Oddly, you can't manually select your fielder, so you'll sometimes miss plays due to the imperfect automatic selection. In the field, you move your fielder and throw with the analog stick and face buttons, respectively. These basic controls give rise to complexity, as different pitches and swings combine to deepen the strategic possibilities. To hit, line up the silhouette of your bat with the ball icon (which disappears briefly to allow the pitcher to stealthily change the trajectory) and swing by pressing the X button. Pitching is a simple matter of selecting your pitch and aiming your throw by moving a small ball icon. The foundation of Power Pros 2008's accessibility is its control scheme. Here, the Green Monster looms large in Fenway Park.

Real ballparks increase the authentic feel. It's not significantly different from last year's MLB Power Pros, but MLB Power Pros 2008 is still a great game with lots to do. Simple hitting, pitching, and fielding controls make it easy for anyone to pick up, while the extensive gameplay modes and astounding statistical depth (backed by the MLB license) offer plenty of meat for fantasy baseballers to sink their teeth into. It would be a shame, though, to overlook Power Pros, because beneath the cutesy presentation lies a game with broad appeal. One look at MLB Power Pros 2008 may be enough to deter any serious baseball fan, as the anime bobblehead characters stand in stark contrast to the realistic player models offered by many other baseball games.

Mlb power pros wii 2008