I was very skeptical of purchasing another 2K baseball game. The series until this point had never lived up to the standards that i felt it was obligated to present with the lone title for the 360. This entry has been not just a pleasant suprise, but also an enjoyable game.

The gameplay itself seems to have evolved well. Batting is more intuitive, so you wont be holding your breathe praying to get some wood on the ball. instead, the defensive swings allow you to fight of some close pitches and wait for the right pitch. this adds to the gameplay well, as you wont be crushing homers as frequently as last year, so playing to a hitters strength is much more important.The hitting mini games are fun, and allow you to hone your hitting skills before getting crippled by C.C. and the rest of the Yankees.

Pitching also seems to have gotten some smoothing over. the learning curve for some pitches can get you caught early on, or when you pitcher goes too long, but gone are the continuous meatballs that minor leaguer hitters knock into Canada. i also prefer the new mound visit options, allowing you to get some stamina back, or settle your guy down.

My one gripe with the game is the fielding. as with many of the entries, there always seems to be the slightest bit of lag on the camera switch to the fielding view. This is not a big issue with balls hit to the outfield, but grounders up the middle and such tend to get by more then they should, which could be fixed either with a slight tweak in a patch, or if you are really keen, watching the initial contact and a little intuition you can make some very satisfying plays.

All in all, the game is a vast improvement in my opinion, and one that has seemed to be well worth the money for a little time on the diamond. All the game modes are satisfying, and with the living rosters, you will be sure to have an authentic experience all season long.