If you are a baseball fan, High Heat Baseball 2002 is a must have. If you enjoy sports games for the PC, go buy this title. If your not really into sports games, but have been thinking about giving one a shot, this is the game for you. 3DO has delivered a graphically supped up edition of HHB2002 that will knock you right on your ass, and leave you begging for more.

The graphics are better than last year’s version, but it is the attention to detail that makes this game so special. If you don’t believe me go download the demo and try it for yourself. Check out Bernie Williams’ batting stance. 3DO has captured it to a tee. The statistics are tight, and there is a career mode. The ballparks are all represented and look beautiful, although the crowd is still rather weak. There are day and night games, as well as weather effects, which are new to this edition.

The sound is yet another shining reason to purchase this title. The music between menus is very cool and very clear, featuring Soul Coughing among others. During the game the sound is so good that you will expect to go to commercial between innings. It is that good. Players walk to the batter’s box to music. The stadium announcer is dead on while introducing players. Even the play by play announcers sound like something right out of the television. The illusion is very real I assure you. The only short point about the announcing is that eventually after playing through an entire season, they seem to run out of different things to say. Like I said, the illusion is very real.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, we get to the cream. The gameplay is just like spreading whipped butter over a toasted English muffin. Smooth and creamy. Everything is easily controlled through a gamepad. Pitches can be chosen by using the directional pad, and you have complete control over where the balls are thrown. It is all here folks. Steel a base, bunt, sacrifice fly, pick off a runner, you can even try to stretch a single into an extra base hit. You can DH, or bring a pitcher in from the bullpen, it’s all here, and it’s all as easy as a push of a button.

I can’t say enough about this one. This is a game that will stay on your PC for a long time to come. My one complaint is that it is still too easy to hit one out of the park. Especially if your Mike Piazza. Too bad the real Piazza isn’t hitting’ ‘em out. There have been reports of a crash while playing at Wrigley Field. Sometimes when the ball is hit in the air, it doesn’t come back down. I haven’t experienced it yet, however if it is true I am sure 3DO is hard at work on a patch. Either way this one is definitely worth your paper. 

Install: Easy
There’s not much to it.

Gameplay: 10
Simple, easy to learn control. Incredibly fun to play.

Graphics: 8.5 
Improved graphics, beautiful stadiums, and a very high attention to detail.

Sound: 9
I felt like I was actually at a ball game. Enough said.

Difficulty: 9
You have the option to decrease or increase the level of difficulty, which is a beautiful thing.

Concept: 9 
Lets face it. Baseball kicks almost as much ass as Basketball. Almost.

Multiplayer: 7.5
Still a bit buggy, and the connection is inconsistent.

Overall: 9
As I said before, go out and purchase this sucker. You won’t be sorry.