MLB 2K12: What We Learned from Newly Released Demo

The virtual pitchers and catchers have reported and it's time for some cyber baseball. 2KSports was able to get a leg up on the competition (MLB 12 The Show), being the only console baseball simulation with a pre-release demo. Both full games don't launch until March 6th, so 2K's demo dropping on February 28th is a bit of an advantage.

Gamers get an opportunity to test out the look, feel and style of the new title, at least for three innings.

Here is my demo impression of MLB2K12.

Specifics

Demo Release Date: February 28, for XBOX360 & PS3

Available Through: XBOXLIVE & PSN

Full Game Release Date: March 6, for XBOX360

Cover Athlete: Justin Verlander

Teams Available in Demo: Texas Rangers vs St. Louis Cardinals

Innings: 3

No Play by Play or Color Commentators

Visual Appeal

2K12 looks very much like its predecessor which is solid, but still not on par with the MLB the Show series. Since the Show is a Sony exclusive, 2K is still the best-looking baseball title for 360, but graphics and animation nuts for the PS3 don't have to consider a new champion.

There is still a very cartoonish look to the player models, and it's perplexing to me given the lifelike models used in the NBA2K series. I know technically they are not from the same developers, but it would seem that 2K may reconsider the player models, as they are obviously not the best in class.

The animation is still decent, but in the demo I could detect a slight bit of choppiness and a tad bit of frame skipping. Nothing too detrimental, but I still noticed it with my Jim Leyland-ish eye for virtual baseball games.

Those issues can be straightened out for the final release, but the player models are what they are. It isn't a deal breaker, especially if you only own a XBOX360, but if you have a PS3 and graphics are your thing, it may be a turn off.

Ear Test & Atmosphere

Much of the sound can't be evaluated because 2K has chosen to mute the commentators. It has been a consistent practice of theirs for most of the demos of their sports titles for a few years now. It's a little bit of a pain, but it allows you to focus on the gameplay, maybe that's the idea behind the omission.

The in field sound effects are on point, and the pre-game dialog is in tact, so the demo isn't completely silent. 

Sound and presentation isn't something I ever worry about with 2K titles. They have consistently created the best sound and presentation packages in the genre. The commentating usually has a conversational value that other sports games don't offer, and the presentation is true to a real TV broadcast.

The latter can be seen in the demo, but we'll have to wait on the final verdict in regards to complete sound evaluation.

Gameplay

I was impressed with the gameplay, especially for a demo. The game played smooth and seemed almost 100 percent finished. Subtle instances have tons of rhyme and reason, and the physics were intact.

I've been a fan of the pitching mechanics of 2K12 for a while; they are challenging, and nothing has changed in the demo. When you make a mistake, you know it, and cringe the way a real pitcher would when he knows he left a pitch in a bad spot.

Motioning the pitch commands with your thumb gives you a higher level of satisfaction for making a good pitch.

The hitting interface is decent, but the demo forces you to use analog controls, and I'm not a fan of that as a hitter. It's a preference thing, but the feel is as smooth as can be, considering.

The fielding is especially solid, I love the throw meter. It allows for a player to decide what type of throw he's going to make, before he catches a fly ball or grounder.

It's about either setting your feet to make a strong accurate throw, or getting rid of it quickly, risking less accuracy.

That is cool, and very realistic.

Check out this clip of gameplay from the demo:

From what I've seen, 2K fans should be encouraged as they have another strong baseball simulation headed their way, but I don't think this demo shows enough to convert fans of The Show.

We'll see the final product on March 6th, when the full game is available in stores.