Baseball Advance

"Like any young player needs some seasoning"

Lets start off this review by talking about what features this game does and doesn't have.

-Has-

-Season, Playoffs, Exhibition and All-star game modes
-Season statistics
-End of 2001 rosters
-Hot and cold Streaks

Missing
-Updated rosters
-Ability to create players or make any trades
-Full statistics(the game sort of has it. You can see your teams stats, and the league leaders. However you can only see non league leaders stats during a game.)
-up to date schedule
-26 stadiums

To be honest I can deal with the out of date rosters and schedule. It's like trying to replay the previous season. However the inability to at least update them yourself is a pain. Onto the game itself.

Graphics 8.5/10

Very sharp. Batting stances seem very accurate, right down to Tsyoshi Shinjo's orange wristbands. The colors are very sharp and you can tell the difference between Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi. While the game only has 4 stadiums you can clearly tell which is which. You can see the ivy on Wrigley field for example.

Sound 7/10

The music is bland. However the umpire is very clear. The organ music during the game is a plus. Would it be too much to ask for a portable sports game with play by play? Maybe in the future.

Gameplay 8/10

This is a pickle. Legend seems to be a bit to hard, while All-Star might be a bit too easy. Not easy so that I'm winning games 12-0. Easy enough that I'm winning nearly all the time. The hitting interface is interesting and at first I was against it. It takes some time to get used to. It requires you to press the swing button twice, similar to gold games. The first time you are charging up your power meter. When you release the button you swing. Sounds easy but the timing is tricky to get down pat. Plus you have to guess location to have the best chance of getting a hit. Consoles baseball games should take a look into this. A good eye is required as it is possible to get walks.
Pitching is a matter of choosing a pitch and placing it. However pitchers with poor control rating will have some of their pitches fly out of the strike zone. Defense is simple; yet efficient. You can dive and jump. Fly balls tend to hang in the air too long, which is helpful and hurtful. Sometimes sure hits will be caught by the other team. However you cant readily see where the fly ball is going to land so the hang time helps you. In addition when the computer is on offense they tend to be chicken on the base path. They don't steal very often. Plus they told to hold up when an extra base could be had.

Overall 8/10

This game, despite its flaws, is an enjoyable simulation of baseball. I found myself reeling off 3,4,5 games in a row without even realizing it. If you like baseball you should enjoy this game. Hopefully next years version will get its problems sorted out. Those flaws kept this from being the best sports game for the Game Boy Advance.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/25/02, Updated 03/25/02