not be able to play one game without giving up a triple or double because of the poor physics. On top of the bugs is the fact that players like Nick Punto can hit a 450ft homerun. The steriod era is over, make a baseball game not a home run derby game. They must have made this game in a month... embarrassing for everyone involved. Worst sports game I have ever played hands down.

Brian L gave it a4:
Good lord have they learned nothing?? This game had the potential to be decent, but the ridiculous amount of minor issues make it unplayable. I was playing through franchise mode with myself the new star shortstop of the redsox, and was really looking forward to the game. As it turned out, at least 5 times a game, there is some sort of glitch that makes me want to throw my controller at the screen. Either a fly ball will bounce off my star outfielder's head without him even trying to catch it, or I'll be chasing down a grounder and the runner will stop, etc etc. Usually those stupid glitches will cost me a hard fought game. The new menu system is terrible, its hard to get a simple stat like pitch count, can't change face or stance of create a player, the list goes on and one. After playing MLB09: the show for PS3, this game is crap. Too bad sony makes that one because I'd much rather play that on my xbox

David T gave it a3:
I bought this game without checking the Metracritic reviews first. BIG MISTAKE! The game contains several bugs, including players not catching easy fly balls, excessive home runs, and players running through each other when you run the bases. This game was huge disappointment. Next time I will read reviews before buying a game for 60 bucks!

Lyndon V gave it a0:
This is one of the worst baseball games ive ever played, some aspects are realistic yes, but what counts, is not. The fact that I can throw the ball away, and then it skips to the next batter while the ball is rolling around, or the fact if i just skip right to when i wanna bat, and not wait for the pitcher to get all ready, all the sudden my runner on base, is no longer at the lead i had him at. There are many other glitches in the games, as well as how the game is mapped out for player performance. I am a diehard baseball fan, and its sickening this is the best xbox has to offer for a baseball game, someone please help!! Make something good!!!

Buckman B gave it a5:
Graphics are mediocore, which is surprising for a 2K game. There also lots of gliches. These are the 3 most common: 1. Sometimes on a ground ball, the short stop will throw to first base and for some reason the 1st baseman lifts his foot off the bag before he catches the ball, allowing the runner to be safe at 1st. This happens at least once a game. 2. On a flyball, the outfielder sometimes stands directly underneath the ball and looks like he is about to catch it when he watches it fall and hit the ground right next time him. Happens usually 1-2 times a game. 3. Pitchers get hurt pitching... I'm not sure how this happens but it happens every 6 or 7 games. Also if you dive for a ball, the outfielder usually gets injured 25% of the time. Even though these gliches happen often, it is still a fun game to play and if all you have a 360, this is the only baseball game out there so I would say it is worth getting.

Warrin P gave it a3:
I am very disappointed in this title. If you are looking for baseball simulation with realistic game play, you will be disappointed. The hitting is clumsy, I've hit 25 HRs in 3 games and I've have a pick off rate of almost 100%. In all fairness, I haven't played online yet, but I don't see how it can swing my opinion too much. Get it because it is the only baseball game for xbox360, but it is not a good one.

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Major League Baseball 2K9

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Summary

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What The Critics Said

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