@the_joneser_psn said in What's better: Pure Analogue or Directional:
@kevin-ate-nine said in What's better: Pure Analogue or Directional:
Don't mention zone. My brain isn't wired for it and I want to have fun. I use both and I have moments where I feel each is better or worse so idk If they're the same or not.
They're definitely not the same, but so long as you are more concerned about enjoying yourself and not about making World Series and living in the 900s and above, just do what feels most like baseball to you (I like the analog stick mimicking a swing).
That said, I'm enjoying analog more than directional; I used directional exclusively last year for about 300 RS games, and this year I played roughly the first 100 with directional and the last 100 with analog. Here's what I've found:
Using directional, if your timing is good, you will destroy mistake pitches left over the middle so long as you put some loft in your swing, but you will struggle mightily with pitches up and on the corners (I didn't notice as much of a detrimental effect with low corners, but the high ones will do you in if someone gets savvy to you using directional). You can hit pitches high and on the corners with analog, so long as you angle your stick input.
I've found directional to be more subject to random chance, as you have no control over placement. With analog, you can at least move your swing to the inside, middle, or outside (though placement height is completely decided for you). I'm still a lousy hitter, but I get more hits using analog (though I hit more homeruns using directional). You leave a lot to Vision either way, but it feels, to me, like there's a bit more control with analog.
ln my experience, there is a greater variety of hit types with analog compared to directional; I've noticed a lot more ground balls to the holes, and line drives that actually drop. But, I'm also someone who hits about .300 with a few guys with most in the .220 to .240 range currently (.200 to .240 was more the norm for me with directional, with everyone).
Biggest thing, though, is having a good time. I'm with you that I'm not wired for zone... I also think having a reticle in a baseball game is pretty dumb and feels nothing like baseball, but it's clearly the best path to real success in this game (and I'm clearly an outlier in feeling that way). It just depends on what you're after... I'm about 30 games over .500 in a little over 200 RS games this year, and I spend most of my time in the high 600s and low 700s. I maxed out at 824 (and then I dropped 8 straight). I may not make World Series, but I have a good time, and that's why I play these games anyway.
Thanks for the info. I kinda notice the same thing. I've been getting a lot of opponents with 99 Jacob deGrom lately 😟 and feel the only chance I have of winning is waiting for a mistake fastball down the middle and timing it right. For that directional has felt better. But against pretty much anyone else that's not super human analogue feels better for getting more consistent hard contact on pitches around the zone. I'm at like 600 rn and I'm feeling like I'm about to max out. I'm encountering more zone players who have an edge against me. Luckily It turns out I'm pretty good at pitching with analogue and I can somewhat reduce the runs those guys can get. I've already gotten a few angry messages from guys who complain about me not using zone 😎
At the end of the day I just want to have a nice balance of having casual fun while making some attempt to win games. Zone makes the game feel so unbaseball like imo. If other people enjoy It that's fine. I actually already do about as good on zone as I do with directional or analogue. So If I practiced more I probably could get a lot better with it. But that setting makes the game feel so goofy to me and I enjoy the baseball simulation version of this game over the arcady cartoon nonsense.