All-Star Baseball 2003

"Welcome To The 2003 Season!"

OK, let me start this off by putting it straight to you: I hate sports games. The only sports game I've owned prior to this was NBA Street, simply because it was more like a funky street party than a basketball game. Going into ASB 2003, I figured that I had thrown down $50 in order to make my Gamecube collection just a little bigger. But I was wrong.

The first thing you need to realize is that when you buy this game, you NEED to buy a Memory Card. Now, that's not a light suggestion: To save the most basic of seasons in this game, you need one COMPLETE, BLANK Memory Card. It takes all 59 slots JUST TO SAVE A BASIC SEASON! The best mode in the game, Expansion, takes basically 200-something, which REALLY REALLY REALLY puts a damper on it, unless you buy the 16x Memory Card, which has over 1,000 slots, but it tends to be unreliable and erase, so buy what you want, it's your mazoolah, not mine.

But where this game really shines is the pure baseball action. It's a spectacular baseball game, which I consider VASTLY better than Home Run King, which is also for GC. There are a few glitches here and there, such as players catching a ball that's at least 50 feet away from them, but it all makes up for it when you see that first 'tater plunk over the outfield wall and send your team into the lead. I love this game, as much as it pains me to say it. I've always been a die-hard sports-hater, but this game has got me testing the waters. I now find joy in walking around in a jock and spitting on the floor; maybe pulling out shots from behind the arc and checking the goalie is next- who knows. But the bottom line here is, if you want a spectacular sports game, and happen to have enough extra for a Memory Card lying around, then buy this game. Your High School gym coach would be proud.

Also, as a plea/side-note: Acclaim, if you're reading this (scoff) then I'd like to suggest the ability to choose how many innings you want to play in games like Exhibition or Quick Play. Just a thought.

---Break-Down---
Graphics: 8/10

Sound: 9/10

Innovation: 7/10

Gameplay: 9/10

Replayability (if you bought a memory card exclusively for it): 9/10

Replayability (if you didn't, you poor sap): 6/10

Reviewer Biasness: 9/10
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TOTAL SCORE: 9/10

(which means diddley if you don't know whether to)

RENT OR BUY: Buy, along with a new Memory Card

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/02/02, Updated 04/02/02