[8] Similarly, Kevin Millar, who was not a member of the MLBPA, is also absent from the game, replaced by a fictional player named Anthony Friese.

Unlockable features include two legends teams, 63 legendary players, 15 classic stadiums, five fantasy parks, and more than 100 retro uniforms.

Rosters are current as of January 12, 2005, and the game includes the then-new Washington Nationals, along with their then-temporary home, RFK Stadium.

In the exhibition mode, players can quickly set up a game against another team, selecting a starting pitcher and adjusting the line-up if needed.

The manager mode simulates gameplay based on players' choices before the opening pitch, with outcomes displayed in a running box score rather than visually depicted swings or plays.

The scenario editor allows players to adjust 20 different variables, such as the teams involved, inning, count, and base situations.

[citation needed] The most prominent new feature in the game is the "Hitter's Eye" system, which turns the baseball different colors in the pitcher's hand (white for fastballs, red for breaking pitches, green for off-speed pitches, pink for sinkers and orange for knuckleballs) and leaves a trail as the ball flies through the air toward the plate to aid in hitting, which game developers said had been too difficult in previous versions.

[9][10][11][12][13] In Japan, where the PlayStation 2 version was ported for release on July 7, 2005,[40] Famitsu gave it a score of one nine, two eights, and one seven for a total of 32 out of 40.

[41] GamePro said that the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions "[retain] the Gold Glove for controls, but the competition has made up ground.

"[47] Computer Games Magazine gave the PC version three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying, "While the AI is good on the field, it's terrible in the front office.