Metacritic Games

MVP Baseball 2004 (GameCube)

Step up to the plate with MVP Baseball 2004. The fundamentals of hitting, pitching, fielding, and base running have been reproduced like never before to give you complete control over every aspect of the game. From swinging for the fences or protecting the plate when you have a two-strike count, the all-new batting model provides unprecedented command of each type of swing in every situation. With great gameplay and many additional features such as Pitching Challenge and Dynasty Mode, MVP Baseball 2004 wins the pennant as the most innovative and realistic baseball experience ever created. Groundbreaking Hitting Control: From hitting to the opposite field to pulling the ball down the line to swinging for the fences, every swing type is included. You Control the Field: Leap over the wall and rob home runs, hook slide to avoid tags, and take out the catcher at home with all-new player control. Pick Your Park: With all-new crowd chants, the addition of classic stadiums, and new lighting to signify various start times for your biggest games, MVP Baseball 2004 puts you in the best seat in the house. Your Dynasty Begins Now: Take full control of your franchise on all the levels -- from the minors to the pros. Play, sim, or manage each game all the way to the World Series. [Electronic Arts]

Electronic Arts
Sports, Baseball
Players: 2
E (Everyone)
Developer: EA Canada
Released March 9, 2004

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

89 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 Play Magazine
With a revamped Dynasty mode, a new batting system, and my favorite feature, Big Play Control, MVP Baseball 2004 is the complete package. [Apr 2004, p.73]
96 Warcry
There is just so much here to do, and so many players to play with, all with their own distinctive styles.
95 Nintendojo
Another great visual feature is the incredible picture-in-picture set ups with the base runners. You can see all of them as they’re rounding the base or leading off without having to rely on watching a small dot.
94 Nintendo Power
The most enjoyable baseball game I've ever played, and that includes "High Heat." [May 2004, p.120]
93 Game Informer
For the second year running, MVP is home to the best all around gameplay package. The pressure sensitive pitching mechanic, and sheer intensity of batting best exemplify the realism of the sport and skills that it takes to excel. [Apr 2004, p.93]
91 Game Revolution
Solid in every department, this one will be hard to top simply for the fact that it has very few weaknesses. While other entries might feature better stat-tracking or deeper Dynasty modes, they’ll be hard-pressed to be as well-rounded as MVP.
91 Entertainment Weekly
All three titles dish out amazing gameplay, but we give the edge to MVP, with its innovative fielding and pitching interfaces. [16 Apr 2004, p.L2T 19]
90 Yahoo! Games
If there's one department in which MVP can't be beat, it's player animations. From the plate to the mound and out into center, these guys move with a jaw-dropping grace and fluidity.
90 GamePro
Never before has a sports game improved so much and added so many new features in a single season. It may not be the league-leader in every category, but excellent performances across the board make it the best baseball game of the year. [May 2004, p.86]
90 1UP
Nearly everything about the new MVP, from basic gameplay to the advanced Dynasty mode, oozes quality.
90 Stuff
Nuanced controls like the Pure Swing System let you toggle the left thumbstick of your controller to dig out low pitches, reach for a hanging curve or, in our case, just fan the air where you thought the ball should have appeared.
90 BonusStage
EA Canada knew what they were doing with this title, and it has authenticity and entertainment written all over it. The revolutionary idea to add over 60 minor league teams is huge, and helps boost an already very robust Dynasty Mode.
90 GameSpot
The core fundamentals are spot-on, the variety of options and control choices is spectacular, and the presentation totally draws you into the experience.
89 Worth Playing
No other baseball game so far as been able to fully capture the feel of pitching, fielding and batting like MVP has. The pitching and fielding interfaces are unmatched and are down right groundbreaking, yet extremely simple to pick up on and use.
88 IGN
The Cube version earns a slightly lower rating because it has some framerate issues and the control isn't as solid as PS2 and Xbox and, unlike PS2, there's no online to compensate for those drawbacks.
88 XGP Gaming
Gamecube owners, you are unfortunately left in the dark for online play this year. This can become a horrible burden, as it is a hassle to try and manually complete all the trades for each team so your rosters are correct with the times.
87 Game Over Online
The inclusion of both the Big Play Control and Pure Swing systems provide a natural addition to gameplay, and the Dynasty mode, issues aside, has a certain level of realism that can only be improved on in next year’s version.
87 Next Level Gaming
MVP has hands down the best pitcher/batter interface there is. I loved it last year and I love it here too.
85 GameSpy
Offers super graphics, intuitive and deep gameplay, and one heck of a Dynasty mode.
83 Electronic Gaming Monthly
Aside from offering a deeper, feature-heavy dynasty mode (now complete with minor league squads), 2004 revolutionizes the art of videogame batting muich like 2003 did with pitching. [Apr 2004, p.117]
83 Computer Games Magazine
Batting can be a hit or miss experience, however, offering players control over where the ball goes but ultimately making the effort a matter of timing. [June 2004, p.11]
83 Gaming Age
The fielding is great in the infield and a nightmare in the outfield.
80 Nintendorks
The things that irked me did so to such a degree that I could never get comfortably lost in the game, and I'm pretty much finished playing it. Nevertheless, in the grand scheme of things, the tremendous amount of options and possibilities available would make it very hard to give this game a bad rating.
80 Gamer's Pulse
It has the longest lasting appeal of perhaps any sports title available, thanks to the outstanding dynasty mode and the great multiplayer modes.
80 G4 TV
The visuals immediately draw you in, with some of the best motion-capture animation seen on the diamond to date, but the gameplay is what keeps you coming back.