Wait wait wait no for real it isn't what you (probably) think, I promise!
MLB Power Pros and Power Pros 2008 are the first English versions of the long running Powerful Pro Baseball series, these on the PS2 and Wii. HOWEVER, baseball isn't why I wanted to talk about these. I mean, it is, but it isn't. Yes, you canplay baeball, go through seasons, and all the also ran sports stuff... but why do that when you can play a graphic novel style simulation of a player's life, not only trying to make it to the big leagues, but having a girlfriend, friends, maintaining grades in college, and practicing with the team?
Success mode is a super neat replacement for just creating characters where you do exactly that. You have three seasons in college to keep up your grades and social life while staying in game shape, and the only baseball you'll play are key at bats in a few sparse situations. It's only a part of your life, and you still need to live, so why not get a part time job? Spend money on new equipment, or maybe a great birthday present for your best gal? Create a player of any position you'd like, and try to navigate your way to draft day. It's honestly pretty fun if you ask me, and much more fun than actually playing the billionth baseball game in my house.
2008 goes even further with MLB Life mode, where you play a minor or major leaguer trying to live life throughout a career, developing hobbies, finding love, and more for up to 20 years of game time before you must retire. I mean, there's a lot of game here, not entirely unlike the Graduation games or Eberouge.
If you like graphic novels/sims, these are a bit toned down, but all in English and pretty fun! Have you played it? Don't care because it's a sports game? I couldn't see myself playing a season here anytime soon, but I've gone through Success Mode many times, and I dig it.
Edit: sorry for the early post. I have an early morning.