2025/4/19: Sega Genesis: Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball

[VideoGameCritic]

A helpful reader recommended this, even though I panned the Sega Saturn version. He was right! This is much better. A gem even. And just in time for Spring!

Your thoughts?

[LuckyWDFN]

"Marinors" "The main drawback to this button approach is that you can't hit the batter in the face"

The atmosphere in this game is great. I've always loved the simple, understated but effective use of the stadium organ and the overall simplicity of the sfx

[BlasteroidAli]

We do not have baseball in the UK, but we have Cricket. Now might be the time to review a cricket game. Though the only time I had a cricket game was on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 40 odd years ago. I always thought it was exciting as watching paint dry, then said the same to a Cricket fan, I thought he was going to attack me, as he had a shocked lookon his face.

[Quick_Man]

As a UK bloke I don't really get cricket. Games just take too long, although I do like the appeal of the batter never actually having to run, making things more technical.

Rugby is probably the better sport that's known for being a UK thing. Think American football but actually being played by men, and also the play doesn't stop every five seconds.

[ActRaiser]

As a UK bloke I don't really get cricket. Games just take too long.

If it's any consolation you perfectly understand American baseball.

[Quick_Man]

To be honest, I like baseball more! At least in video game terms, anyway. Maybe that's just because so many baseball games have been made compared to cricket ones that of course there's gonna be more good ones. But something like a 2020 Super Baseball or, hell, Wii Sports Baseball or Yakuza baseball minigame doesn't exist in ye olde cricket.

[xbox2.5]

Speaking of rugby, EA put out a few rugby games in the U.S. for the Genesis and PS2. Maybe we could get the Critic to review one!

[definitelynotbob]

I think i like rugby more than football even though we Americans don't get to watch rugby too much. The action doesn't stop every five seconds.

But i don't watch football a lot, so i think I like baseball more simply because i watch it more.

[Teddybear]

I have really given this another honest try and while it is a beautiful looking game I still don't think it can touch Sega's World Series '95, '96 or '98.

1. The fielding......way too fast to determine where you need to move your fielder to allows for a lot of cheap doubles.
2. The pitching interface......agreed with how quick it can be to select your pitch but I refer back to the World Series series (which in my opinion offered the BEST pitching interface control bar none and truly believe that this point is very underrated). This is where a good baseball game is made. I want to be able to control all aspects of my pitch. This game doesn't really allow this. It isn't bad, but I do want a cursor to select where my pitch should go.

This is a beautiful game and like the VGC noted the night sky is a major highlight to be seen. The Reebok and Cracker Jack logos as well.

No rugby quips come to mind however.....