Very few changes between last year and this year may leave some baseball fans feeling winded in their wallet.
Not much improvement comes with the commentary, either. It's rock solid, for the most part, as the team covers your every move on the bases and mound, but we didn't hear anything substantial from the sample matches we tried out. We can't even tell if they recorded anything new – um, did they?
There are extras, but, once more, they're recycled. The Home Run Derby returns, enabling you and friends to compete in quick rounds of slamming balls over the fence. It's substantially good, but some mini-game variety would've been welcome here. You'll also find Franchise and My Player, which remain pretty much in the same tact as last year (mind a few minor scouting changes and, of course, this year's stats). Neither can really stand up against the many changes Sony put into MLB 13: The Show. There, you get the improved model. Here, you get a case of déjà vu.
At least online still functions acceptably, where you can match up with friends. You'll also be able to catch up with daily match-ups over the course of the season, and compete for that million dollar prize – which seems to be the only thing 2K is advertising from the game, rather than the product itself.
You can tell that some corners were cut to get MLB 2K13 on shelves, mainly because 2K was in a hurry to release it to keep its contract with Major League Baseball intact. But it would've helped to have a back-up plan in case of renewal, with some new features to keep players returning – particular with Xbox 360 owners, since this is the only game in town for them.
