MLB SlugFest: Loaded does what no other baseball game can. It speeds up the pace and injects a bit of excitement into a sport that unfortunately is considered to be too slow and boring by many in the "ADD generation." Loaded was last out of the gate this season and is no worse for it. In fact, after playing through one simulation-style hardball game after another, Loaded's excessive (in a good way) gameplay was quite appealing.

If you've ever played one of the SlugFest games (Loaded is the third in the series), then you should know what to expect. Every sound effect is pumped up, every play can be turbo-charged, players can catch "on fire," and you can beat the snot out of fielders or baserunners without fear of penalty. Actually, punching a fielder in the gut is encouraged since you can cause the ball to come loose and potentially snag an extra base. On defense, you can attempt to counter such behavior with punches or "hard tags" of your own.

Additionally, holding in the turbo button can enhance any move in the game. You'll be able to run faster, leap higher, swing harder, punch harder, throw rockets, make your pitches nastier, and more. The use of turbo is critical to success in Loaded. It does drain the more you use it, but by making great plays you can put a bit back in the tank. Turbo conservation never really becomes a big concern because the meter is fully replenished every half-inning.

Pitching in Loaded is a lot of fun. Not only can you throw standard pitches like fastballs, curveballs, sliders, and splitters, but you also have access to an array of trick pitches. With names like sweeper, whizzer, cobra, Mr. Snappy, and fireball, these pitches can dance around the plate like yellow jackets darting through the air. And it gets even better because the game rewards you for throwing strikes. Once you've racked up five strikes, a "special pitch" is enabled, which varies with the pitcher on the mound. The special pitch is practically unhittable and can be saved for use in a tight situation -- very handy. Pitchers also have the option of trying to lower an opposing player's attributes by beaning a batter. A player that gets nailed in the legs, for instance, will see his speed rating suddenly decrease. Be careful, though, because this strategy can backfire if the batter becomes enraged. An enraged player instantly catches "on fire" and then charges the mound. Players that are on fire automatically receive increased attributes, making their chances for success much higher.

At the plate, you can swing for contact or power. Batting is mostly a timing-based affair, but there is also an option for directional hitting that allows you to get under the ball, chop down on it, pull it or slice it; this is similar to the system found in EA's MVP Baseball 2004. It's also nice to see that Midway included the ability to adjust the angle and placement of batters in the box -- something rarely found in baseball games anymore.

Baserunning is actually one of the trickier aspects of Loaded. When you combine the fact that outfielders have cannons for arms and can gun you down from nearly any part of the field, with the potential for brawls on the base paths, things can get a bit hectic. You have to make quick decisions and even quicker moves. The turbo button is of utmost importance in these situations.

If you ever tire of all the over-the-top shenanigans, Loaded also features an "MLB Classic" mode that cleans the game up and offers slightly more of a simulation feel. You won't have any turbo, trick pitches, or players sprouting flames, and you'll also have a new pitch meter for accuracy. Even with these changes, the game plays pretty similarly, meaning it's still much more in the realm of arcade than simulation. Gamers will appreciate having the option, but most will probably want to stick to "SlugFest" mode, since it's what really makes Loaded appealing and is probably what they purchased the game for anyway.

Another addition this season is the all-new franchise mode, featuring the well-known baseball engine "Baseball Mogul." While this mode isn't as deep and engaging as the one offered by 989's MLB 2005, it's more than respectable. It's interesting that Midway decided to include this mode in an arcade game, but most will be thankful they did. Everything you would expect in a franchise mode is present. Payrolls, lineups, pitching rotations, trades, free agents, coaching strategies and more are under your control, and you can choose to play games in SlugFest or Classic style.

Arguably, the best addition to SlugFest this year is online play. Because Loaded is fast paced and easy to pick-up-and-play, it's almost more suited for Xbox Live than standard baseball simulation games. In fact, the game defaults to 7 innings, and games can often be completed in 20-25 minutes. Online play seemed relatively smooth with little lag, and seeing a live score ticker while online is a fantastic feature for baseball nuts that want to stay updated on the real action across the Majors. And since Loaded is the first Xbox Live 3.0 title, gamers can set up their own custom tournaments -- no XSN required.

As far as presentation goes, Loaded is more than adequate. The game certainly won't "wow" you with its graphics but it does look very nice at times, especially with some of the fire and ball whizzing effects, ball trails and exploding scoreboards. Player models, however, all seem a bit too muscular (insert baseball steroids joke here). Perhaps Midway designed them that way deliberately in keeping with their over-the-top style. Player faces, too, are not very accurate. For every face that appears to be nearly an exact match, there is another that looks horrendous. Worst of all is the game's crowd, which is comprised entirely of lousy 2D cutouts. Would it have hurt to at least program the first few rows in the stands with polygons?

Aurally, Loaded does a good job with exaggerated sound effects and in-game music. The abovementioned crowd, though, doesn't seem to know what it's cheering for. Every play appears to receive lots of hollering no matter what just occurred on the field. The game's announcing team of Tim Kitzrow and Jimmy Shorts is actually the most charming part of the game's audio... at least until you've heard their full repertoire of jokes, which unfortunately doesn't take long at all. The commentary has a radio talk show feel to it, and half the time their comments have little to do with the on-field action, but that's precisely why you'll find yourself chuckling. The assortment of licensed music found in Loaded is surprisingly good. The tracks are mostly from up-and-coming non-mainstream bands, and I'm genuinely interested in finding out more about them now.

On the whole, there isn't very much wrong with MLB SlugFest: Loaded. The game's A.I. sometimes selects the wrong fielder for you, forcing you to switch to the appropriate one yourself, and strangely, when a new pitcher enters a game, the player's name is never announced. Other than these peculiarities, Loaded offers a great baseball experience. Midway has successfully straddled a fine line; Loaded remains quite accessible to casual fans of the sport, while hardcore baseball enthusiasts, if they give it a chance, may find the game just as entertaining. I know I did.