Pitching From 3 Mounds We Call Platforms
If your Fourth of July festivities went according to plan, reading this probably hurts your head. Too much beer or soda, too many hot dogs and potato chips, too little sunscreen. Heading outside for a vigorous game of America’s pastime probably sounds as appealing as a scoop of potato salad that sat out in the sun all day.
Happily, though, the Digital Age gives us the ability to participate in a good game without pulling a muscle or breaking a sweat--or even getting off the couch. Seven recent baseball titles for all three major game platforms offer consistently solid play with an array of cool features and realistic graphics. Problem is there’s not a whole lot to distinguish any one game from the others.
All boast real-life team rosters and realistic stadiums. They offer the ability to focus on down-and-dirty play or long-term strategy and team management. Where a game thrives or dies is in the details. How well does its interface work? How realistic are the player characteristics? How smooth is the control?
After the seventh game, I was really ready for a stretch.
My picks? On the Nintendo 64, go with “All-Star Baseball 2000.” On PlayStation, choose “MLB 2000.” And on the PC, opt for “Microsoft Baseball 2000.”
All-Star Baseball 2000
The only way I’ll ever strike out Mark McGwire is in a video game. Even then, though, there is a small degree of satisfaction involved. Two fastballs and a change-up and I sent the digital McGwire back to the dugout.
Acclaim’s “All-Star Baseball 2000” for Nintendo 64 is a great game for players who want to dive right into the game. Sure, there are all the season features that true fans expect, but for slobs like me who just want to get onto the field and play, the game offers a quick setup and easy learning curve.
The interface is smart and self-explanatory. Even the most moronic player on the mound--consider the author, Exhibit A--can figure out how to send some strategic pitches across the plate. On the field, control is tight and fast. As soon as a batter connects, the game switches to field view and players on defense can get to the ball without much hassle.
Baseball Edition 2000
Loaded with details, “Baseball Edition 2000” seems to include everything but the kitchen sink. There are game modes galore and all sorts of options allowing players to customize features, such as hitting style and the degree of fielding assistance.
Sadly, though, I could never customize the game to my liking.
Yes, it’s all in there. Nice interface. Good graphics. Smooth commentary. But I never seemed to get into the game. A good baseball title--just like a real world game--draws you in with some intangible.
Whatever that is, “Baseball Edition 2000” is missing it.
“Baseball Edition 2000” requires a Pentium 200 with 32mb of RAM and a 3D accelerator with 4mb of video RAM. But Interplay recommends a Pentium II 300 with 64mb of RAM and a 3D accelerator with at least 8mb of texture memory. Ouch.
Bottom of the 9th
The first thing players notice about Konami’s “Bottom of the 9th” for Nintendo 64 is that it doesn’t look like a Nintendo 64 game. The graphics are choppy and simplistic--nothing like the smooth shapes and shadows in “All-Star Baseball 2000.”
On-field control is sweet, but the at-bat sequences and trading components offer far less sophistication than other games. Some of the scenarios offer great opportunities for strategizing, dumping players in tough situations such as an 0-4 score at the top of the 9th.
But compared with what else is out there, “Bottom of the 9th” has a sadly apt name.
High Heat Baseball 2000
“High Heat Baseball 2000” for Sony PlayStation and the PC comes with a money-back guarantee. Don’t like the game? Ship it back within 10 days for a full refund. And there is a lot to like about “High Heat,” which is clearly written by and for people who love the details of the game and not for those who crave slick design and smooth graphics.
Batting is at once easier and more difficult than most other games. More difficult because the game does not automatically indicate where a pitch may end up within the strike zone. Players have to pay attention. Easier because it seems that far more swings connect with the ball.
Graphics on the PlayStation are grainy and that becomes a problem on the field, where it can be tough to tell what’s going on. But not so much that “High Heat” becomes unplayable. It remains a quirky alternative to some of the jazzier titles.
Ken Griffey Jr.’s Slugfest
Although “Ken Griffey Jr.’s Slugfest” for Nintendo 64 offers realistic play at bat, it can be difficult to get the hang of. The at-bat sequences are more realistic because the size and shape of the bat limit movement and because the interface shows where on the bat a hit might connect. Of course, it’s always smart to try for the sweet spot, but it can be tricky to maneuver into position fast enough.
For players on defense, the play control is not as smooth as “All-Star Baseball 2000” and some of the on-screen characters move without much grace. It’s better than “Bottom of the 9th,” but slightly less impressive than “All-Star Baseball 2000.”
Microsoft Baseball 2000
“Microsoft Baseball 2000” is a computer game that plays like a console title. That’s a compliment. From the start, this slick game puts players on the field without a hassle.
Everything moves as it should without lockups or slowdowns. On machines with a 3D accelerator installed, the graphics look great. It’s possible to tell players apart as they move and act the way they do in real life.
The interface is easy to use and with a joy pad, the game is a blast to play. Swift movements, tight control and lots of action. One neat feature: A quick start that allows players to simulate whatever major league game is being played that day.
“Microsoft Baseball 2000” requires a Pentium 133 with 32mb of RAM and 100mb of free hard drive space. But don’t expect much at that configuration.
MLB 2000
My guess is that the B in “MLB 2000” stands for Butter because this game is Major League Butter. So it doesn’t have the graphics of some of the Nintendo 64 titles. This PlayStation treat by 989 Sports makes up for it with play that is second to none.
With top-notch play-by-play commentary--you know, the kind that actually relates to action on the field--by Vin Scully and Dave Campbell, “MLB 2000” offers a major league experience for less money than it costs to go to a game, once parking and snacks are factored in.
The at-bat control is so smart that it almost becomes invisible after a few pitches, allowing players to concentrate on the game rather than on how to control it. I hit a home run in the first inning of my first game. On the field, the game excels. Rather than highlight the precise spot where an outfielder should stand to catch a ball, “MLB 2000” gives players an ever-shrinking area in which to position themselves. It means thinking ahead and staying alert until the ball is in the glove.
For those who revel in the details of the game, a “manager mode” allows players to run the roster and let the computer play the game. Everything about this game is smart, smart, smart.
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Times staff writer Aaron Curtiss reviews video games every Monday in The Cutting Edge. To comment on a column or to suggest games for review, send e-mail to aaron.curtiss@latimes.com.
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Essentials
All-Star Baseball 2000
Platform: Nintendo 64
Publisher: Acclaim Sports
ESRB* rating: Everyone
Price: $59.95
Bottom Line: Great
*
Baseball Edition 2000
Platform: PC
Publisher: Interplay Sports
ESRB* rating: Everyone
Price: $39.95
Bottom Line: Missing the spirit
*
Bottom of the 9th
Platform: Nintendo 64
Publisher: Konami
ESRB* rating: Everyone
Price: $59.95
Bottom Line: A generation out of date
*
High Heat Baseball 2000
Platform: PC/Sony PlayStation
Publisher: 3DO
ESRB* rating: Everyone
Price: $39.95
Bottom Line: A quirky alternative
*
Ken Griffey Jr.’s Slugfest
Platform: Nintendo 64
Publisher: Nintendo Sports
ESRB* rating: Everyone
Price: $59.95
Bottom Line: Nice features, but clunky
*
Microsoft Baseball 2000
Platform: PC
Publisher: Microsoft
ESRB* rating: Everyone
Price: $39.95
Bottom Line: Slick and fun
*
MLB 2000
Platform: Sony PlayStation
Publisher: 989 Sports
ESRB* rating: Everyone
Price: $39.95
Bottom Line: Smart, smart, smart
*Entertainment Software Ratings Board
Next Week: “Midtown Madness,” “Might and Magic VII,” “Street Fighter Alpha 3”