It’s the final game of the World Series in MLB 2K12, and we’re in extra innings. Every pitch stands to make us an emotional wreck; we’re feverishly tapping our feet while hanging off each swing of the bat.

That’s the way it should be, although sadly, that hasn’t always been the case with this longtime franchise. 2K’s hardball sim has had an arduous journey through languid iterations and frustrating foibles, but the good news is that MLB 2K12 emerges as the series’ best effort yet. Though many little issues remain, its fundamentals are strong throughout, forming the foundation for a largely stellar baseball experience.

Want to see every pitch thrown to left-handers so far? Boom, done.

Gone are the days where you’d be lucky to complete a series without a game-changing glitch. Despite varying control schemes, all of MLB 2K12’s core actions work superbly and feel second-nature after a couple of games — whether it’s the satisfying thrill of fooling a batter with a 12-6 curveball via the gesture-based analog pitching system, or the pleasurable pop of cramming a poorly placed slider into the bleachers with a forward thrust of the right stick. And the no-frills, tried-and-true throwing meters for fielders work well throughout.

This year’s game incorporates a number of small tweaks that reveal themselves slowly during extended play. Revised ball physics means more variety off the bat, plus fewer of the soft infield liners we’ve been griping about for years. Base runners circle first after outfield hits, and fielders seem to boast a wider array of animations, adding an appreciated bit of authenticity. Thankfully, the inclusion of dozens of hours of new commentary also results in fewer repeat observations across multiple matchups.

Hit the green or yellow windows on the throwing meter, or face an errant throw.

MLB 2K12 doesn’t make a lot of changes to the core feature set. The one big addition is the MLB Today Season, in which you can play a team’s real-life game on each day that it occurs — a perk for hardcore fans. And the My Player mode now offers roles (like slugger or Gold Glover) that swing the stats to build your created athlete in the prescribed manner. Otherwise, the typical sim fare — franchise mode, plus online matches and leagues — remains intact.

There’s still work to be done, though. While you’ll see some beautiful views (especially from behind the plate) and well-manicured player models, other shots seem curiously ill-detailed, and the creeping shadows of an afternoon game tend to kill the glossy sheen. Moreover, the transitions between animations remain extremely abrupt and awkward, plus you’ll still catch the occasional bizarrely botched play in the field. (Thankfully, these screwups happen less often than they have in past games.)

These many hitches keep MLB 2K12 from being the same kind of loving tribute to its sport that NBA 2K12 is, but it’s the series’ best step yet in the right direction. With an even stronger push toward nailing intricacies next season, perhaps we can start talking about a 360 baseball dynasty once more.

PUBLISHER: 2K Sports  •  DEVELOPER: Visual Concepts  •  ESRB: Everyone  •  MULTIPLAYER: 2 on same screen or Xbox Live  •  ACHIEVEMENTS: Time-consuming  •  COST: $60

On Xbox 360

+ Strong fundamentals in all core aspects of the game.

+ Numerous tweaks make for more pleasing extended play.

– Still needs visual work and fewer fielding flubs.

? With 2K Sports' exclusive third-party MLB license set to expire after this season, and EA rumored to be planning a comeback, will MLB 2K remain the 360’s only baseball game next year?

8.0