Little League World Series Baseball 2009 Review

Enter any game shop today, and take a glance at the vast rows of software titles. One thing becomes instantly clear: franchises reign supreme. Whether it’s a shooter sequel or a movie-to-game adaptation, companies seem to throw around substantial money getting such licenses slapped on the covers of their games. Has this franchise frenzy made our games any better? Probably not. With the legendary brand recognition of Major League Baseball being controlled by a larger company, the folks at Activision have found some degree of relief in an often overlooked source – Little League.

You may laugh, and ask yourself “Why would I play a Little League baseball game? If I’m going to experience a baseball fantasy, it should be in the Big League!” This is a perfectly sound line of thought. However, to discard this title merely because of its league would mean ignoring an excellent game. Another potential excuse to avoid buying Little League 2009 would be the game’s cartoonish art style. No self-respecting adult could be seen purchasing such a childish-looking game, right? This is nonsense, of course – anyone who has ever taken a look at the graphic styles of Zelda or Mario (two of the most successful video game franchises of all time, mind you) knows that a game’s visual style has absolutely no impact on the level of fun you’ll have with the game.

Little League World Series Baseball 2009 actually utilizes its unique visual design to revitalize the baseball gaming genre. Rather than being forced to stare at a bunch of square-jawed pretty boys, frowning their way throughout the entire season, you’ll be treated to vibrant display of color, lively animations, and perhaps even the occasional display of emotion. Little League manages to achieve that rare balance of accessibility for younger audiences and enjoyable gameplay for veteran players. This extends far beyond the cosmetic surface of the game, however. The controls scheme is adaptable for several styles of play. An inexperienced player can choose a setting that enables simple swings with the Wii mote in order play most of the game. More advanced users can take advantage of the more extensive controller functionality, which can be used to manipulate the subtlest of angles when batting and pitching. There’s even a special skill meter than will reward players for their success in the game by letting them unleash outlandish maneuvers that may turn the tide of a rigorous play session.

The casual observer might be quick to point out the similarities between this title and the popular Wii Sports baseball game. However, there’s a lot to be said of a game that devotes itself entirely to this great American pastime. One of the immediately noticeable differences is the level of customization available to the player. It’s not quite on the level of some fancy baseball simulations, but adding these personal touches really does help to foster a sense of pride with the team that you helped design, from logos to uniforms. It’s certainly a deeper baseball experience, although it is worth noting that this is not intended to be hardcore game for players to get heavily entrenched in. It is simply good, clean fun that doesn’t require tremendous commitments or hours of training. This makes it particularly appealing for groups of people or parties, with up to four-player gameplay supported.

Speaking of training, Little League offers a set of challenges that will greatly help players hone their skills. Some of these can get rather grueling at higher levels, but for the most part, they can help to raise the player’s confidence and comfort with the game’s mechanics before setting foot in the league itself. Perhaps more important than their purpose is the fun they offer, and this is truly the core of the entire game. Little League World Series 2009 may not be the next revolution in baseball gaming, but its charm and style certainly earn it a distinctive spot within the library of sports games on the Wii.

Review Scoring Details for Little League World Series Baseball 2009

Gameplay: 8.0
Perhaps a bit too simple for some tastes, but the fun factor is difficult to ignore.

Graphics: 8.0
Clean and colorful, and extraordinarily exaggerated in every way.

Sound: 7.0
A bit more variety would be nice, but overall pleasing to the ear.

Difficulty: Medium
An adequate array of training challenges to make them feel as fair as possible.

Concept: 7.0
An interesting spin on the classic baseball genre.

Multiplayer: 7.0
Nice and simple for party play, there’s little to complain about here.

Overall: 8.0
The Little League has never looked this good. Given the amount of fun you can have without getting caught up in a bunch of complicated mechanics, this is a great pick for casual ball fans.

Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Techland

Category: Action

Release Dates

N Amer - 06/30/2009

Official Game Website

Also available on:
• 360
• PS3

Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood Review

When the first game to bear the Call of Juarez name hit the scene back in 2007 all the wide range of critical responses could agree on two things: the game introduced one of the coolest main characters in recent memory, and that it failed miserably when trying to induce stealth and puzzles into the gameplay.

Two years later the sequel has been released, and while Techland has addressed and fixed just about every complaint laid against the first installment, they seem to have forgotten to spend as much time including many of the things that made the first game so memorable.

The result is a game that while fun and fairly unique, still struggles with mediocrity at times and still can't be included in the pantheon of great first person shooter sagas.

Whereas in the first game we were treated to the main character Reverend Ray spouting off verses from a Bible in his left hand while he struck down his enemies with a six shooter in his right, the second game is sorely lacking in personality. He's still one of the main characters in the game, but his personality isn't nearly as developed as it was before. In the second game that awesome juxtaposition is replaced by the banter of two brothers bickering throughout the entire adventure.

For the most part though, even the incessantly repeated lines aren't too much of a bother because the voice acting on all three of the brothers McCall is quite good. The third brother, the young pastor does a more than competent job providing a great set up for the up coming level as he narrates scenes in between playable segments.

Early on the dynamic works well, and I was genuinely impressed by Bound in Blood's ability to make me actually like these despicable men. But it doesn't last very long, and soon you'll grow tired of them calling each other “brother” in every single sentence they speak to each other, just in case you forgot.

The single-player campaign progresses with very little deviation from the standard events that take place in a first person shooter. They're done very well, but they're just not all that remarkable. You'll flank enemy positions, man turrets, and gun down enemies on horseback. In some of the levels in Bound in Blood the area has a distinctly “open” feel to it, even though it really is not. It's refreshing to at least feel like I have a choice in how I tackle a situation even if I truly do not. This is a technique that more linear first person shooters should adopt.

One of the few deviations Bound in Blood makes from its genre brethren is that it allows you to choose which brother you want to play as during each level. Before the level begins you'll be asked to choose to play as either Ray or Thomas McCall. Each one has his own individual advantages. Ray is tough, and can dual-wield pistols which makes him deadly at close range, and Thomas can get to out of reach areas with a lasso as well as use his throwing knives to take out enemies without all the ruckus of a six-gun.

You may have expected a Call of Juarez game to have a good single-player campaign, but much more surprising are the deep and wonderfully fleshed out multiplayer modes. Bound in Blood is one of the few and the proud to stray away from the laziness of deathmatch and capture the flag game types, and invent all new game types that fit within the context of the game's setting, as well as offer a really good time. These modes are fantastic and are well worth your time.

In addition there's also 12 unique classes to explore in multiplayer all with their own specific strengths and weaknesses. Five are unlocked from the start, but you'll have to earn money in multiplayer matches to buy the other classes. These classes can then be leveled up themselves. For the most part the large number of classes are pretty well balanced, save for an overpowered sniper class. Though it's never enough to ruin the fun. All told it's a great addition to the package, but it's not exactly going to steal you away from Team Fortress 2 if class based shooters are your thing.

Bound in Blood is a game that has its issues, but is still undeniably fun. Mostly this is due to the great work Techland has done to craft a convincing setting. From the aforementioned voice acting talent, to the convincing visuals and consistent aesthetic, Bound in Blood never falters in its pursuit to create a wonderful realized world for the game to take place in. That makes it much easier to overlook some of the more minor flaws.

The entire package emerges as greater than the sum of its parts, and becomes a game that is just on the brink of greatness, but stumbles. That doesn't mean it isn't worth your time, though. Especially, in the dull summer months, Bound in Blood will more than serve to tide you over until the holiday release onslaught if it's an FPS fix you're craving.

Game Play:

Gameplay: 7.5
Not much is new in this latest installment, but it's still fun old-west action. Duels in the town square are still as epic and fun as they used to be, and they offer a tough challenge for even the most skilled of gunslingers.

Graphics: 8.5
Some of the backgrounds weren't very impressive, and looked like a JPG superimposed. Character models were good looking though. Multiplayer maps were in dire need of some variety though, and the “dusty old town” type map got old quickly.

Sound: 9
Great voice acting from our lead characters, and good sound effects on all the different weapons in the game. There's also a bevy of good ambient effects that really work to ground you in the game world.

Difficulty: Medium
The difficulty is in a pretty good place. You'll die a few times here and there, but doesn't break up the action. It offers a decent challenge. Regular gun fights can be a breeze, but the duels really amp up the challenge.

Concept: 9
The Western setting is as awesome as it ever was and that gives this game a big boost. There's still not nearly enough westerns in gaming which gives this game a big boost over the next 25 sci-fi shooters.

Multiplayer: 8.5
The biggest surprise of the package. A lot of unique modes, tons of classes and a leveling system to boot. Though communication and team work aren't really very necessary. Snipers can dominate in the right hands.

Overall: 8
While the game itself is better than the original by far, the western aesthetic isn't as fresh as it once was. If you're not interested in the multiplayer then this game will probably feel short and empty.