#5 of 2009: The BIGS 2

by pastapadre
Posted December 26th, 2009 at 11:26 am

The ranking of games in the best of 2009 list is based primarily on the personal amount of enjoyment had with a particular title. Some other factors include whether advertised features were fully delivered on, post-release support, community interaction and communication, overall gameplay experience, feature set, and online play performance. Again this is a personal take on the games. The analysis is weighted largely towards those which I had the most fun with while considering them as a whole and compared relatively to the others.

There was no bigger supporter of the original The BIGS. It was my #1 game of 2007 and as such the sequel was highly anticipated. While The BIGS 2 didn’t have the same magic it was still easily the best baseball product available on the 360. The fun factor and strategical elements remained strengths however just a couple decisions that were made for the sequel ended up holding it back.

The BIGS 2 didn’t do anything crazy to change the formula that worked in the original. It continued to play in a surprisingly sim fashion just with an incredibly exaggerated nature on the surface. It built on that by developing some new strategical elements. In terms of the additions it had numerous good concepts and one that ultimately tainted the experience.

The power-up system based on the real attributes of players was unique and added another element of strategy. In the same regard were the “Legendary” players which could make plays that others couldn’t. The “wheelhouse” was another pitcher vs batter strategy element which worked. The use of injuries to affect the player rating “stars” was great as well. All these things forced the user to plan ahead and consider risk vs reward in even more situations.

However the addition of “Big Slam” was what hurt the game the most. Building up to that essentially provides an automatic Grand Slam. For a game that has done so well with designing the strategical elements so they were balanced this one literally would take control out of the user’s hands. After the first pitch the CPU would take over as the pitcher and throw the next three which would all be crushed. It just really stood out as the lone design decision that in hindsight was a mistake.

Career mode was improved with starting in the Mexican league and working up. Added elements of customization and expansion from a year to being a career were nice to have. Unfortunately there was still no way to play a career as a pitcher. The game also had a 162 game season mode which I couldn’t imagine playing through.

Attempting to advance through the training mini-games led to a lot of frustration because of the difficulty. The hitting mini-game in particular was especially tough and that is where I had enough. So while they new ones were creative I can’t say that they were necessarily fun nor would they improve user skill in the regular games. However the Home Run Pinball remained a big winner. The new locales were great and the ability to be played co-op online was great.

Graphically the game was better than the original and the player models were even slimmed down a tad for a more realistic look. Framerate was always smooth but the new camera utilized negatively affected the overall feel and ability to fully appreciate the visuals.

The one change that was introduced that I really didn’t like was the more zoomed in camera. Because of the speed of the game the camera cuts were incredibly quick and at times disorienting. At the very least it prevented you from being able to enjoy on-field action unfurl because most of it would be missed. The camera movement would follow the ball and dart away from players immediately or shoot in on them as the play was made. It was even damaging at times to the gameplay as it made it difficult to react to events on the field. I had circumstances where balls were hit and because of the camera I couldn’t tell immediately whether it was headed down the third baseline or the first baseline.

What I continue to appreciate the most about The BIGS series is the genuine strategy that can be formed. I like that you can go at the games, and each individual pitch, so many different ways and nothing about it is frustrating. Only a handful of other arcade games have been able to figure out that formula and none are as deep as The BIGS.

The BIGS 2 remains 2K’s best baseball offering in every way. It is remarkable that this game can be so polished and well designed while the others have released in complete disarray. Outside of the two issues (Big Slam and the zoomed camera) this was another great effort. Hopefully the series will continue but given recent statements from Take Two unfortunately that seems unlikely to happen.

#5: The BIGS 2
#6: NBA Live 10
#7: Madden Arcade
#8: NCAA Football 10
#9: NBA 2K10
#10: Fight Night Round 4
The Worst of 2009

Tags: top 10

http://thriftstoreundies.blogspot.com/ Blinkswift

The Bigs 2?! You're such an EA Fanboy

–@Blinkswift
http://thriftstoreundies.blogspot.com Blinkswift

The Bigs 2?! You're such an EA Fanboy

–@Blinkswift
kris

I dont really feel like 2K deserves to have two games in a top 10 but I cant really fault The Bigs being there. Its a fun game and is really well made compared to their other games.
kris

I dont really feel like 2K deserves to have two games in a top 10 but I cant really fault The Bigs being there. Its a fun game and is really well made compared to their other games.
kris

I dont really feel like 2K deserves to have two games in a top 10 but I cant really fault The Bigs being there. Its a fun game and is really well made compared to their other games.
http://intensedebate.com/people/bengalsfan2001 bengalsfan2001

Where are all the guys that are gonna bitch about this being higher then NBA 2k, and then say pasta on EA jock… Those people are dumbass
http://intensedebate.com/people/bengalsfan2001 bengalsfan2001

Where are all the guys that are gonna bitch about this being higher then NBA 2k, and then say pasta on EA jock… Those people are dumbass
http://intensedebate.com/people/bengalsfan2001 bengalsfan2001

Where are all the guys that are gonna bitch about this being higher then NBA 2k, and then say pasta on EA jock… Those people are dumbass
http://intensedebate.com/people/okafor43 okafor43

Its a shame they can make a good arcade game but cant get it right on the sim game!
http://intensedebate.com/people/okafor43 okafor43

Its a shame they can make a good arcade game but cant get it right on the sim game!
http://intensedebate.com/people/okafor43 okafor43

Its a shame they can make a good arcade game but cant get it right on the sim game!
What

Shutup son
What

Shutup son
What

Shutup son
JJC

The Bigs 2 is a 2k game
JJC

The Bigs 2 is a 2k game
Quilly

Im So High I Can Bite A Star
Quilly

Im So High I Can Bite A Star
CLEfan

Never enjoyed arcade games. They are just plain stupid. I dont care if all the features work or the online is good. Arcade style games are for little kids, and a disgrace to the sports they try and represent. The only one I can actually play was the old NFL Blitz, mainly because I was KID. We need a good SIM Baseball game, MVP needs to make a comeback, along with NFL 2k. I wish the contracts would just be switched.
CLEfan

Never enjoyed arcade games. They are just plain stupid. I dont care if all the features work or the online is good. Arcade style games are for little kids, and a disgrace to the sports they try and represent. The only one I can actually play was the old NFL Blitz, mainly because I was KID. We need a good SIM Baseball game, MVP needs to make a comeback, along with NFL 2k. I wish the contracts would just be switched.
DukeBlueDevils

Dude, you have the worst taste in games.

Are you eight years old?
DukeBlueDevils

Dude, you have the worst taste in games.

Are you eight years old?
CLEfan

Another thing is I thing NCAA shoulda been number 10, because imo it was worse than 09. the only positive thing was the team builder, which i didnt get to enjoy to much. The gameplay was way to fast and the way the players moved was just terrible. you could make a cut to the right or the left while at top speed, which is just not realistic at all. Not only that but the rosters where completely wrong. Pasta idk how you can knock 2k for the online play being terrible, but then just push away the fact that NCAA completely forgot to have the right roster in the game. HA that is just terrible, what if you dont have online, your just suppossed to play with those shit rosters?
CLEfan

Another thing is I thing NCAA shoulda been number 10, because imo it was worse than 09. the only positive thing was the team builder, which i didnt get to enjoy to much. The gameplay was way to fast and the way the players moved was just terrible. you could make a cut to the right or the left while at top speed, which is just not realistic at all. Not only that but the rosters where completely wrong. Pasta idk how you can knock 2k for the online play being terrible, but then just push away the fact that NCAA completely forgot to have the right roster in the game. HA that is just terrible, what if you dont have online, your just suppossed to play with those shit rosters?
Ricky

he only put the bigs 2 at 5 bcuz he had to
Ricky

he only put the bigs 2 at 5 bcuz he had to
steezywonder

Yep, those people are dumbass.
Idiot.
steezywonder

Yep, those people are dumbass.
Idiot.
NoFro904

……
http://intensedebate.com/people/AfroMANIA NoFro904 (Theron)

……
http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

College games are always going to have shit rosters unfortunately. Thats just the way it is unless an agreement is made to allow names into the games.
http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

College games are always going to have shit rosters unfortunately. Thats just the way it is unless an agreement is made to allow names into the games.
NOS

Always had a good laugh at the people who try to put down arcade games, like theyre some lesser form of gaming or the only people who can like them are children. Its apparently so crazy to believe that some people actually play games to have fun! I like the sim games too but I can enjoy something different for what it is and not get all offended by the idea that it isnt true to life.
NOS

Always had a good laugh at the people who try to put down arcade games, like theyre some lesser form of gaming or the only people who can like them are children. Its apparently so crazy to believe that some people actually play games to have fun! I like the sim games too but I can enjoy something different for what it is and not get all offended by the idea that it isnt true to life.
CLEfan

Yeah ill agree with you there. Dont get me wrong NCAA Football is a great game, ive been playing it since it came out. The thing is this year i felt as if it has fallen off. I know they cannot name the players because back in 05 and 06 I used to name the rosters myself. Unfortunately this year the game was released with players on the team that had already graduated, also players who transfered werent moved from their previous team. And to me that is terrible, atleast get those things right. If your going to make an authentic game make the rosters right, as the right freshman on each team.

For example, my friend played for Toledo this year at outside linebacker, and he ended up starting toward the end of the year. He wasnt even on the initial roster, or even on the updated one when the patch or whatever came out. Since this game is trying to be official the least they can do is assemble a team together to get the rosters right, including the incoming freshman. All they really have to do is look on each teams website for the roster. Not hard to do.
CLEfan

Yeah ill agree with you there. Dont get me wrong NCAA Football is a great game, ive been playing it since it came out. The thing is this year i felt as if it has fallen off. I know they cannot name the players because back in 05 and 06 I used to name the rosters myself. Unfortunately this year the game was released with players on the team that had already graduated, also players who transfered werent moved from their previous team. And to me that is terrible, atleast get those things right. If your going to make an authentic game make the rosters right, as the right freshman on each team.

For example, my friend played for Toledo this year at outside linebacker, and he ended up starting toward the end of the year. He wasnt even on the initial roster, or even on the updated one when the patch or whatever came out. Since this game is trying to be official the least they can do is assemble a team together to get the rosters right, including the incoming freshman. All they really have to do is look on each teams website for the roster. Not hard to do.
Jamin

I don't think the bigs is that bad of a game. I played the demo and thought it was better than mlb 2k9, but I prefer to play sim games over the arcade representation of the sport. I would play them for a change instead of playing the sim version. Saying that I don't think that the bigs should be on Pasta's list.
Jamin

I don't think the bigs is that bad of a game. I played the demo and thought it was better than mlb 2k9, but I prefer to play sim games over the arcade representation of the sport. I would play them for a change instead of playing the sim version. Saying that I don't think that the bigs should be on Pasta's list.
NELL86

This same sentence can be applied to Madden…hahaha.
NELL86

This same sentence can be applied to Madden…hahaha.
http://intensedebate.com/people/okafor43 okafor43

Im guessing the lawsuits have something to do with the rosters this year and they will probably see how that plays out before ea will actually get the correct players well numebers that is right. Its a shame some morons out there want to sue over something soo petty. But besides the rosters ncaa 10 had more problems than that. they need to revamp presentation basically has been the same for a while now, slow the speed of the game down add some new animations like they do in madden, player models, I understand this is college and that players are not as big as the nfl but come on, there are some in college ready to play int e nfl right now and they are all not small!
http://intensedebate.com/people/okafor43 okafor43

Im guessing the lawsuits have something to do with the rosters this year and they will probably see how that plays out before ea will actually get the correct players well numebers that is right. Its a shame some morons out there want to sue over something soo petty. But besides the rosters ncaa 10 had more problems than that. they need to revamp presentation basically has been the same for a while now, slow the speed of the game down add some new animations like they do in madden, player models, I understand this is college and that players are not as big as the nfl but come on, there are some in college ready to play int e nfl right now and they are all not small!
http://intensedebate.com/people/CLEfan CLEfan

its not a lesser form of gaming, its just a childish representation of the sport.
http://intensedebate.com/people/CLEfan CLEfan

its not a lesser form of gaming, its just a childish representation of the sport.
hawkeye4077

Oh no, I see where this is going. Don't do it Pasta. Don't do it to yourself, if you want to keep what little sports game credibility you have left. Vote no for Madden #1.
hawkeye4077

Oh no, I see where this is going. Don't do it Pasta. Don't do it to yourself, if you want to keep what little sports game credibility you have left. Vote no for Madden #1.
http://intensedebate.com/people/4YM3R1C 4YM3R1C

I'm not an EA apologist nor a 2k fan boy, however the two best sportsgames of the year were made by EA Sports. I'm talking about FIFA 10 and NHL 10.
Madden 10 shouldn't be a top 5. Not because it's a bad game, it's pretty solid. But mostly because, Madden releases are way below expectations year in year out.
In a way, FIFA 10 and NHL 10 are living examples that one needs competition.FIFA used to be an awful franchise. It was such a joke that it reminded the last releases of EA's Triple Play baseball. But Pro Evolution Soccer just flat out killed them during a 5 year span. Ditto with the NHL game. I used to love NHL 2k but they somehow rest on their laurels (in a more dramatic way than the guys working on the NBA 2k games)… Kudos to EA for bouncing back in such manners. Let's hope they can turn things around with Madden.
http://intensedebate.com/people/4YM3R1C 4YM3R1C

I'm not an EA apologist nor a 2k fan boy, however the two best sportsgames of the year were made by EA Sports. I'm talking about FIFA 10 and NHL 10.
Madden 10 shouldn't be a top 5. Not because it's a bad game, it's pretty solid. But mostly because, Madden releases are way below expectations year in year out.
In a way, FIFA 10 and NHL 10 are living examples that one needs competition.FIFA used to be an awful franchise. It was such a joke that it reminded the last releases of EA's Triple Play baseball. But Pro Evolution Soccer just flat out killed them during a 5 year span. Ditto with the NHL game. I used to love NHL 2k but they somehow rest on their laurels (in a more dramatic way than the guys working on the NBA 2k games)… Kudos to EA for bouncing back in such manners. Let's hope they can turn things around with Madden.
James

IMO the best sports game this year wasn't made by either company… it was made by SCEA in The Show.
James

IMO the best sports game this year wasn't made by either company… it was made by SCEA in The Show.
http://intensedebate.com/people/4YM3R1C 4YM3R1C

It's my number 3, mostly because it was a nightmare to go online with MLB…
http://intensedebate.com/people/4YM3R1C 4YM3R1C

It's my number 3, mostly because it was a nightmare to go online with MLB…
jusmegamer

I don't understand why MLB 2K does not use some parts of the BIGS engine. The BIGS characters are the correct size for starters MLB 2K has the wrong size men
jusmegamer

I don't understand why MLB 2K does not use some parts of the BIGS engine. The BIGS characters are the correct size for starters MLB 2K has the wrong size men
James

ohhh… see when I get sports games I rarely touch the online part (unless I'm DL patches or updated rosters)
James

ohhh… see when I get sports games I rarely touch the online part (unless I'm DL patches or updated rosters)
http://thriftstoreundies.blogspot.com/ Blinkswift

Yeah, I'm aware… it was sarcasm (hence the wink at the end of the comment)
http://thriftstoreundies.blogspot.com Blinkswift

Yeah, I'm aware… it was sarcasm (hence the wink at the end of the comment)
http://intensedebate.com/people/Mo_Diddley Mo_Diddley

The BIGS & Madden Arcade better than FNR4? Ok sure. This list is getting a bit ridiculous but it is your list and site so you can rank the titles however you like. I will say one thing though Pasta you promoted being fair and objectionable with your game reviews. You even went on to say that don't give a game rating as you only post facts and features about the game. Unfortunately it seems you threw that all out of the window with your rankings by pumping up games you like instead of games that delivered this year. Then again you did say that "the best of 2009 list is based primarily on the personal amount of enjoyment had with a particular title" which goes against the very essence of what you had initially informed us of what this site is all about.

There are 4 spots and 5 titles left: Madden, FIFA, UFC, The Show & NHL. So who will bare the brunt of your decision to completely delete a good game from the top 10?

Mo Diddley the keep it real at all times-er!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Mo_Diddley Mo_Diddley

The BIGS & Madden Arcade better than FNR4? Ok sure. This list is getting a bit ridiculous but it is your list and site so you can rank the titles however you like. I will say one thing though Pasta you promoted being fair and objectionable with your game reviews. You even went on to say that don't give a game rating as you only post facts and features about the game. Unfortunately it seems you threw that all out of the window with your rankings by pumping up games you like instead of games that delivered this year. Then again you did say that "the best of 2009 list is based primarily on the personal amount of enjoyment had with a particular title" which goes against the very essence of what you had initially informed us of what this site is all about.

There are 4 spots and 5 titles left: Madden, FIFA, UFC, The Show & NHL. So who will bare the brunt of your decision to completely delete a good game from the top 10?

Mo Diddley the keep it real at all times-er!
Quilly

Im So High I Can Bite A Star
Quilly

Im So High I Can Bite A Star
Nutzilla13

Very funny Quilly Millz, we heard you the first time…
Nutzilla13

Very funny Quilly Millz, we heard you the first time…
jusmegamer

UFC will most likely get left out. Madden, FIFA, and NHL are all made by EA and know way he leaves The Show out. What a joke,
jusmegamer

UFC will most likely get left out. Madden, FIFA, and NHL are all made by EA and know way he leaves The Show out. What a joke,
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