Getting into PureSim Baseball 2, I didn’t quite know what to expect. The game took only four minutes to download and it spent more time downloading rosters after I had already installed the game, then it did to do anything else. After settling into PSB 2 though, it’s easy to tell what the developer had in mind when they started. If I had to guess, the lead designer happens to be one of the most fanatic baseball fan around and, given the opportunity, would love to be the GM of a team. Before I go any further, let me warn you, I was one of the few people who enjoyed NFL Head Coach (both iterations), and if you don’t know what a GM is then this game probably isn’t for you.

Still here? Well then, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information PSB 2 has in store for you. Every statistical category you could ever think of is featured in the title, and the game features an unprecedented amount of front office management, particularly in the area of financials. Despite the overwhelming numbers, the development team has created a pretty poor interface that is great at sorting through the information. How is this you ask? Well, most of the menu options look like something brought out of Windows 98 and the spreadsheet imports have got to be disguised more in future iterations; however, aside from the superficial problems, the interface does a great job of helping you sort through the bulk of statistics. Considering how much time is spent looking at the front office management, the superficial problems become a bit more of a problem than you would expect.

Embracing the baseball atmosphere, PSB 2 has finally perfected the audience ambience. For years sport games have tried to recreate the moments of a crowds’ deafening cheer with mixed results. In this baseball sim, the crowd, which I imagine is the audio from an actual baseball game, erupts on clutch homeruns and, more importantly, they don’t just get quiet afterward. Throughout the entire game there is a low white-noise grumble emitting from the crowd somehow without being annoying. While it does overuse some sound effects, you’ll be pretty satisfied with what you find with the execution of the sound design.