Metacritic Games

MVP Baseball 2005 (GameCube)

Key features for MVP Baseball 2005 include the following: Own the Plate: Change your position in the box to adjust to where the pitcher is working you, or keep the defense honest with a bunt for a hit. Precision Pitching: Paint the corners or send a message with the new Precision Pitch Meter, or catch runners napping with unparalleled pickoff control. Enhanced Big Play Control: Make an underhand toss to the pitcher as he sprints to cover first, slide around a tag at home, and make user-controlled stretches and dives. While leading off base, exercise your reflexes by beating pickoff throws with the all-new manual leadoff control. Control every aspect of your organization in all-new Owner Mode. Create your line-up based on player progression during Spring Training, or help build player attributes by competing in a variety of mini-games. All-New Create Ballpark: In Owner Mode, build a pitcher’s paradise or a hitter’s dream. Will you spend your earnings to upgrade your ballpark or to sign that key free agent who could bring you a championship? Expanded Minor Leagues: Advanced Single A squads and additional stadiums have been added to round out the list of teams available in the minor league system. [Electronic Arts]

Electronic Arts
Sports, Baseball
Players: 2
E (Everyone)
Developer: EA Canada
Released February 22, 2005

Overall Metascore

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

88 / 100

Critic Reviews

93 PGNx Media
An incredibly well-put together baseball game. Its presentation is top-notch, it includes a number of modes that you can spend countless hours playing, and the sense of control is unmatched.
92 IGN
MVP 2005 addresses, corrects, and improves upon almost every issue fans had with the previous instalments. With the addition of Owner Mode and the mini-games, EA Canada's proven that it wasn't just polishing up last year's version.
92 GameZone
The deepest, most impressive ballgame that’s just too addictive.
90 My Gamer
The best and most complete baseball game on the market. Any self-respecting baseball fan has to pick up this game.
90 Game Over Online
With an extremely realistic presentation, augmented control system, and additional attention paid to the overall gameplay, MVP 2005 could be one of those games baseball fans keep returning to in the upcoming years of exclusive sports games.
90 Play Magazine
Together with a near flawless play-by-play announcer, excellent sound, music and solid online play, EA Sports has done it again with MVP. [Apr 2005, p.76]
90 Stuff
We're fond of the new Hitter's Eye feature, which means that the ball changes color as it leaves the pitcher's hand, letting the batter know what kind of pitch is on the way to the plate. Red means breaking ball; white means fastball; green means changeup; and brown means that Randy Johnson has been into the Skoal tin again.
90 Worth Playing
It's got major lasting power, a truckload of modes, thoughtful tweaks, and most importantly, solid gameplay.
90 Nintendo Power
If you play single-player modes primarily, the 2005 version is worth the upgrade. [May 2005, p.91]
90 NintendoWorldReport
With the pitching mini-game and Owner Mode (or Dynasty Mode for the less hardcore), gamers will have plenty to enjoy for the rest of this baseball season and well into the off-season.
89 Armchair Empire
EA continues to raise the bar year after year with its sports simulations, and MVP Baseball 2005 is no exception.
88 GameSpot
The bottom line is that if you're looking for a realistic and feature-rich baseball video game, you can't go wrong with MVP Baseball 2005.
87 Electronic Gaming Monthly
The hardcore MVP player will dig getting a read on the ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand. Maybe 2K Games can steal this feature next season - EA surely won't need it. [April 2005, p.112]
86 BonusStage
Feature for feature, there is no better pure baseball simulation to buy this season than MVP Baseball 2005.
85 Game Informer
The new material that EA has implemented is minimal at best, and most of the additions don't generate a lot of excitement. With that said, this is still the best-playing baseball game on the market. [March 2005, p.118]
83 XGP Gaming
The Owner's Mode is pretty nifty. You not only control the team rosters, but now you control absolutely everything on the team.
83 Game Revolution
If "MVP Baseball 2004" was Alec Baldwin, MVP Baseball 2005 is Daniel – mostly the same, but a little bit sleazier.
83 Gaming Age
You have all the trimmings expected in a baseball game, and the action is quick and enjoyable, so much that you can get games in under a half an hour if you wish.
80 G4 TV
The owners and dynasty one-two could make MVP a must-have for detail-oriented fans, especially those without a PS2 who are locked out of "MLB 2006's" equally strong offering.
80 GameSpy
What I'm not so sure about are the mini-games. These will help you practice your stroke/throw, but they're not much fun. The pitching mini-game is especially annoying.