This game comes hot on the heels of Imagine's World Series Baseball (reviewed in this issue), so it's inevitable comparisons will be drawn between the two.

As far as graphics are concerned, there's no question which is better. In this one a reasonable-looking baseball ground is impaired by the presence of titchy, indistinct players who wouldn't go amiss in a game of Robotron (No offence, Robotron players). The batter looks like a crippled golfer about to tee off, and the catcher bears a resemblance to ET at times.

The animation of the players is crude and jerky by today's standards -- the fielders look as if they're skating across the grass (but they do produce a pleasing throw on the run). Sprite priority is virtually non-existent, as players run through, instead of around, each other. Also the flight of the ball is sometimes unrealistic -- it appears to skate along the ground after bouncing, and at other times it actually bounces off the crowd!

Nevertheless, it's gameplay that really counts, and thankfully this is good. Indeed, in some ways it is better than the Imagine game.

For a start, the pace of play is greater -- you do not have to wait between each ball to select outfield and steal options. Secondly, many people will find that the actual 'feel' of striking the ball is better. The sound of bat hitting ball is more authentic and the ball doesn't stop dead on bouncing, as it does in the Imagine game.

Another useful feature is that the fielder turns black when he has possession of the ball, making the moment of pick up absolutely clear.

The stick man characters are ready for action
as the batter prepares for the pitch.

At start of play there are several choices to be made. You can select a pitcher -- either the fast-throwing 'Heat' Muldoon, or the tricky 'Curves' Cassidy. In practice they appear to play very similarly, although 'Heat' has one almost unplayably fast delivery. (Well, the computer can play it.) Both pitchers tire during the game, especially if you use too many fast balls, so at the end of the seventh innings you're allowed to bring on a relief pitcher.

You can also select one of two batting teams. The Sluggers are supposed to hit for the fences, the Liners are average, but I haven't spotted any real differences.

The game is played over nine innings, with extra innings should a draw result. The computer always fields first, leaving you the arduous task of batting.

Sound during the game is pretty good and includes some short musical strains at the beginning of the game (complete with the American national anthem), at the end of an innings, and on hitting a home run. There is also crowd noise and a pleasant thud as ball his glove.

The two-player option adds further excitement to the game, and a practice mode allows you to bat away for as long as you like without fear of losing -- an excellent feature.
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Developing batting technique

There are three main skills while batting:

TIMING is essential to hit the ball at all. You have to press the fire button before the ball reaches your batter, so that he has time to swing. But since the pace of the deliveries varies, this takes some getting used to. The practice mode is very helpful here. When you're desperate to at least hit the ball, you can opt to 'bunt' -- use a dead bat. This gives almost certain contact, but the ball won't go too far.

JUDGING the nature of the delivery is also crucial. Even the computer will sometimes let fly balls which are unplayably high or low. If you swing at these, it'll count a 'strike' against you.

BLUFFING your opponent is the third skill. As in the Imagine game, it is possible to 'steal' bases at a moment when your opponent is off guard. You can even trick the computer that way -- try running a man from second to third base at the same time that the computer is pitching a delivery. You'll sometimes make it.
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When you're in the field

As in the Imagine game, you have considerable control over what type of ball you pitch. The joystick allows eight different options, two of which are illegal and used only to try to trick your opponent.

When a fair ball is hit, the player nearest the ball's path will come under your control. This isn't always the player you think you should control though, which can be annoying.

Once the fielder has picked up the ball, you can use the joystick to make him throw it to any of the four bases or the pitcher. Alternatively, you can make him run with the ball (normally to try to 'tag' a runner).

In certain situations you can make the exhilarating 'double plays', getting two batters out at once, say by tagging one, and then throwing the ball to another base to catch another.
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Htmlized by Dimitris Kiminas (19 August 2001)

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