Midway's sports games, for as long as I can remember, have been known for their arcade-style formula. Whether it's a quarterback getting crushed in NFL Blitz, a hockey player getting checked hard in NHL Hitz, or a mega-dunk being performed in NBA Showtime, Midway's trademark has always been fun, fast-paced and most importantly downright entertaining gameplay. Many thought that this style of play would not translate well into the sport of baseball, but in 2002 Midway managed to pull it off successfully with their first SlugFest game. The follow-up, MLB SlugFest 2004, improved on the original and brought even more fans on board. Can the third installment keep the rally alive, or will it hit into the dreaded inning-ending double play?

One of the great things about last year's SlugFest was that it was pretty easy to pick-up-and-play. There are many gamers out there who truly miss the simplicity and excitement of the good old 8-bit and 16-bit baseball games, and for those people this franchise may be able to fill the void. So what makes SlugFest so much fun? Since baseball players nowadays seem to be fond of steroids, you can think of SlugFest as your typical baseball videogame on steroids. The fielders and baserunners are practically at war during every play and all the animations are deliberately exaggerated for effect. Baserunners can throw dirty punches while on the base paths and attempt extremely hard takeout slides, and to counter this, fielders can apply hard tags or punches of their own. Pitchers can routinely bean batters, and they also are equipped with a pitch meter that slowly fills as strikes are thrown. Once full, the pitcher will be able to hurl some really nasty, super pitches. And of course, like any good Midway Sports game turbo meters are in full effect, thereby adding to the frenzied gameplay. Another popular feature is a player's ability to catch "on fire". Once a player sprouts flames, he'll have enhanced attributes/stats and his turbo meter will not drain.

All of these elements will be intact in MLB SlugFest: Loaded, meaning it should play very similarly to last year's edition, and the batting/pitching mechanic is also being tweaked for an even smoother experience. For example, SlugFest: Loaded will include a new meter to set the accuracy of each pitch thrown. This year, Midway is also giving gamers the option to play a standard, clean game of baseball. Yes, you'll be able to turn off the punches and flames and whatnot and enjoy our national pastime in its natural "tame" state; however, since SlugFest's main appeal is its over-the-top nature most gamers will probably opt to keep the crazy elements on. It's still nice to have the option though.

One new feature that might make you want to put MLB SlugFest: Loaded on your "to buy" list this minute is the inclusion of online play. This is the type of game that practically begs to be played online. Your friend or sibling might not be sitting next to you in the same room, but at least you can punch their players or drill them with fastballs across the 'net on the virtual diamond. These are most likely going to be some very heated contests. The game will support voice chat via the PS2 USB headset, so Xbox gamers aren't the only ones who will be able to dish out the trash talk. And it seems that Midway has been listening to sports gamers' requests; while online, you'll actually see a live MLB news/stats ticker (think ESPN). How cool is that?

Apparently, a franchise mode has become a requisite feature in today's baseball titles. It seems a bit out of place in a game that promotes arcade-style gameplay, but it's a welcome addition nonetheless. SlugFest: Loaded's franchise mode promises to offer a pretty deep experience and will cover about 100 seasons; the specifics haven't been revealed yet, but you can expect the usual drafts, trades, releases, and other managerial aspects to be included.

Finally, the game's commentary will once again feature the wisecracking duo of Tim Kitzrow (voice of Midway Sports) and Jim Shorts. This two-man team provided some genuinely humorous dialogue in last year's SlugFest, and they should be able to give us some great laughs once again this year.

MLB SlugFest: Loaded is scheduled to ship for PS2 and Xbox in June and will be the last baseball title to hit consoles in 2004. Ironically, this really doesn't put the game at a disadvantage since it offers such a different experience. I must say, after playing simulation-style baseball for months, SlugFest should be a breath of fresh air. And isn't it appropriate that a game featuring players "on fire" should launch when the summer heat begins to kick in?