2006's Major League Baseball 2K6 should have been a defining start for 2K Sports' series on the Xbox 360. Instead, numerous glitches seriously hurt the game, both off- and online. Many baseball fanatics turning to the competition, in which very little was available (outside of MLB Slugfest 2006 -- meh). A year later, 2K Games and developers Kush Games and Visual Concepts, work effortlessly to erase this blemish with the latest baseball simulation, Major League Baseball 2K7.

A lot of players complained that 2K6 didn't utilize Xbox 360's power. However, this year's edition packs plenty of enhancements. Player animation reflects realistic movements, whether flinging a ball from second to first to complete a double play or making a leap at the fence to prevent a home run. The players look stunning as they wipe sweat off their brows as the wind gently blows ruffles on their jerseys. The stadiums look stunningly realistic, right down to the spraying fountains at Coors Field and the New York Yankees insignia sitting center field at Yankee Stadium. However, the lighting should hold the biggest appeal, especially with real-time shadowing -- such as how the rim of a baseball cap deflects the sun off a player's face.

2K7's Franchise Mode will draw players in as they create a dynasty. Would-be coaches not only maintain the behavior and performance of each member of their team, but also the city surrounding it. By creating a "buzz" stemming from a series of victories or team news (like acquiring a key player), managers create greater fan interest, leading to better attendance and cash flow. By earning more money, gamers expand their spending budget and, eventually, get attention from prospects. These include agents looking to find a perfect signing spot for their super star athletes or maybe even the players themselves. However, failure sends the club spiraling to disaster. If the team does badly, kiss those essentials goodbye and say hello to bad word-of-mouth from fans and press alike.

So Major League Baseball 2K7 has revamped visuals and a walloping franchise mode to its credit thus far. But what about game play? 2K Sports has these (mind the pun) bases covered, thanks to a few improvements. The True Fielding system introduces several upgrades in the outfield, such as better cut-off artificial intelligence to avoid stolen bases, a relay system to avoid too many dropped balls (or player collisions -- ouch) and better fielder positioning. With this, a player doesn't end up out of reach of a pop fly.

Base running also receives a necessary boost. Instead of just representing the runners with hard to read icons, 2K Sports inputs the runners on the screen. As players watch the action unfold in the center of the screen, the base-runners make their moves on the corners. This works out well for both teams. People running the bases maneuver their players, staying on base to avoid either tagging after an easy out or going for a decisive base steal. Conversely, outfielders can see where the runners end up and set up a quick tag, if possible.

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