Bad News Baseball

"Oh, look at what those scientists have done!"

Yes, that's right; scientists have messed around with the game of baseball. Somehow, they've taken rabbits, given them the appropriate brain structure to figure out how to umpire (most likely since humans can't do it worth a bunny's behind), and screwed around with their genes to allow them to change their fur color from pink to brown via the ''cinema method''.

... And now for something completely different.

Gameplay - 9/10

Features and Non-Features:

On the Bright Side: Rapid and effective control response (unlike some NES baseball games... *cough*Baseball Simulator 1.000*cough*) from every fielder, as well as smooth speed from pitcher to batter. Little movies appear after certain parts of the game (for example, after some homeruns, there's one of the hitter giving the ''V'' for victory or the peace sign or whatever it is... or there could be a picture of team-mates in the dugout cheering him, while someone in the background snores), and some of them display the work of the maaad scientists; the bunnies in the cinemas are brown, instead of the pink they are on the normal field! AHHHHHHH!!!

... Anyway.

On the Dark Side: The players in the game are children, and there aren't any Major League names; just ''Steve'' or ''Bobby'' or ''Bo''. Then again, do you really care who was playing bench-warmer for LA in 1990? Also, there are only 12 teams, destroying any enjoyment the player could POSSIBLY get out of the game! Ohhhh, Tecmo, why hast thou forsaken me?

... Okay, that was a little sarcastic, near the end.

Conclusion: Nearly flawless.

Graphics - 7/10

The field's green, the sky's blue, blahahalahablabalabahahablah... typical, well-executed (for what could be done back then) NES graphics.

Fun Factor - 8/10

Considering how stressful the world is today (you know, with all the cars Mickey Mouse runs into people's barns and the military always coming over for tea), the cartoony, kiddie world of Bad News Baseball is a welcome sigh of relief for those looking for an ol' fashioned, 8-bit, baseball escape. Since the controls respond so well, there's little frustration, knowing there's a chance at a comeback... even when you're down by 5 or 6 runs late in the game.

Of course, after a few plays, you just might be craving something more realistic.

Replay Value - 8/10

Every game loses some charm over time, but let's face it; those bunnies and cinemas add to some nicely programmed 'ball enough for some replay.

How many $$$ is it worthy of shelling out?

It's definitely worth $10-15, though I wouldn't be surprised if it's going for 4 or 5.

Overall - 32/40; 8/10.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/30/01, Updated 11/30/01