Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr.
Reviewed by Earmouse
I'm a fan of sports games, just for starters. This video baseball
game features all the major league teams and their '99 rosters.
The different game options include Season play, World series,
exhibition game, and homerun derby. There is also an option to
create your own players. Also when playing a season you can
chose to use the '99 rosters or to put all the players into a
draft where every team gets to take turns choosing their own players.
Graphics 10 out of 10
The graphics appear a little more caroony in comparison to
competing Nintendo 64 baseball games. However, unlike the
other games which have choppy animation, the graphics move
as smooth as silk in this game. The smooth graphics make this
game a spectacle unlike any other baseball video game I've ever
seen. Two thumbs up.
Music and Sound 7 out of 10
There isn't any baseball music in this game (organ music) which
could've added to the whole baseball experience. The announcer
sounds cool. Every player is announced when coming up to bat.
What is cool is that when you create a player the announcer will
announce the players first and/or last name if it recognizes it
as one of the players names already programed in. So if your
players name is "Mike Smith" it will say "Now batting, Mike Smith!"
Of course if your players name is Zaphod Beeblebrox it will just say
"Now batting.." The crowd noises are ok (some get annoying after
a while). There are train and ambulance noises in the background
now and then ... I don't think I've ever heard either at a ball game.
Game Challenge 2 out of 10
The computer might serve as a challenge for a game or two,
but after that ... it's just a dumb computer. Even on the most
difficult setting, the computer shouldn't be too hard to beat.
This is the most disappointing part of the game. On All-star setting
all the only thing that becomes harder is scoring runs. The
computer will hardly put up more than 3 runs against any pitcher,
and you should find it easy to throw a shut out. An average game
ends 3-1 ... which isn't very exciting (but you'll win). TWO-PLAYER ...
the arcade mode in the game can make playing it a little complicated.
Don't expect to just be able to invite friends over and be able to pop
in the game. Your friends will have to be able to log in a few games
before any sort of competition can occur. If you have friends
excited about playing this game, then it can be quite exciting.
Game Play-Fun 6 out of 10
Playing the computer is all right. If you play on anything less than
Difficult mode, you'll probably get tired of scoring runs. On Difficult
mode there won't be much scoring. The stats won't wind up accurate
at the end of a season. Your team will probably lead the league in
Batting average, stolen bases, home runs, wins, and team ERA ...
but you will probably be last in the league in walks, strikeouts, and
runs. How can you lead the league in batting average and home runs,
but not in runs scored? How can you be last in the league in strikeouts
but have the best ERA? All video baseball games are like this I guess.
TWO-PLAYER mode .. it can get intense if the competition is there.
Rumble Pak 1 out of 10
Leave the rumble pak out .. it just makes the controller heavier. It
rumbles when you slide into a base or when your batter hits the
plate in anger ... who cares?
Frustration
A bloop single will almost never score someone from second base.
In real baseball most bloop singles will score a player from second
(as long as the player can run somewhat well).
Overall 7 out of 10
Great graphics. Lots of options. Computer is no good (but what's new).
Takes a few games to get the hang of playing it. I give it a thumbs up
(in spite of its faults). Buy it if you want. I have no regrets.