By Jae-Ha Kim and Misha Davenport
Chicago Sun-Times
August 26, 2002
So the major league baseball teams might go on strike Friday. Don’t fret. There are plenty of baseball video games to sate your appetite until the players return to the field. We’ve reviewed some of the hottest games out there. The hotdogs and peanuts are on you.
ALL-STAR BASEBALL 2003 • HOME RUN (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) • From: Acclaim • Rated: E for everyone • Reviewed for: GameCube
Type A baseball gamers will love this. The rosters are accurate, reflecting Tsuyoshi Shinjo’s recent trade from the New York Mets to the San Francisco Giants. All the major stadiums are featured in a realistic manner. And with the franchise mode, gamers have access to each team’s records from the last two decades.
There are plenty of options to keep gameplay interesting, including quick play (two randomly selected teams pit against each other), home-run derby or all-star. Guessing the correct pitch enhances your chance of hitting a home run. But you can’t be a passive player. Snooze at bat and the pitcher will whip a fastball past your head before you can blink.
And just like in real baseball, there are flukes. Balls bounce at varying speeds on the playing field. Watching the infielders fumble is as much fun as watching them make an awesome save.
Sure, you don’t get hotdogs and beer at these ballparks, but you also don’t have to watch players readjusting their, um, undergarments in between innings. –Jae-Ha Kim
BACKYARD BASEBALL • Home run (Highly Recommended) • From: Infogrames • Rated: E for everyone • Reviewed for: Gameboy Advanced (also available for PC)
Infogrames has delivered a surprisingly solid baseball title for the 10-and-under set. The game features pint-size versions of pro players like Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr. alongside kids of various races, colors and handicaps. Some of it is a bit too politically correct (the kid in the wheelchair happens to be the best outfielder), but with almost no learning curve and the option of playing tee-ball or regular baseball, it’s a great game for younger kids. –Misha Davenport
MLB SLUGFEST 2003 • Base hit (Recommended) • From: Midway Rated: Teen • Reviewed for: PlayStation 2
This game is worth it just to hit the players. I know–beaning a player in real life is cruel and unsportsmanlike. But in gamerland, it’s a hoot. Hit the batter in the leg, and he’ll lose his speed. Hit the belly, and he’ll lose some power. Get him in the noggin and he won’t be able to hit as well. But hit him one time too many and the batter not only will stomp to the mound and kick you, er, the pitcher’s butt, but he’ll also turn into an uberplayer who’s just about unstoppable. –Jae-Ha Kim
WORLD SERIES BASEBALL 2002 • BASE HIT (RECOMMENDED) • From: Sega • Rated: E for everyone • Reviewed for: Xbox
The Xbox is better than you and will always be better than you even after hours of gameplay. Accept this and your WSB experience will be less frustrating. Players controlled by the Xbox never make mistakes, regardless of their real league records. Don’t believe me? Just try catching a grounder and tossing it to attempt a double play. The Xbox team makes it look easy. Good luck accomplishing it yourself. Thankfully, there’s a two player mode that evens out the skill levels.
There are some nice touches here that keep the game from totally sucking. Graphics are great. Fans actually heckle or encourage a player at bat (“Knock it onto Waveland” and “You suck” can be heard when playing games at Wrigley Field). Die-hard baseball fans will enjoy the incredibly detailed franchise mode that allows you to outfit your team in retro attire (sports uniforms in the ’70s were a bit flashy to say the least) or even play with Hall of Fame legends. Still, the game would be better if Sega had programmed a few errors into the Xbox AI. –Misha Davenport
TRIPLE PLAY 2002 • Strike (Somewhat recommended) • From: EA Sports • Rated: E for everyone • Reviewed for: XBox, also available for the PlayStation 2
From the opening sequence with the music courtesy of bland 1990’s heavy metal hair bands, you know you’re in trouble. EA Sports, normally an innovator in sports titles, has taken a step back. Waaaaaayyyy back.
Sure, every major league baseball stadium is featured in startling detail. The only thing missing from Wrigley Field, for instance, is the patch of dead ivy on a portion of the wall. Yes, every player has been scanned in along with any signature batting stances or moves they may have as well. Heck, you can even hear the occasional shouts for red hots from the vendors in the stands. So, what’s not to like?
Everything looks good until someone actually moves. This isn’t Hollywood and all the male stars aren’t 5 foot 8 inches, so why does every major league player look stumpy and out of focus?
Game play made the kiddie title “Backyard Baseball” look challenging. With the swing targeting system, I hit the ball out of the park more often than not. It’s hard to remember the last time I saw a real game go into double digits. And don’t even get me started on Bob Costas’ dull commentary. –Misha Davenport
