Baseball Mogul's existence is predicated upon the support of a fervent fanbase, many of whom play in online leagues using either Baseball Mogul online or the game, proper. As a result, many of the features and new items put into the game are for the primary purpose of increasing online interactivity and the leagues that require the game. Last year's online encyclopedia simplified the process of creating an online database that team owners could view, a fantastic addition, but one geared entirely towards online players.
This year's batch of features were more of a half-hearted attempt to provide an improved experience to the single-player user, but outside of updated rosters and the new startup and depth chart screens, there's not much in this version representing a significant improvement over Baseball Mogul 2008. A year spent dramatically improving the game's AI and adjusting a now years-old gameplay mechanic is the prescription for this series.
Presentation - 7.5
Graphics - 5.0
Sound - 3.0
Gameplay - 6.0
Lasting Appeal - 7.5
Overall -
Even though it's not without its flaws, Baseball Mogul 2009 serves as a pretty decent introductory management sim. Fans of the game looking to try a game in this genre out would be pleasantly surprised at the ease and accessibility Baseball Mogul provides. Those of you turned off by MLB Front Office Manager should try this game out to see what a proper management sim is like. GamerVision still finds a game like Out of the Park provides a bit more depth than this game, but for the price ($20), you sure do get every penny out of Baseball Mogul.
It seems to be the year for incremental improvements in baseball management simulations. Just like its main rival, Out of the Park Baseball 9, Baseball Mogul 2009 enters a new season looking a lot like it did last season. After adding a tremendous number of new features and enhancements during the past two years, the current edition of the text-based sports sim is more of a taking-stock upgrade. It focuses on minor revisions to the presentation and artificial intelligence. The result is a good game with subtle improvements that make a better big-league management experience, but one that isn't essential if you already own its predecessor.
The Good:
* New Major League rosters for 2008
* Franchise scenario options with new Expansion mode
* Subtle improvements to visuals and artificial intelligence.
The Bad:
* Very similar to last year's game
* A few quirks with stat results
* Some bugs with data display.
For $25, the value proposition of this time-sink is impressive if you consider yourself more managerial material than on-field talent. Just remember to keep your eyes out for a patch, and check the official site to keep up to date with the latest tweaks.
You'll love:
- Deep and complex
- Mostly accurate, current data
- Good value for your dollar
You'll hate:
- Somewhat buggy
- Micromanagement too time consuming
- Sometimes illogical behaviors
