The only downers about High Heat 2002 were its lame graphics and skimpy features, and this year’s edition erases those shortcomings while maintaining the stellar gameplay that makes this game so compelling. Returning players will find key upgrades like player creation, fantasy drafts, a home-run derby, batting practice, a cutter pitch, injuries, a gameplay-tuning menu, a roster of unsigned players, and the option to adjust any player’s abilities. Naturally, Season mode is also back on the diamond. With a lineup this exhaustive, there’s not much more you could want from High Heat 2003. More importantly, the gameplay is jaw-droppingly good, beautifully mixing brilliant A.I. and true-to-the-sport realism with a fast, exciting pace. You can get through a game in about a half hour and walk away feeling like you’ve played a challenging, exciting, authentic ballgame, not a brain-dead homerfest. High Heat 2003 is the first baseball game out of the gates this season, but it’s hard to imagine Triple Play or even All-Star Baseball coming close to this performace. If you have the slightest interest in baseball, run—don’t walk—to score a copy of this excellent game.
