You might recall a somewhat obscure company (especially when compared to bigger names like Capcom and Konami) by the name of Culture Brain back in the day. They had a knack for making “quirky” games with features that were a little outside the box (to say the very least). You might remember them for the little quirky SNES game Super Baseball Simulator 1.000. Its Japanese title is Super Ultra Baseball and it was released in Japan on July 12, 1991. It graced North American shores in time for Christmas 1991 and earned itself a semi-cult following with many SNES players harboring fond memories of those early days. Well, did you know that Culture Brain released ANOTHERSuper Nintendo baseball franchise but exclusively in Japan? This trilogy was known as Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban. They share a lot in common with the Super Ultra Baseball series and I find it oddly fascinating that one little company had essentially two similar but different baseball franchises running simultaneously on the same system. It’s about as quirky as Culture Brain itself was!
SUPER BASEBALL SIMULATOR 1.000 2?
Released on August 28, 1992, Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban feels more like the true sequel to Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 than Super Ultra Baseball 2 does, on account of the gap being one year as opposed to three. One thing that caught my eye right away was the ability to play in the early evening time which the original game did not present. I’m a sucker for night time in my video games, and that definitely (if not especially) includes baseball.
Sunny days are meant for baseball. But there’s also something beautiful about baseball in the early evening, and this game captures that.
Similarities between the two are inherently apparent. I dig the improved visuals of Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban. There’s something real clean and classy about it especially when compared side by side to the original as seen here.
Surely you can guess which game is which. What a difference one year makes.
Cosmetics aside, Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban also improved on its fielding. Players control a hair smoother.
Nothing compares to a close dramatic play at home plate!
WHAT THE — !Culture Brain trying to infiltrate my brain…
Celebrate your big shot by shouting WAO!Who doesn’t?
There’s something truly majestic about smashing the ball deep into the night. You can almost smell the fresh cut grass and hot dogs. If you look closely you can even see the ball heading for those fancy lights there.
Admiring your handy work is all part of the fun.
Worry not, the Ultra Plays are back.
They’re what made the original game so popular and memorable. And just like the first game, when you activate an Ultra Play you and any base runners will flash as well. Good stuff.
That’s definitely going to leave a mark.
Missile Hit returns in all its glory.
That’s not the Flash. But you sure feel like him!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Jitsumeiban in case you were wondering means “Real Player Version.” Culture Brain acquired the rights to use professional Japanese ball players in this trilogy, and this accounts for the major difference between this series and the Super Ultra Baseball one. Obviously there’s some Japanese text to wade through but it’s very manageable and just a really well made baseball game overall. I probably prefer Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 on account of English and nostalgia, but it’s definitely not a bad pick up if you’re so inclined.
ULTRA BASEBALL JITSUMEIBAN 2
The hi-jinx continues in some very charming ways
Funny story right off the bat [HAR HAR -Ed.], I bought this game back in 2006 and for a number of years was convinced it was the direct sequel to Super Baseball Simulator 1.000. After all, it was a Culture Brain baseball game with the number 2 attached at the end of it. How many bloody different baseball franchises on the same system can one company make? Well, apparently two. It came to my attention in 2008 or so that the direct sequel was Super Ultra Baseball 2. And that this game here, in fact, was Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2. Yes, Culture Brain’s other baseball franchise on the Super Famicom. Confused yet? Don’t worry if you are, I sure as hell was nearly a decade ago. Who knew Culture Brain were such whores for baseball? They truly were the Capcom of this particular genre. So how does Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 separate itself from the crowded pack?
… IN SMALL AND BIG WAYS APPARENTLY
WHOA! Right away you notice there are two vastly different presentational styles. The default is a cute Chibi, almost Super Deformed style. But there’s also an option to switch to more traditional, typical 16-bit looking baseball sprites.
Honey, I Think I Shrunk The Ball Players! Call me a sucker for the small stuff but I love this! I personally prefer the Chibi style as it gives the game an even quirkier atmosphere not to mention it plays better in this mode.
Super Deformed mode allows you to see much of the field on defense. The other mode, however, doesn’t. It makes a huge difference when you lose that MUCH real estate! Playing defense takes a huge hit because you see less.
While it’s cool that Culture Brain threw in this mode, it honestly feels more like a throwaway than a well thought out process. Look at the fielding. You can’t see much and it really hinders play. Shame they didn’t adjust the scope because then it would truly feel like two games in one. Still, being an option, it’s hard to complain much about this. Just stick to the Chibi mode and you’ll be fine.
These two shots above are from Super Ultra Baseball 2 (July 28, 1994). Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 only came out less than five months later on December 22, 1994. It’s easy to see Culture Brain just slapped on the sprites from Super Ultra Baseball 2 as a bonus. But look at the much more reasonable fielding in that game. Why they didn’t convert that over as well is much to the detriment of this additional mode. So it’s a nice novelty but not one with any real staying power.
Nevertheless, I still admire that it’s even there to begin with. It kind of feels like this game Culture Brain wanted to sort of melt their two franchises together: the Super Ultra Baseball series with Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban. While not a home run, I admire the swinging attempt, anyhow. Besides, the Ultra Plays will forever connect the two series and it’s always a welcomed sight.
Charming, isn’t it? It’s a lot of fun to play, too.
Baseball pitchers or Street Fighters? It’s hard to tell at times. But it’s absolutely brilliant all the same.
There’s even sort of a quasi-EarthBound style to its visuals…
Speaking of the Bomb special (as seen above next to EarthBound), it always cracks me up to see the ball exploding in the bleachers. Hope those fans are OK!
ProTip: Avoid meteors whenever possible.
Taking out multiple defenders with the Missile Hit? Priceless.
Nervous, are we? Oh, I see why. Hey, this is baseball. Not ballet!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
There’s something about Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 that I can’t help but love. I admire Culture Brain’s attempt to blend the two franchises together. Of the trilogy, this is the closest example to such a feat. While it isn’t perfect, you have to admire the attempt. If only they nailed it then this could have been Culture Brain’s definitive baseball game. Still, I love the default Chibi mode. It plays well and it’s the closest thing we’ll probably ever get to EarthBound Plays Baseball. If that sounds like a good thing to you then give Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 a swing.
ULTRA BASEBALL JITSUMEIBAN 3
Ends it with a bang or a whimper?
Arriving mere days before Halloween 1995 (October 27), Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3 is what you’d get if you took the previous two Jitsumeiban games and mixed them in a visual blender. It’s not quite Super Deformed as the second game but it’s not as serious looking as the first one. It’s almost as if Culture Brain settled on a balance of the two. I appreciate their efforts in making each game in this trilogy look different. At least you can’t say they just put out the same game every year like you can with some other companies, ahem…
And look, they did it again! You get two different styles of play. The left is the default. Thankfully, the optional mode plays a little better than the previous game’s optional mode, but it’s still not the best and I recommend sticking to the default style for optimal gameplay. But more on that in a bit.
Exclamation speech bubbles are a nice new touch. Other added details include batters taking practice swings and digging their cleats deep into the dirt. Unfortunately, while you would think added details are a good thing, perhaps not always. Extra animation leads to games taking a wee bit longer to complete. We’re not talking significantly longer, but long enough to be noticeable. It still plays extremely well but you’ll need a little more patience with this one.
Whereas the alternative visual mode in the previous game was appealing, I have to say not so much on this one. It feels extremely generic in this visual style. Stick to the default.
Besides, the default style plays a lot better since it gives you a better scope of real estate on defense. The alternative mode still suffers from being too closely zoomed in as it did in the previous game. It’s a little better but still not ideal.
PRO YAKYUU STAR
Culture Brain’s true swan song on the SNES though came with 1997’s Pro Yakyuu Star. It was a standalone title that took a bulk of the graphics engine from Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3 but it improved vastly on gameplay. Fielding and catching the ball never felt so smooth. Unfortunately, the trade-off is there are no Ultra Plays anywhere to be found. Still, as far as straight-laced baseball games on the SNES go, Pro Yakyuu Star is easily one of the better ones.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3 is yet another solid addition to Culture Brain’s long running series of baseball games. Don’t worry, the Ultra Plays are in this game as well. However, Pro Yakyuu Star plays a lot better so my problem with this game is whenever I play it I often feel like I’m playing a lesser version of Pro Yakyuu Star, due to the similarities in graphics. As mentioned earlier, it also takes a little longer finishing one game here than it does in previous ones, due to the added animation. If I had to rank the three Jitsumeiban games I would go 2, 1, 3.
Ranking Culture Brain’s six SNES baseball games:
1. Super Baseball Simulator 1.000
2. Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2
3. Pro Yakyuu Star 4. Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 5. Super Ultra Baseball 2
6. Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3
Because I’m a nut for baseball, I own all six of these games. They’re all very good but you probably don’t need to play all six (unless you’re crazy like me). If you can only play a few, I recommend checking out the top three in my list above. Pro Yakyuu Star, being the last one released, honestly probably plays the best of them all but because it lacks Ultra Plays I have a soft spot for the earlier games and tend to prefer playing them instead. Enough yapping — there’s only one thing left to do…
Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 has something of a semi-cult following. An early first generation SNES game, it thrilled players with its engrossing customization and ridiculously fun Ultra Plays. These plays, when activated, give you certain special powers. For example, baseballs turn into floating leaves or scorching meteors. Culture Brain wasn’t shy to think (way) outside the box and they brought a certain level of fun to the genre like no one had done before. It’s a shame, then, that the sequel never saw the light of day here in North America. Released on July 28, 1994, Super Ultra Baseball 2 takes everything you loved about Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 and ups the ante.
BIGGER AND BEEFIER
Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 looks a bit crude in places. I mean, there’s still a certain level of charm to the rudimentary graphics but no one will ever say that it’s pleasing to the eye. Super Ultra Baseball 2, on the other hand, legitimately looks like a port of an arcade baseball title! Also, new little details like the sweat beads bouncing off a nervous batter’s forehead brings a whole new sense of life to the game. Of course graphics aren’t the be-all, end-all of a video game, but it’s nice when they’re nice! Keep in mind though — the first game was released in Japan on July 12, 1991, so the sequel that came out three years later is bound to look that much better.
Lovely little intro opens us up. You still get 18 teams to pick from, just like in the first game. And just like the first one, there are six Ultra League teams capable of utilizing the Ultra Plays.
Select from six stadiums and then if applicable, choose how many Ultra Play points you wish to have. You can go as low as 50 or as high as infinite.
Presentation is on point. Love the way it looks, especially when you have runners at the corners. One of the best looking SNES baseball games around!
Those wacky and nutty Ultra Plays are back and better looking than ever.
Tinkering with all the Ultra Plays is half the fun!
Brings new meaning to “He’s got ELECTRIC stuff.”
Pitchers had their fun — now it’s time for the batters. The fan favorite Missile Hit is back and still functions the same. Get the hell outta its way!
Another fan favorite, the Bomb returns to terrorize defenders.
Fielding and running feels a bit smoother than the original.
Baseball players often describe being “in the zone” as seeing the ball like it’s the size of a beach ball. This must be what they’re talking about…
Seriously, does it get any cooler than this?
BUT IS IT BETTER?
Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 or Super Ultra Baseball 2? It really is a tough call. To answer the question of is it better… my answer would have to be yes and no. Graphically, it’s not even close (no surprise there). The fielding is a bit smoother and I’d say SUB 2 plays a bit better than its predecessor.
However, Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 has it beat in two categories: stadium “life” and music. SUB 2 isn’t bad sounding or anything but the renditions were better in the original. Listen to the two and there’s really no comparison. By stadium “life” I mean just look at the first picture here. The first game had some quirky ballparks that added to the charm of the game, such as the field with a tiny white fence that makes hitting home runs a lot easier. Although there are still six stadiums in SUB 2, they all sort of feel the same and there are no interesting quirks with any of them, really. It feels slightly “soulless” if you get my drift. I also even miss the way the first game would zoom in after a home run.
Summary: the first game wins in music and stadium variety. The sequel wins in graphics and gameplay. If only Culture Brain could have combined the two games it would have been the perfect baseball game.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
You can’t go wrong with either game. If you love Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 then you’ll like this as well. It’s hard to pick but if I were forced to, as of right now I would give the slight edge to the first game. Regardless, Super Ultra Baseball 2 is a damn fine sequel that’s sure to make any fan of the first game proud. The wacky Ultra Plays make this an appealing title that even non-baseball fans can enjoy.
Each game in this series brings different pros and cons to the table. Both complement each other well and it’s nice to own both with the choice to play whichever one you’re in the mood for. Super Ultra Baseball 2 has more of that modern flair with all the Ultra Plays you love from the original. But Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 has that classic nostalgic early first generation SNES charm to it. Both games are fun as hell and sure to entertain baseball gamers for many more summers to come. Not to mention those cold December nights where real life baseball is well into its offseason. So grab your mitt, er, SNES controller, and play ball!
Every year when summer rolls along I can’t help but grow nostalgic for the 16-bit baseball games of my youth. Summer and baseball just go together, and that includes baseball video games. While I don’t recall playing Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 back in the ’90s, I do remember wondering about it and wishing I could have played it. It’s a game that has gone on to achieve something of a semi-cult status in diehard SNES circles. After playing it myself, it’s easy to see why.
HOMECOMING
January 26, 2006. I remember it like it was yesterday. I just got back into all things Super Nintendo (January 17, 2006) and on that Thursday night I decided to revisit my childhood town. It marked 10 years since I moved from my childhood home. 10 years. I wanted to swing by the old crib and also check out the Game Crazy inside my childhood Hollywood Video, which still stood at the time. Being less than two weeks into my SNES resurrection and having a want list of over 200 games meant there was a good chance I was going to find at least one game to add to my ever growing collection.
My childhood Hollywood Video — in the flesh!
Early 2006 was a good time to get back into the SNES scene. Prices had yet to explode and real life stores like Game Crazy (a chain tucked inside Hollywood Video locations) actually carried a decent selection of SNES games. So many times as a kid my dad would take me to this very Hollywood Video location and I would browse the horror section endlessly as well as the 16-bit rentals. It was a joy to be able to pick up the various boxes to examine up close, admiring the art work on the front and reading the description on the back of the boxes. It’s a shame kids nowadays don’t get to experience that.
That fine evening I bought Art of Fighting, Clay Fighter, Mortal Kombat II and Super Baseball Simulator 1.000. It was a perfect mix of childhood favorites and curiosities. Clay Fighter was a guilty pleasure while MK II was legit one of my favorite SNES games, period. As for Art of Fighting and Super Baseball Simulator 1.000, those were two games I always wanted to play as a kid but just never did. Now I could. Such is the beauty of retro gaming — the combination of availability and having the disposable income today that you didn’t have 20-25 years ago. It’s the closest thing to a time machine.
Four more games crossed off the ol’ want list. Clay Fighter was free because Game Crazy used to do this Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal for older games. Early 2006 was definitely a glorious time to be buying SNES games. Alas, I digress once more. I couldn’t wait to finally play Super Baseball Simulator 1.000.
Good times
A QUICK HISTORY LESSON
Culture Brain released Baseball Simulator 1.000, known as Choujin Ultra Baseball in Japan, to the NES in March of 1990. It stood out in a crowded genre thanks in part to its Ultra Plays. Ultra Plays give batters and pitchers different temporary power-ups, such as being able to throw a fire ball — a much faster fastball that is also capable of eliminating an opposing batter from the game if it hits them! Needless to say, it was a fun and quirky take on the sport that endeared itself to many NES gamers.
December 1991 saw the release of Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 (known as Super Ultra Baseball in Japan). It brought over the Ultra Plays that made the NES original so memorable. While not everyone’s cup of tea, to me it stands as one of Super Nintendo’s most fun baseball games.
OPTIONS
Select your desired options and then pick from one of 18 teams. The six teams in the Ultra League have the ability to use Ultra Plays.
Playing with an Ultra League team gives you the choice to set how many points you want. Each Ultra Play costs a certain amount of points. You can set it as low as 50 or unlimited. Or turn it off altogether if you’re the purist type.
There are six stadiums to pick from. I love the way the umpire looks. Gives off that “NES baseball” vibe and I mean that in the best way possible. Screw the fancy 3D models of today’s baseball games. Give me charming and cartoony sprites any day of the week!
Zooming in because Mode 7! My personal favorite is Brown Stadium. I love the way it has those tiny little white fences tucked in there to give you a chance at hitting some “cheapie” home runs…
PLAY BALL!
Baseball games from that era suffered a bit from weak arms. Yes, there’s a bit of that here, too. Balls will bounce in the dirt even from short distances. It’s not ideal but it’s not a game killer.
Double plays are pretty smooth and easy to turn. A minor pet peeve: the runner disappears when he’s thrown out rather than running away. But again, just a minor gripe, really. Fielding is fairly good and that’s the most important thing.
Sometimes you appear to be safe but you’re called OUTinstead. Now that can be frustrating. But I like to think of it as the umpire made a bad call, just like you see in real life every now and again. I mean, it’s not too bad but is worth noting.
Umpire didn’t mess up here, though. See? It’s not too bad. Too bad the game doesn’t show you the new score when a run comes in, though. Small touch but goes a long way. But you get used to it.
Speaking of human error, if you turn errors on then that’s exactly what can happen from time to time. D’oh! It does bring an added sense of realism, though.
Seeing a ball you hit bounce off the top of the wall is a bit of a bummer. But in this case at least you still got a chance at driving in a run. The base runner icon in this game is a bit funky. Instead of seeing it progress naturally, it only updates every halfway point or so. It’s a bit jarring the first time you see it.
ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE
Seeing a ball you hit just barely clear the fence is ultra satisfying.
Smashing home runs never get old. Nice fake hustle there!
Robby smacks the ball DEEP! Well OK, sort of deep. A little bit deep-ish? The center fielder gives chase to cover his teammate out in right who already has a beat on the ball…
Actually, he doesn’t. No, the right fielder can only witness in horror and frustration as the ball innocently sails just past the little white picket fence and lands in the grass clearing in front of the big blue wall. These are the best home runs to hit. It doesn’t get any better than that!
Gratuitous Mode 7 ensues. Quirky and endearing.
Perhaps I spoke too soon… the mammoth MOON SHOT that leaves no doubt is the absolute best. Holy crap look how high up that one went!
ULTRA PLAYS
Majestic home runs are nice but let’s check out the real star of the game here: ULTRA PLAYS. This one turns the ball into a leaf which floats slowly and makes it difficult for the defender to catch. Love the way the batter (and the runner too) flashes. It’s the small details!
Looking for a power boost? Look no farther. This Ultra Play gobbles up 9 points, though.
Super Stroke Simulator 1.000, more like.
Brings new meaning to the term, “That player bombed…”
Missile Hit Ultra Play represents all that is right in gaming. It’s impossible not to smile when you see this (unless it’s happening to you). God bless Culture Brain for thinking outside the box.
Another great laugh. This game is endearing as hell!
Pitchers wanna have fun, too! This one makes the ball disappear during its flight to home plate before reappearing at the very last second. Pretty cruel stuff…
Think of all the great unhittable pitches of our time. Pedro Martinez’s curveball. Nolan Ryan’s fastball. Mariano Rivera’s cutter. Well, with that historical context firmly in mind, add to it the leafball. That’s right, the LEAFBALL. It’s so slow and perplexing that hitters can swing and miss SEVERALtimes before it ever hits the catcher’s mitt!
Pissed off, the batter decides to let it go. Who knows, maybe it’ll fall in for a ball. GOD DAMNIT! 35 MPH strike?! YA GOTTA BE KIDDIN’ ME, MAN!
EDIT AND SCOUT
Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is extremely customizable. It was a marvel back in 1991 for those who played it back then. You can adjust and alter Ultra Plays to your heart’s content.
Construct your very own team, players and their ratings. Hell, even choose the uniform color! This was groundbreaking stuff back in 1991. And yes, I did max out a certain “Steve” there… [Only in video games -Ed.]
Steve steps up to the plate, batting .750 with 99 HR, and launches one off his bat. Let’s see how far it goes… [Like I said, only in video games -Ed.]
HOLY SHIT! Marvel at how far this moon shot goes.
SUPER BASEBALL SIMULATOR 1.000 2
Unbeknownst to some, Culture Brain released a sequel only in Japan. Super Ultra Baseball 2 came out on July 28, 1994. It beefed up the visuals but kept the same quirky gameplay that made the first one so endearing. It’s a shame it never came out to North America. An English translation of SUB 2 can be found online…
SIMILAR TITLES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Culture Brain made many SNES baseball games in Japan only. This is Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban. Released August 28, 1992, it plays pretty much like Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 but it features real professional Japanese baseball players. Still has all the Ultra Plays you know and love but it’s presented in a slightly less cartoonish way.
Obsessed with pumping out baseball games much? Culture Brain was pretty much the Capcom of the baseball genre! Not five months after Super Ultra Baseball 2, Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 graced the Land of the Rising Sun on December 22, 1994. Yup, little Japanese boys and girls enjoyed themselves a merry baseball Christmas that holiday season. The biggest change? The visuals. I really like their decision to go Super Deformed. There’s something charming about a 16-bit baseball game featuring slightly deformed ball players. Kind of even has a quasi-EarthBound look, eh? Best of all, the Ultra Plays are still here.
Arriving mere days before Halloween 1995 (October 27), Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3 is what you’d get if you took the previous two games in the series and mixed them in a visual blender. It’s not quite Super Deformed as the second game and it’s not as “serious looking” as the first one. But it still has all the Ultra Plays you could want!
Culture Brain released its final Super Famicom baseball title on January 17, 1997. Rather than go with Super Ultra Baseball 3 or Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 4, Pro Yakyuu Star was a standalone effort. Although the Ultra Plays were scrapped, from a technical standpoint this is Culture Brain’s best SNES baseball game. Improved fielding after all goes a long way. If you miss the Ultra Plays, you can play any of the five previous games.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with any of these. They’re all fun and charming in their own way. On a side note, a wacky Japanese announcer is introduced in Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 and reappears from there on out. You know, just to give those games even more of a Japanese punch. There’s some Japanese text to navigate obviously, but nothing you can’t figure out. If you love Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 then you owe it to yourself to check out its direct sequel Super Ultra Baseball 2 at the very least. While you’re at it, it might be worth your while to sample Culture Brain’s other baseball offerings as well.
You baseball whores you!
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
Had Taco Bell for breakfast, eh?
Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is quite the polarizing little game. On the surface it appears to be a crude looking rudimentary baseball game. That alone makes it not everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve seen many retro gamers say that this game was “meh.” Super Play rated it 49%. I can see why someone would give this game such a low mark. But then you have a camp of retro gamers who love this game and swear by it. It’s got sort of a semi-cult following, even. And it’s easy to see why. The kooky Ultra Plays, the insane level of customization and just the overall fun. While it doesn’t come close to topping the almighty Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, this is easily one of the best SNES baseball games especially if we’re talking strictly North American releases only. I get a kick out of reading stories about how much Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 meant to various people throughout the years. It’s really quite the little nostalgic number for many folks who grew up with the SNES back in the early ’90s. When so many people love a game, you know the developer did something right.
Great job, Culture Brain
CLOSING THOUGHTS
As far as 16-bit baseball games go, Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is admittedly a bit elementary. The fielding isn’t the best. Players’ arms are way too weak. It’s got more than its fair share of blemishes. However, this is all overlooked (somewhat) because of how much damn fun it is to play. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, as evident with the Ultra Plays. Some are downright comical such as the Missile Hit which sends any poor defender who catches the ball careening hard into the outfield wall, complete with dizzy stars encircling their bruised dome. It’s ridiculous stuff like this that makes it such a joy to play. Not into Ultra Plays? Turn it off, limit it or play as one of the non-Ultra League teams. Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is as serious or as silly as you decide to make it. That versatility goes a long way! It’s impossible not to crack a grin at some of the zany “Did that really just happen now?” moments. Few baseball games have made me smile more than this one. I only wish I played it back in the ’90s.
The visuals are improved over the NES original obviously but they’re far from great. They’re a bit crude in places but there’s an overall charm to them that works, from the various batting stances to even the way the different stadiums are constructed. It gets the job done. The music gets really upbeat when you have a rally going and is pretty pleasant on the ears, as long as you enjoy that early ’90s baseball video game vibe. I personally do. The gameplay as I mentioned has a few rough spots but it’s perfectly functional and once you get the hang of things you’ll find your groove. The amount of options and customization along with the creativity of the Ultra Plays make this a winner. If you’re tired of baseball games that take themselves way too seriously and you’re looking for something that isn’t afraid to operate outside the box, Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is a good bet to scratch that itch.
Here at RVGFanatic I relish the opportunity to talk about my favorite SNES games. In particular, I love shining the spotlight on those obscure games that flew under the radar. There are many Super Nintendo games that one could classify as such, but here’s one that is criminally overlooked. It’s so far below the radar that it honestly blows my mind. On the other hand, being a sports game it kind of automatically slips through the cracks. 16-bit sports games aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But I’ve always loved a well made one, and Super Bases Loaded 2 certainly is that. I’m going on the record to calling this the second best baseball game on the SNES, only trailing the epochal Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball. Obviously, if you don’t care for 16-bit baseball titles, this may not sway you in any way. But for everyone else, read on and more importantly, play the game yourself and see if it doesn’t become a favorite of yours as well.
MIDSUMMER CLASSIC
Last night Major League Baseball put on its 88th annual All-Star Game.
Robinson Cano hit the go ahead home run to put the American League up 2-1 over the National League in 10 innings.
Baseball has a funny way of repeating history in the most bizarre of ways.
July 11, 1967: Tony Perez hits an extra innings homer to lift the NL past the AL in the All-Star Game by the score of 2-1 in Anaheim.
July 11, 2017: Robinson Cano hits an extra innings homer to lift the AL past the NL in the All-Star Game by the score of 2-1 in Miami.
Not a single extra innings home run in-between those 50 years. Not only that but before Tuesday night’s All-Star Game in Miami, baseball put together a ceremony to honor the game’s Latin American history. Eight Latin-born Hall of Famers threw out first pitches to eight Latin-born All-Stars.
In one group? Tony Perez. In the other group? Robinson Cano. Yup, only in baseball. It’s no wonder so many diehard fans have the same mentality: “It’s hard NOT to get romantic about baseball.”
With summer currently in full swing, I decided it was time to start a 162-game season. Normally I play Ken Griffey but this time I decided to pull a different baseball title off my shelf. Over a decade ago I remember playing Super Bases Loaded 2 briefly and thinking that it was pretty enjoyable. I decided to give it a more thorough look and ended up having an absolute blast with it. Let’s see why it’s one of the most underrated sports games on the entire Super Nintendo.
BUT FIRST, A QUICK HISTORY LESSON
Bases Loaded originated on the 8-bit Nintendo. It went on to have three sequels on the NES. The series was immensely popular, selling more than five million copies worldwide.
Super Bases LoadedSuper Bases Loaded 2Super Bases Loaded 3
Neat little fact #1: Many people associate Jaleco with the Bases Loaded series but it’s actually TOSE who developed all of these games. Jaleco picked up the publishing rights.
Neat little fact #2: Super Bases Loaded 2 is the only game in the series not originally intended to be part of the series. TOSE developed Super Professional Baseball 2 (the actual sequel to Super Bases Loaded) in August 1992. They then developed a stand alone baseball game, Super 3D Baseball, in October of 1993. Jaleco decided to publish Super 3D Baseball here in the States as Super Bases Loaded 2. Interesting that they skipped over Super Professional Baseball 2. This explains the drastic shift in style and look for Super Bases Loaded 2.
Jaleco made the right call to port Super 3D Baseball rather than Super Professional Baseball 2.
PLAY BALL!
Customize the game as you see fit: it is very player-friendly. The first Super Bases Loaded suffered from not having a battery backed memory. This game fixes that. Although the players aren’t real nor the teams, it’s still fun to play.
Select from 18 teams. I personally enjoy using the L.A. Cyclops. Four teams are customizable but more on that later.
Choose from three different stadiums to play in. I wish each team had its own field but the three here all play differently. This one is the biggest and is good for triples galore. Also has the tallest wall of the three.
Standard park with all your modern amenities.
Classic ball park with the shortest distance to straight away center field.
SET YOUR LINEUP
Set your batting order carefully. Players do vary in terms of ability to hit base hits, home runs, swipe bags, throwing power, etc. Unfortunately, there’s no way to discern this other than trial and error. The stats do help sometimes, but it would have been nice to see a rundown exactly. This is my preferred lineup. The green icons indicate players who feel locked in for that particular game. On the flip side, the orange-yellow icon shows players who aren’t feeling so hot. This doesn’t mean they still can’t perform well, but their odds go down. It’s an interesting system that Extra Innings also had.
Players charge the field. It’s a nice little touch.
Speaking of nice touches, I like how batters receive a quick statistical rundown. It’s a classic, clean look that I really dig. You can check your swing and sometimes this leads to cheap infield singles. Nice!
Jaleco proudly declared on the back of the box that this was the first SNES baseball game to employ the DSP chip. Obviously it’s not really 3D but there’s something charming about the way this game looks. Better yet, you can actually steal bases like a thief in the night.
Power of the DSP chip allows the camera to track the baseball in a “3D fashion.” It’s quite smooth and although it’s not the fastest baseball game around, it works well. Nothing beats seeing the ball land just fair. Cyclops go up 1-0 early.
Simon crushes the baseball to right field for a two run jack! It’s pretty cool being able to track the ball for those massive home run swats.
Defense is a make or break aspect of a baseball game. I’m happy to say the defense in Super Bases Loaded 2 is AWESOME. You almost always feel in control and while the infielders move a bit slowly, diving stops work great and it feels so good to gun out a base runner. Most baseball games render themselves instantly obsolete due to poor defense. This one does not!
Seeing the ball pop off the bat is so satisfying. Is this another home run shot? Nope. Close but no cigar. No matter, it still brings home a run. L.A. Cyclops go up 4-0 on the Boston Kings. Gotta love the fake names. It’s charming in its own way.
Stretching a double into a triple is the best.
Getting beaned, however, not so much. Sometimes the hit batter will even charge the mound and “beat up” the pitcher. No joke. First time I saw that I marked out!
Hitting line drive doubles just inside the foul line is immensely gratifying.
Adding insult to injury is the dribbler that sneaks through the infield for another RBI hit. The camera really lets you see the ball getting pounded into the dirt as it travels just past the defenders. Sweet!
Perhaps nothing is more demoralizing to the opposition than seeing the ball land in-between two defenders (“No Man’s Land”) and roll all the way to the fence as opposing base runners madly dash around the bases. Oh man does it feel good to do this. On the flip side, it’s crushing to be on the receiving end.
Unlike many baseball games from that era, it’s actually possible to score on sacrifice flies. Players’ speed and arm strength in this game feel almost “just right” for the most part. I love scoring on sac flies! It also doesn’t ruin the batter’s batting average, just like in real life. Good stuff.
Flashing off some leather! Like I said, the defense in this game is pretty top-notch. You’ll be stealing away base hits from the opponent like a demon. I also like how the outfield switches seamlessly to a more traditional look.
Another sick home run shot. If I had turned on the slaughter rule, this game would have already been over. But there’s no slaughter rule in the pros and I got to get my stats…
Leaping catches are sick. But oh, the agony of letting one through the cracks.
Aggressive base running from the Kings. Down 11-0, they’ve got nothing to lose.
Nothing beats a diving save over the third base chalk line that leads to gunning out the runner at first. So damn satisfying!
Robbing would be base hits is so smooth and natural in this game.
Seriously, this is an awesome baseball game! So underrated.
WOW… FAIR BY A HAIR! It’s such a helpless feeling for the defender as he chases after the ball.
Baseball, like football, can often times be a game of inches. Being on the offensive side of this is a great feeling. Not so much on the defensive side.
Simon once again terrorizes the Boston Kings, smacking a 2 run double in the gap. The L.A. Cyclops have now scored 3 touchdowns and gone up 21-1. Damn. By the way, you gotta love how the game shows you how each batter performed in his previous at-bats. Especially when a guy has a multi-hit game. Fill up that stat sheet!
Another solid single that barely sneaks past the defenders into right field. It’s so fun tracking your hits since the perspective doesn’t switch until you hit the outfield.
Suicide squeeze up 22-1? I’m definitely getting beaned next time! But check out how you can lower your bunt if you so choose. You can swing or bunt high, normal or low in this game. It all adds to the variety and options.
Gonna be a close play at the plate… SAFE! 26-1, 25 run lead. DAMN.
Computer’s defense is definitely not the smartest. 2 outs and instead of throwing to first base for the sure 3rd out, he throws it to second base. SAFE. The second baseman then flings it to first but he’s a half second late. SAFE. Bases loaded for a crack at a Grand Slam and 30 runs…
Patton steps up to the plate having had a monster day. A single, two doubles and a home run already in the books, could he go 5 for 7 with a Grand Slam to boot? Uh oh… look at that swing! Look at that ball fly… could it be?!
HOLY SHITPatton did it! The ball stays just fair to give Patton a Grand Slam and a monster game for the ages. The L.A. Cyclops are spanking the Boston Kings 30-1!
Computer, allow me to show you how a real double play is turned! Double plays are the best especially the diving ones. Double plays are a pitcher’s best friend after all. One last out to get…
Another sick diving save at 3rd base. It never gets old.
Holy crap — 30 hits and 30 runs!
FAIR OR FOUL?
Hitting a ball fair or foul is one of those “OHH!” moments for sure. Whether you’re pumping your fist or cursing your lot in life, it certainly elicits that “OHH!” feeling.
Nothing beats seeing a ball land just fair and roll all the way to the wall! Well, if you’re on offense, anyhow.
SAFE OR OUT?
Speaking of the umps, they always get the final say. That won’t stop your 1st base coach however from signaling safe even when the runner is called out. It’s little stuff like this that helps make a game more endearing to me.
BIG OR SMALL?
Players will sometimes “shrink and grow” on the infield. It doesn’t really affect gameplay but it’s a notable quirk. Hey, the DSP chip wasn’t perfect.
DESIGN OR NOT?
Super Bases Loaded 2 allows you to design up to four teams. You can change their player names — this could potentially lead to some juvenile antics but thankfully there’s none of the sort here. [Right -Ed.]. Players are rated in different categories and you can set the number ratings however you wish. You can create the ultimate team of players with 8’s across the board, or the worst team possible with all 1’s. Or you can make them all 4’s, or mix and match. It’s pretty cool.
Speed makes all the difference…
SEASON STATS
As mentioned earlier I recently wrapped up a 162-game season. I finished 154-8 for a whopping 95% winning percentage. Won the Omega League by 70+ games! I averaged about 3.75 runs a game and over 2 stolen bases a game.
I freely admit I am a sucker for round numbers. I would hate to end a season with a .299 batting average, 29 home runs, 99 RBIs and 39 stolen bases…
Thankfully Patton was having none of that.
I had three guys in the top 10 for home runs: Baker (36), Patton (32) and Simon (28). Bonner also had 23 so technically he should have been the 4th guy in the top 10.
I had four guys in the top 10 for RBIs: Patton (113), Simon (103), Baker (91) and Bonner (77). I was a little peeved that I couldn’t get 9 more RBIs with Baker to give him an even 100.
I had nine guys in the top 10 for stolen bases! I really love how you can steal bases in this game. Leigh was a beast leading the way with 69 steals.
That Cooper guy on Philly is pretty good!
Damn, Ryan 80 wins and Willis 76 saves!
Unfortunately, I couldn’t take pictures of my final regular season stats. After Game 162, you’re taken to the World Series and the stats reset for post season play. Therefore I couldn’t take pictures but I did write down the stats. I will show the “normal” stats for each L.A. batter below. The caption will reveal the stats I had with that player during the 162-game season.
Sadly, there was never much hub-bub about Super Bases Loaded 2. I remember a one page preview in EGM in early 1994 that caught my eye. The graphics for the time were unique and didn’t look like any other 16-bit baseball title. I ended up buying a copy in 2006 after experiencing my SNES resurrection. I remember playing it very briefly and thinking it was pretty fun, but I stored it away. Earlier this summer I finally decided to pick it up and play again. What started as a few games turned into a full 162-game season! Maybe if more people played it there would be some more positive chatter about this highly underrated game.
Baseball fans, don’t miss this!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I’m so glad I finally sat down to play this game thoroughly. It’s now become one of my favorite Super Nintendo games, especially as far as sports games go. There’s just something about it that feels so right. The graphics aren’t the greatest but it has that classic retro baseball look to it. If I were to close my eyes and think of a 16-bit baseball game, my mind would probably think of a screenshot from a game like Super Bases Loaded 2. And I love that camera system. It’s the only SNES baseball game I know where hitting the ball doesn’t automatically switch the camera. If you smack it into the infield the camera simply zooms back and you never miss a beat on making a defensive stop. Speaking of which, defense for the most part feels natural and smooth. There are a few mishaps here and there, though. Namely, the infielders can feel like they’re slightly in mud every once in a while. But you get used to the speed pretty soon. Since we’re on the topic of speed, this is a big one for baseball games. You know how sometimes runners run too fast or too slow? Or the defenders’ arms are too strong or too weak? This seems to be that rare 16-bit baseball game that almost gets it right. Players aren’t lightning fast nor are they slow as turtles. Arms aren’t super strong yet the ball never bounces to home plate from the outfield 11 freaking times! Best of all, pace of play. You can finish a 9 inning game in about 15 minutes. That makes games fast-paced and fun.
Some may complain about the lack of teams, real names, real players, lack of stadiums and lack of in-game music. I actually don’t mind the fake players in this case. I find the game’s 14 teams (18 if you count the four custom teams) strangely endearing. I like discovering each team’s best and worst players. Besides, there’s plenty of other baseball games on the SNES if I have a hankering to play as Mo Vaughn or Cecil Fielder. Super Bases Loaded 2 is unique. In fact, the bats have a metal sound to them despite clearly being wooden bats. It all adds to this quirky charming alternate baseball universe atmosphere. It’s not Japan. It’s not college. It’s not even AAA. It’s just… Super Bases Loaded 2. There is no in-game music but this is not necessarily a bad thing. I find it strangely calming to play a game with little music for a change. Besides, there were many evenings earlier this summer where I threw this game on for an hour and knocked out four games while listening to a podcast (without having to turn down the TV volume). It worked quite well! There are nice rally themes that play throughout based on the situation but they’re short (and actually not bad while they last). As for the three stadiums, at least they vary in look and size. Not a deal breaker for me.
The bottom line is this game rocks. Seriously. I’ve played more than my share of baseball games. There are a lot of fair to middling baseball games on the SNES. Then there are some truly awful ones. And then you have good ones. This is definitely one of the good ones. It’s a lot of fun to play, it’s fast to play and it just feels like baseball done right. It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot better than you may initially think. It’s a shame this game is as overlooked and obscure as it is. My hope is this review sways you to give Super Bases Loaded 2 a crack, especially those of you who don’t mind playing a (well made) 16-bit sports game. And hey, being summer time presently, what better time to give it a try than now?
Capcom could almost do no wrong back in the early-mid ’90s. They were like King Midas; almost anything they touched turned to gold. Their Street Fighter II franchise caught lightning in a bottle. In 1993 Capcom released an arcade wrestling game by the name of Saturday Night Slam Masters. Can we pause here to acknowledge that Saturday Night Slam Masters has to be one of the greatest titles for a video game ever? Who doesn’t love Saturday nights, and who doesn’t want to take control of a Slam Master? The title completely captures the carny and zany nature of the professional wrestling underworld. I loved playing the arcade game back in the day and was psyched when a Super Nintendo port was announced. Boosting 10 crazy comic book-like grapplers, the best thing about Slam Masters was its frenetic 4 player tag team bedlam mode. Yup, Saturday nights at home with the SNES and three friends was never going to be the same again.
30 YEARS BEING A WRASSLIN’ FAN
It all started here
On an innocent Saturday night in early October of 1987, my uncle introduced me and my brother to the wacky world of professional wrestling. That night we saw Saturday Night’s Main Event. In particular, I’ll never forget that moment when Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man smashed Macho Man Randy Savage over the head with his guitar. Coincidentally, one of the men holding Savage hostage there, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, was recently featured here on RVGFanatic.
The Handshake Heard ‘Round The World
Hulk Hogan made the save and the two joined forces to create The Mega Powers. And on that night I became cemented as a wrestling fan for life. My fandom has been going strong nearly 30 years now, and I’ll always be a sucker for a good wrestling product. Speaking of which…
It was like witnessing the Holy Grail
I’ll never forget the summer of 1994. It was such an epic summer that I wrote all about it here: The Summer of Imports. Saturday Night Slam Masters played a big role in that memorable summer over 20 years ago.
Who didn’t want to use Haggar in a wrestling game?
Known as Muscle Bomber: The Body Explosion in Japan, Slam Masters isn’t the most technically proficient wrestling game around but what it lacks in proper technique it more than makes up for with tons of character, charm and chaos.
SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING
Accompanied by a rockin’ guitar riff, the intro is short and sweet. It also sets the mood perfectly for the pandemonium to come.
THE SLAM MASTERS
Jumbo and Scorp are considered “boss characters” and are only selectable in the tag team mode. Scorp is an absolute badass. I like all of them but as a kid I took an immediate liking to Titanic Tim. He was my man! My brother gravitated to El Stringray, the Rey Mysterio Jr. wannabe. Of course, you can’t go wrong with Haggar, either. But Titanic Tim was my favorite. As a kid I had two phrases I would always shout whenever I hit someone with Tim’s big boot or his running shoulder tackle. Hey, I was 10. It went like such…
“GET OUT OF THE WAY!”“MAKE ROOM!”
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
Weapons are occasionally strewn about outside the ring in the one on one mode. Nothing satisfies like cracking someone’s cranium with a sturdy table.
Gunloc is rumored to be the brother of Guile. One can definitely see the similarities…
Turnabout is fair play! Gunloc finishes off the remains of the table and quite possibly Biff as well.
Nothing gets a better laugh though than smashing someone over the head with a beer bottle!
Perhaps you want something more traditional, though. In that case grab a chair which takes two hits to completely destroy. Love the way Haggar sells!
SINGLES WARFARE
Modern day David vs. Goliath — not looking good for the little guy at the moment…
Titanic Tim LAUNCHES El Stingray high into the stratosphere. Love his reaction there. Reminds me of Randy Orton cringing when he threw Samir Singh too hard…
Yikes…
TAG TEAM WARFARE
Stingray’s Atomic Diver looks painful as hell, to BOTH guys.
Haggar is pissed off and delivers his classic spinning clothesline. Stingray’s Jalapeno Comet is probably the coolest looking special move in the game.
Alexander the Grater’s Tornado Toss is arguably the most gruesome and wince-inducing move. He tosses you high into the air, even going above the screen, before you come crashing down to the hard canvas with no give. OUCH!
HAGGAR’S REVENGE
Haggar is pissed off at Stingray for the lack of help and takes out the little guy.
STINGRAY’S REVENGE
Secret to beating a big bully? Recruit an even bigger one! Besides, Titanic Tim feels guilty for launching Stingray into the far reaches of outer space that one time, and is paying back the favor he owes to El Stingray. Not to mention, he’s kind of taken a liking to the little guy, if truth be told.
Capcom absolutely NAILED the entrances. It completely captures the over the top nature of the wrestling business.
Titanic Tim starts out by targeting Haggar, choking the life out of him. Later on, Jumbo uses his girth to put the big squeeze on the big man.
Massive suplex! Thing of beauty.
Haggar submits to Tim’s Torture Rack. At the end you get a classic Capcom Street Fighter-esque post fight quote. By the way, my favorite thing about the tag team bedlam mode is that it’s elimination style. Meaning you can enjoy a nice little 2-on-1 handicap match after defeating one of your opponents. It’s a total blast with 4 players!
Taking a page out of Bret Hart’s playbook, Tim delivers a picture perfect Reverse Russian Legsweep. I love catching them from behind while they’re dealing with my tag partner. These sneak attacks are the best. Also love the impact of the mat. It sounds painful as hell.
Getting a double 3-count pin in stereo is almost the coolest thing in this game. Check out how Grater there turns a shade of red after being defeated!
Speaking of coolest, nothing beats this. Seeing your tag partner thwart the opponent’s attempt to save their partner in the nick of time is a fist pumping moment for sure! Close saves (both ways) create the most compelling moments in this game by far.
Haggar is back for revenge and this time he has a new partner: Scorp. Judging by that second pic there, it’s a good call…
Haggar’s Spinning Piledriver is absolutely devastating.
Scorp’s Spiral Slam is just as lethal.
Destruction personified!
Defeat all comers and Capcom lets you do it again, Ghosts ‘N Goblins style.
Falling face first at the game over screen always made me chuckle.
Quotes from each wrestler appear pre and post match. It was a sign of the times.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
Gorgeous artwork from artist AngusBurgers
Saturday Night Slam Masters fared well with the critics as an arcade port. EGM gave it ratings of 7, 7, 7 and 8. Super Play rated it 78%. It’s obvious it’s best when played with 4. It takes a huge hit when playing solo, moreso than other 4 player games I feel. EGM said it best when one of their reviewers cited, “This is awesome for parties and gatherings, but not one I’d want to sit down and play all day.” I had a blast with this game back in the summer of 1994. My brother, our friends and I would all rotate having a go. It’s aged well but I’m reminded of how limited this game is, having played it recently. Yeah, it is an arcade port but you wish Capcom threw in some extra modes. It’s a straight port of an arcade game that didn’t have many bells and whistles. What you see is what you get. This worked fine with Street Fighter II, but Saturday Night Slam Masters is the CLASSIC arcade game. By that I mean it’s a lot of fun to play for a short go each time you see it in the arcade hall, but its flaws are exposed with longer sessions.
“A little help here?”
Super Play perhaps put it best:
“It’s totally atmospheric and, along with the over-the-top glitziness of each of the 10 fighters, it makes for an entertaining game to watch, if never totally satisfying to play. The problem is it’s very much an arcade experience. It’s fine to stick a couple of quid in for a laugh when you happen to come across it at the Trocadéro, for example, but it doesn’t have the gameplay or depth backing it. It’s just a matter of exchanging punches and kicks for a while, moving in for a spot of grappling, and hoping you get in there first. Sure, it may take a while to learn the special moves, and when to best apply them, but there aren’t many, and that’s as far as any strategy goes.”
CLOSING THOUGHTS
SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING
Don’t get me wrong, for all the flaws that Saturday Night Slam Masters has, I still like the game a whole bloody lot. You can’t talk about the best 4 player SNES games without mentioning this one. And if you take it for what it strictly is, you should be satisfied. It’s a crazy arcade wrestling game that places more emphasis on an arcade style than it does a pure technical wrestling style. You may come away feeling a bit cheated if you’re looking for anything beyond that. Computer AI can be very cheap, pulling off miracle comebacks and knowing your next move before you even attempt it. But it all goes back to the true nature of this game: it’s meant to be experienced playing alongside 3 pals.
“I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!”
Yes, it’s a bit shallow but as far as straight arcade ports go Capcom did a great job. Extras would have been appreciated but the graphics and sound are on par with what you’d expect from Capcom in this era. In other words, they do a good job bringing home an arcade-like quality experience. It’s by no means a deep game, so I knocked it down a point or two. It’s just a matter of hanging in there and hoping for the best, as Super Play perfectly encapsulated a bit earlier.
Get him, T. Hawk! Er, Titanic Tim
Overall, it’s a great arcade translation but it was best played in spurts with friends in the arcade, and the same applies here.
When the Super Nintendo came out in 1991, many people eagerly awaited the souped up 16-bit sequels of their favorite 8-bit NES classics. And for the most part, one by one, they poured in. The first was Super Mario World, then you had the likes of Contra III, Super Castlevania IV, Mega Man X, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid and the list goes on. But where was our beloved Little Mac? Finally, in October of 1994, the excruciatingly long wait was over. We were at last gifted with Super Punch-Out!! It proved to be a great game that was worth the wait.
MAC’S COMEBACK (IN AMERICA ONLY)
Nintendo recently announced their upcoming release of the SNES Classic Edition. Of the 21 SNES titles on offer, Super Punch-Out!! made the cut for the American release. It’s interesting to note the Japanese version picked another game in place of Super Punch-Out!! Actually, there was never a Super Famicom version of Super Punch-Out!! ever released. I guess Japan is sticking to their guns. It’s strange but true. I have no idea why but it’s certainly their loss.
PUNCH-OUT!! MEMORIES
Hello, dear old friend
If you grew up in the ’80s then you probably had an 8-bit Nintendo or at the very least you knew of a friend who did. For me and many other kids, growing up in the ’80s meant a steady diet of NES, TGIF and WWF. It was Mario and Hulk Hogan. Contra and Randy Savage. Mega Man and “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase. Castlevania and The Ultimate Warrior. Glass Joe and “Iron” Mike Sharpe! Yup, you can’t talk about the best NES games from the ’80s without mentioning Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
Holds up well 30 years later!
Nintendo made us wait for Super Punch-Out!! but hey, they did give us fair warning at the end of the NES game. Not sure how many eagle-eyed gamers caught their “hidden” message but they didn’t lie — they held up their end of the bargain.
The April 1 date made most think this was a joke
[Boy, PLEASE -Ed.]
ROUND TWO… FIGHT!!
Some of your old favorites are back!
They say your past has a way of catching up with you. Mac finds this to be true as some of his old ring “buddies” are back for another go. I wish Piston Honda and Soda Popinski made the cut as well but I get the need for new blood. At least we got Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman and Super Macho Man. It was like seeing a dear old friend, er, or bully in this case. Not that I know what it was like to be bullied growing up. Of course not. Yes… of course not. [Right -Ed.]
Defeat these 12 and you unlock four more
I guess King Hippo must be enjoying retirement, eh? I’m not the biggest fan of these new boxers — Gabby Jay is just a cheap Glass Joe knockoff with none of the charm — but I am a fan of Piston Hurricane and Masked Muscle. They’re great additions to the roster while the others felt a little too gimmicky for my taste.
NO LONGER STAR GAZING
NO STARS, JUST BARS!
In the NES game you receive a star for counter attacks, landing a swift blow and so forth. This acted as your rite of passage to using “super punches.” In this game things run a little differently. Once you fill up your meter, you’ll have access to all the special punches your heart desires… so long as you don’t get hit. I like this change.
MINOR CIRCUIT
Gabby Jay is the SNES version of Glass Joe. Hell, he even graduated from Glass Joe’s School of Boxing. Why anyone would pay top dollar to be trained by arguably the worst professional boxer ever is beyond me, but Gabby Jay does have one win to his name. His victim? Who else but Glass Jo(k)e. At 1-99, the 56 year old Gabby Jay doesn’t have much left in the tank. Then again, he didn’t have much even when he was in his physical prime. Might as well hand him his 100th loss then maybe he’ll retire. Jay opens each fight with a pathetic war cry of “YAY!”
Is he having a stroke?All day, Jay! ALL DAYGabby Jay? More like Gabby Joke
The heaviest boxer you’ll face, what he lacks in boxing technique he makes up for with a punch that packs a mighty wallop! Originally a carpenter, Bear Hugger grew up sparring with the animals in the forest near his home. His pet grizzly bear was his closest rival until he left Saskatoon to begin his pro career. Though not the best, he’s a major step up from the Gabby Jays of the world.
Useless punching his bellyLook out, Mac!Ducking is newLet’s see…… what ya had for breakfast!Sadly, no more Mario moonlighting as a ref. Sigh
After losing his home to a terrible storm, Piston Hurricane took his anger out on the mean streets of Havana. He soon became known and revered as “The King of ‘Vana.” Nobody dared to even look at him the slightest wrong way. Legend has it he once knocked out his own mom for looking at him funny. Turns out mama had gas. So just imagine what he’ll do to you!
Peek-A-Boo, I kill youPiston brings the punches to the partyTime to spike that punch!You’re no hurricane…Not even a CATEGORY ONEhurricane!“King of ‘Vana” huh?You just a court jester in my world!“Go back to being the Queen of ‘Vana!”
Knocking out your opponent silly and watching him fly back to his corner is one of the game’s pure joys. It also gives you a breather — madly tap the buttons to recuperate any lost health in classic Punch-Out!! form.
Better luck next time, Pussy Hurricane
Though sometimes they don’t get up, granting you the right to gloat and taunt like no tomorrow. Camera flashes abound and the crowd cheers. It definitely nails down the big fight atmosphere.
Truly one of the most iconic villains in Nintendo history. There are many memorable bad guys in 8-bit gaming history but my two favorites were Abobo and Bald Bull. Universally beloved, it just wouldn’t be Punch-Out!! without Bald Bull as the champion of the first circuit. Not being his first rodeo, some boxing pundits claim his best years are behind him and that he’s more reputation than dominance at this point…
Not as fast as he once wasStill got the biceps thoughCome on, Old Yeller!Time to take ya out back…… and put you down for good!Really? THIS again?Can’t teach an old bull new tricks“Welcome to 1994, bitch!”
The infamous “Bald Bull flat on his belly” look. You know you love it. Don’t feel sorry for him. He’s had a heck of a career. But now is the time for the new generation.
Congrats, Mac! Love the celebration animationQuit the excuses, old timer. Bald Bullshit, more like
I like the detailed stats you get at the end of each fight. Gone is the round system. Instead you get 3 minutes to duke it out. Some prefer the old style but I didn’t mind this too much. I do miss the funky little tips Doc Louis would give Mac in-between rounds, though.
30 seconds, Bull? How the mighty have fallen
The battery backup memory records the top 8 times. The NES game didn’t have this. It was fun to try and top your best time. Funny how addicting trying to shave half a second off your best time is.
In addition, whole circuit points are recorded
These little touches add to the game’s longevity.
MAJOR CIRCUIT
Bob loves to juke and jive. In fact, back home he was crowned the “Jive King” of Kingston. Now he’s in the States looking to make a name for himself. Speaking of names, he’s rumored to be boxing under an assumed name but no reporter has dared question him since the, ahem, Columbus incident. Tony Ellis, you’re in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery…
Don’t fall for his mind gamesYou’re gonna have to try better than that!“JIVE TO THIS, SUCKA!”
Bob Charlie may seem to be drunk but the bastard knows what he’s doing out there. Unfortunately for him, you’re no ham-and-egger (R.I.P. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan). THIS ONE IS FOR TONY ELLIS, DAMNIT!
The Major Circuit’s youngest boxer, scouts are impressed with Dragon Chan. Only 22 years old, he quickly ascended the ranks of the boxing universe. He makes for a terrible interview, though, since he speaks not a lick of English. Pain, however, is universal. Trained as a kick boxer, Dragon Chan is infamous for pulling into his bag of tricks. If you thought Bob Charlie to be a little unconventional, you haven’t seen anything yet my friend!
Whoa, when did this become MMA…Hidden Dragon, Peking Duck [HAR HAR -Ed.]Dragon Chan is super quick on his feetPerhaps I spoke too fast
Masked Muscle follows the classic Punch-Out!! tradition of big beefy boxers imposing enough to make you contemplate a change of careers. Take a steroid-injected masked wrestler, slip on a pair of gloves, give him a purple mist dirty attack and you have instant magic. Muscle was banned from pro wrestling for spewing a lethal mist into his opponents’ eyes that caused permanent eye damage. He’s one tough hombre!
His patterns are fun to counterHe forces you to use both armsBro, are you sneezing or dabbing?Rumor has it his skull contains a metal plateI hope he’s wearing his cup…IT’S THE DEADLY MIST! PURPLE RAIN!!!If the mist catches you…… this is the not so pleasant resultGO BACK TO WWE, SON“Tell Vinnie Mac to suck it!”
Classic Mr. Sandman returns from the NES game. He looks superb in 16-bits, eh? The first seven boxers are easy to dispose of but Mr. Sandman is the first real challenge for newbie players. With his mighty powerful punches and near mythical aura, Mr. Sandman confidently reigns as champion of the Major Circuit. There’s a reason why some call him “Chocolate Thunder.” He might make you call him daddy!
Time to put on your big boy pants, MacHis punches are dynamite if they connectBeware the quick left jabNow you’ve got his full attentionTo the left, to the leftTo the right, to the rightYOU MUST NOT KNOW ‘BOUT ME!
I COULD BEAT YOU IN JUST A MINUTE!
Ahem, um, sorry about that. Mr. Sandman takes Mac to the distance but David slays Goliath in the end. Look at all that spit coming out of his mouth. Love the attention to detail! You had a heck of a run there, Sandman, but this ain’t the ’80s anymore. It’s time to graduate to the World Circuit and take out another old friend… Super Macho Man!
WORLD CIRCUIT
Aran was teased and bullied for his name growing up. Being scrawny didn’t help. He skipped college and instead devoted his time to lifting weights and he picked up boxing along the way. As his muscles developed so did his boxing skills. Known for his unrelenting scrappiness, Aran Ryan now takes out his childhood angst on anyone standing across the ring from him.
Block the body blowNot the money makerHe’s a tougher Piston HurricaneNo four leaf clover will help himI got your Lucky Charms right hereWatch out for his debilitating squeezeI don’t swing that way, pal
At just 19 years old, Heike Kagero’s future is bright but he has already established himself with a respectable 14-8 pro record. Rumor has it Heike dabbles in the occult, and that his hair is actually the spirit of a samurai protégé who died far too young centuries ago. Mind you, that’s just a rumor. But those who have been whipped by Heike’s hair will tell you differently!
Beware the hair!That boy ain’t right…He reminds me of the zebra Battle Beast…
Mad Clown wasn’t always a clown, and he wasn’t always mad. In fact, he had a budding career as an opera singer. But on the biggest show of his life, he froze on stage. From that point on he ran to the circus but it wasn’t long before they rejected him on account of mental instability. That’s when he turned to boxing. There he excelled. His trick? Pretending his opponent is one of the audience members who laughed at him!
He’s brought his circus tricks with himYou mad, bro?He didn’t take too kindly to that questionSomeone needs a hugOr better yet, a stiff shot to the chinMac’s cardio game is on pointTime to put Mad Clown downSee ya, Twinkle Toes!
After all these years Super Macho Man’s reign of terror still sits atop the world of boxing. Well, of the World Circuit, anyhow. But don’t tell Super Macho Man that unless you want a couple black eyes. Owning a stellar record of 29-3, his only blemishes came at the hands of the Bruiser twins and an upset victory by Little Mac way back in 1987. The time for the rematch has finally come!
Was Mac’s 1987 victory just a fluke? You decide!Most intimidating curtsy of all timeSuper Macho Punch!Be ready to duckHis face there reminds me of…But maybe that’s just me!Here comes the painOUCHDOWN GOES MAC! DOWN GOES MAC!Macho launches into a flurry of punchesC’mon, my grandma’s faster!Really, that all you got?Someone needs a nap. Let me help!Good luck, Mac
SPECIAL CIRCUIT
You can’t see it there but Narcis Prince (what a fitting name) has a V on his sweater. People who tease him that it stands for virgin end up in the hospital. The V actually stands for victory. He’s a promising young boxer who shot up the ranks quickly. Narcis showed so much potential that he was promoted to the legendary Special Circuit — a circuit renowned for featuring only the best of the best. He throws a fit whenever you punch him in his “beautiful” face. Hey punk, it’s boxing. What do ya expect?!
That V stands for victory all right
Hoy Quarlow (what a name) hobbles to the ring with his trusty wooden cane. But rather than setting it aside, he brings it into the ring to whack you upside the head with. What kind of shady organization is running this thing, eh?! At 78 years old Hoy has forgotten more about boxing than you’ll ever learn. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to Yoda, Hoy was appropriately known as “The Beast From Beijing.” Though he may not look it in his ripe old age, he can still knock out fools with the best of them! And then he’ll get the senior discount at the local Denny’s down the road. Because that’s how Hoy Quarlow rolls.
I don’t want any of your wood!
The Bruiser twins rule the boxing world. Rick Bruiser is universally regarded as the second best boxer of this generation. His one loss came at the hands of his twin brother, Nick Bruiser, in a main event that broke the all time Pay-Per-View sales record. It was a fierce and close battle that many historians have touted as the greatest boxing bout in the annals of history. Rick is as menacing as they come. The deadly southpaw once decimated Bald Bull in under a minute and Bald Bull has been “broken” ever since. Mr. Sandman barely made a dent in this war machine and Super Macho Man quickly learned his place in the pecking order. If by some miracle you’re able to get by Rick, what’s left of you will be easy pickings for the even tougher Nick Bruiser. Damn. The Bruiser twins were born to dominate and destroy.
Mac sees his life flash before him
The Undisputed Champ. Nick Bruiser is the ultimate boxer. No empathy, no emotion. Just a stone cold killer. Boosting a perfect 42-0 record, boxing pundits often argue who would win between “Iron” Mike Tyson and Nick Bruiser. Opinions differ but consensus says Nick Bruiser would ANNIHILATE Tyson. It’s hard to argue. Bruiser strikes fast and hard. The mere sight of him alone is enough to psych out most boxers. Bruiser’s aura is damn near MYTHICAL — he often beats opponents long before the bell sounds. Only one challenger can give him a run for his money, and his name is Little Mac. Bruiser scoffs at the very idea but deep down in his black heart he knows the threat that Little Mac presents. The Boxing Match of the Century has been signed. Who will win and be the Undisputed WVBA Champion? Only you can decide!
Long live the king, Nick Bruiser
CLASS OF 1994
This ad gave us a chuckle or two
TIME ATTACK
Be immortalized forever (or until the battery dies)
The time attack mode records your fastest times and highest scores. It’s a sweet additional mode that the 8-bit NES game didn’t have.
I just wish Doc Louis was here to witness itOnce you beat all four circuits, the game’s longevity relies on coming back to the time attack mode to set new highs. It’s always a good time stopping Bald Bull dead in his tracks during his Bull Charge. Or sending Mr. Sandman to the dream world myself. This isn’t the kind of game you play for hours on end. But it’s the kind that you are likely to occasionally play when you only have 15 minutes and want something quick and fun. At least that’s how Super Punch-Out!! is for me.
Barely beating a record is incredibly thrilling!What can I say. I’m pretty good…I set the world record!
Believe it or not, I’ve beaten Super Macho Man in under 8 seconds. Look and see for yourself if you don’t believe me. The previous world record was 0’09″43. I submitted this shot to Nintendo for posterity but for some weird reason unbeknownst to me they’ve rejected my submission. Well, either that or they lost it in the mail. Alas, we’ll never know… [You are more delusional than Gabby Jay -Ed.]
MAC ‘N CHANGE
Did you know this was his original look?
There was a debate going around that the Mac in Super Punch-Out!! is not the same Little Mac from Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! Actually, it is. In fact, this was his original look before Nintendo changed it. You can see that clearly is the Little Mac we all know and love. However, I guess they wanted to make him look a little bit “cooler” hence the change. Personally, I don’t mind. I still like the final product we got with regards to Little Mac. Besides, it’s mostly just cosmetics we’re talking about here. The gameplay delivers and that’s mainly what I care about. Still, it’s fascinating to recall the difference between Mac’s first form and what he eventually became.
From Nintendo Power Magazine, Volume 63
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
YES, GAMEFAN, MY BODY IS READY
Super Punch-Out!! was very well received by the majority of fans and critics alike. While more people seem to prefer Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! on the NES, very few have deemed Super Punch-Out!! as anything less than a great game in its own right. It graced the cover of GameFan (and what a cover it was) for their October 1994 issue. GameFan’s signature character, the Postmeister, stood in Mac’s place. A bit of a glory hog, that one. EGM gave it ratings of 79% and 86% (given by their two sports game writers as opposed to the traditional four person review panel). GameFan rated it 90, 95 and 95%. Super Play Magazine scored it at 90%. Little Mac’s return was an unequivocal success. Better late than never!
EGM ranked it as the 56th best game of all timeI was miffed EGM didn’t give it the traditional review!I was even more miffed at this somewhat low scorePreach, Super Play, PREACH!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Mac and friends never looked better!
There will always be a special place in my gaming heart for this franchise as well as for Little Mac and all his crazy foes. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! was one of my favorites back in the late ’80s. So I couldn’t wait for the inevitable 16-bit “Super” treatment. It was a longer wait than any of us expected, but just like “make up presents” in early January it’s a classic case of better late than never. Nintendo was wise to mix in the new blood along with the return of some old familiar faces. Seeing Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman and Super Macho Man in 16 glorious bits was a welcomed sight and a tremendous fan service. The jump from NES to SNES made for a major visual upgrade. You can actually see the bulging muscles and watch the spit fly out of a guy’s mouth as you twist his head back with a well-timed uppercut. The visuals have a real arcade-like quality to them. Speaking of which, did you know there’s actually a 1984 arcade game of the same name? Navigating an older and bigger Mac through the boxing ranks presents a certain nostalgic charm, even if Nintendo did alter his look a bit. Best of all, Little Mac controls like an absolute dream. It’s crisp and super responsive. If you mess up, you know it’s on you and not the game.
HOW RUDE! Cover up the next time you sneeze. Jeez!
In addition to the three old faces, there are lots of new foes to scout and take out. You’ll have to learn all their techniques, such as Masked Muscle’s paralyzing purple shower. It all adds to the wacky fun. There’s just something special and sacred about a Punch-Out!! game. Maybe it’s the larger than life boxers. Maybe it’s the comic book-like zany brutality of it all. Maybe it’s figuring out the patterns and tendencies of each new competitor and then exploiting their weaknesses. Or maybe it’s simply a timeless classic from the golden days of retro gaming. I like to think it’s all of those things, along with, of course, the fact that I think all of us can relate to Little Mac in some form or fashion. We all love a good underdog story and I believe there’s a little Little Mac inside each of us. It’s David vs. Goliath, good vs. evil, you against all odds. There’s something simple and beautiful about that. And Super Punch-Out!! captures that feeling to a tee. Each opponent gets progressively tougher and nastier. By the time you reach the Bruiser twins you’ll feel like you’ve been through the trenches yourself!
A true classic never goes out of style
There are a few blemishes to note, though. Seeing a few more familiar faces would have been nice, especially Piston Honda. Many fans prefer the villain roster of the 8-bit original, claiming the 16-bit roster to be not quite as memorable. Fans have argued over the years about which they like better. The NES one is better overall I think, but there’s something to be said about the 16-bit treatment of Punch-Out!! that took the game to new heights graphically and really brought home an arcade-like quality. The SNES game eliminated the three round format (with breaks in-between where you get tips from Doc Louis) and instead features one round lasting three minutes. I do prefer how the SNES version tracks your knock-out punches (full meter vs. earning stars) and you had four different knock-out punches in Super Punch-Out!! as opposed to just one in the NES game. The Bruiser brothers are brutal but they’re definitely no Mike Tyson in terms of sheer difficulty. By the way, did I mention the awesome battery-backed capabilities of the SNES game, allowing you to store top scores and compete among friends? Oh, but did I mention the legend that is SODA POPINSKI? It’s like being forced to pick your favorite child. I love both games for different reasons. You simply cannot go wrong with either!
These childhood terrors have aged like a fine wine
All in all, Super Punch-Out!! is no doubt a Super Nintendo classic. It’s aged very well, too. I still love playing it even to this day. Whether you prefer the NES or SNES version, there’s no denying Super Punch-Out!! is a worthy sequel. Having more boxers, seeing ol’ Doc Louis and having some cutscenes would have been great, but I’m more than satisfied with what we got. This is one of those games I envision myself playing well into my twilight years when I’m as old as Hoy Quarlow himself, God willing. Boxing games rarely get better than this. Now if you’ll excuse me, I got me a couple Bruiser bros to beat up…
Graphics: 9 Sound: 8 Gameplay: 9 Longevity: 8
Overall: 9.0 Gold Award
Finally beat both Bruisers after all these years!
MAC’S FINAL COMEBACK!
Somewhere in the Bronx, New York…
It was a cold and dark night in the Bronx. An old bulldog roamed the streets. If you looked close enough, you’d recognize him as Little Mac. Yes, that fabled boxing teen heart throb from the vaunted ’80s. Made a comeback in ’94 and then disappeared into obscurity. Mac is now in the second half of his life and on this night, something stirs deep within his core. A feeling he hasn’t felt in over 20 years…
The rumble in the basement…
The knees are feeling good. The joints are working. The back’s never felt better in years. Was it possible? Could it be? Could Mac return to the ring for one last shot at glory?
There was an eerie stillness in the cool night air
It felt like the calm before the storm. Mac’s old trainer, Doc Louis, couldn’t believe it. Mac didn’t tell Doc explicitly, but Doc knew. He had seen that look in Mac’s eyes before. The very same look that Mac had right before he knocked out the likes of Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman and yes, even the brutal Bruiser twins. The Mac man is hungry, and he wants one more fight. One more chance to shine under the bright lights and recapture a flicker from the past.
This place was once vibrant, teeming with life
Mac and Doc got back in the car and drove around town. One by one, they stopped off at each of Mac’s old haunts. Mac peered inside the store as though he were peering down his very soul.
“You ready to go yet, Champ?”
Then they headed over to the old pet shop on 4th Avenue. It was where Mac got his first pet fish. Poor Freddy. He only lived six weeks, as Mac recalls it.
Mac: *sniff*
Doc: Hey Mac, you crying?
Mac: Uh, no. No no.
Doc: Looks like tears to me, Mac.
Mac: C’mon Doc, you know I got allergies.
Doc: Of course.
“Man, where does the time go, Doc?”
Mac: Damnit Doc, look at this will ya? This is where I grew up. I remember my mom buying me a Nintendo and some boxing game back in 1987. Those were the good old days. Lot of memories here, Doc. You know they say if you live in a place long enough, you are that place…
Doc: I ain’t no talking building. Listen, enough yapping. I gotta get your old ass ready for the Sandman!
Mac: You know what to do. Time to take that ancient bike of yours out of storage.
“Man, it’s just like the old days, Doc!”
Just like old times, indeed. Doc’s training regimen was legendary in the ’80s and ’90s. Tonight begins the comeback trail!
“Come on Mac, LET’S SHOCK THE WORLD!”
Doc: Mac, I gotta be real here. You sure put on a lot of weight in the last 20+ years.
Mac: I’m not the only one who’s changed. You hardly look like the Doc Louis I knew! In fact, maybe it’s the dizziness from all this running talking but I swear you look yellow all of a sudden!
Doc: What?! You must be going blind in your old age.
***SIX MONTHS LATER***HEREWEGO!
Doc: Alright Mac, this is your night. You’ve put in the hours. You’ve dropped the weight. Whatever happens tonight, I want you to know, from one old ass fart to another, I’m proud of you for making it this far!
Mac: Come on, Doc. You should know me better than that. I ain’t satisfied making it this far. I didn’t come all this way to finish in second place. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will BEAT you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or NOBODY is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and THAT AIN’T YOU! YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT!
Doc: Um…
Mac: Whoa, sorry. I get my wires crossed from time to time, you know.
Doc: That one’s probably Nick Bruiser, 1994, Vegas. First round uppercut.
Mac: Don’t worry ’bout me Doc. I still got most of my mental facilities.
Doc: *mutters under breath* Faculties.
Mac: You said something Doc?
Doc: Uh, nope.
*EYE OF THE TIGER PLAYS*
Mac: Hey listen Doc! They playing my music. You know what that means.
Doc: I know what that means. This is your night. Mr. Sandman ain’t what he used to be. Hell, none of us are. But you’re better than him. Always was and always will be. Now you go out there and you leave it all out there in the ring!
Mac: Man, I love you too, Doc Brown.
Doc: *mutters under breath* Soda Popinski, 1987, Detroit, second round hook.
“WELCOME BACK! *clap clap clap* WELCOME BACK!”
Though he’s been out of the spotlight for over 20 years now, Mac has adoring fans of all generations. Grandfathers have passed Mac’s legacy down to their fathers. And fathers to sons. After all this time, folks still fondly remember. And they’re not shy to show Mac the appreciation he’s due.
“LETS GO MAC! *clap clap clap* LETS GO MAC!”
For one last time, with the good Doc Louis by his side, Mac made that long walk down the aisle with the capacity crowd chanting his name in ecstasy. The show of adoration sent chills up and down Mac’s spine. Even if he doesn’t win, this moment will forever live on.
R.I.P Bernie Mac. The REAL Mac!
Long time nemesis Mr. Sandman paces in the ring, awaiting Mac’s arrival. We haven’t seen Mr. Sandman in decades, either. He still looks good. It’s the rematch everyone’s talking about. Mac Man vs. Sandman — RING THE BELL!
“THANK YOU MAC! THANK YOU MAC! THANK YOU MAC!”
At the end of a hard fought battle, busted and bruised, Mac took a moment to acknowledge his loyal legion of fans. It’s been one hell of a ride. We’ve witnessed here tonight two boxing legends go toe to toe one last time. The sport will never be the same again. As for who won, the fans did. The sport of boxing did. In an era where we push youth and quickly cast aside the old, this was a historic night where tradition was honored and appreciated. Good night everybody!
Street Fighter II jumpstarted a revolution, no doubt. Likewise, there is no doubt that Street Fighter II Turbo refined said revolution. Many would even argue perfected it. Allowing you to use the four boss characters, in addition to adding new special moves for most of the fighters and the all-important speed factor, Street Fighter II Turbo has cemented its place in video gaming lore. The hype surrounding the release back in the summer of 1993 was palpable and surreal. I remember my brother buying this game on launch day and nobody in my gaming group was disappointed one iota. Looking back, it’s easy to see it’s not a perfect conversion of the 1992 arcade smash hit, but man, back in those olden days it sure felt pretty damn close to perfect. You have to remember that home consoles back then weren’t close to being as strong as arcade cabs. It’s amazing what Capcom was able to translate to the little ol’ 16-bit SNES. My friends and I wasted so many hours on this one. Good times.
MAKING A COMEBACK
With the recent news of Nintendo releasing the SNES Classic Edition, Street Fighter II Turbo is once again being brought back into the public consciousness. It’s the only fighting game featured in the package and if you could only pick one then Nintendo made the right call. Let the nostalgia commence.
THE STREET FIGHTER PHENOMENON
Seeing this back in the summer of ’93 was every kid’s dream come true. All 12 Street Fighters available at the tip of your fingers. Same character selects with no codes. Finally, no more excuses. Survival of the strongest. Many scores were settled and many bruises ensued. Even better, Capcom was cool enough to include both Street Fighter II: Champion Edition and Turbo in one package. Champion Edition allows you to control the four boss characters and select the same fighters. Turbo upped the ante by giving most of the original cast a new special move and added a speed setting. Many consider Turbo to be the definitive version of Street Fighter II.
No more excuses!Beat the bosses, BE the bosses. Brilliant, CapcomArguably Capcom’s finest hour on the SNES…
I still vividly remember to this day my brother rushing out to buy this game. I stayed at home counting down the minutes. Seeing my brother come back home with the Holy Grail firmly in his grasp was a moment of sheer euphoria. Experiencing the game in our living room, in all its 20 MEG glory, showing off the power of the SNES, it was crazy to see how far video gaming had come since the days of the 8-bit NES. Never was a system more aptly named than the SUPER Nintendo.
THE STREET FIGHTERS
The fight is all that matters to him
The face of the franchise, this straight edge no nonsense warrior is all about the fight and nothing else. Some may call him a little vanilla, but Ryu is as solid and consistent as a rock. He’s the Leonardo of the crew, and I guess every franchise needs that one leading cat, eh?
Such a vintage sight!
Ryu’s stage is simply classic. Battle for supremacy on top of a private roof. A nearby dojo looms hauntingly in the background. Sadly, the moon is missing but back in 1993 none of us really cared. We were way too busy appreciating what we had.
Straight up two of the most iconic special moves in all of fighting game history.
Hurricane Kick can now be performed in mid-air.
Of course he was born on Valentine’s Day
Every main protagonist needs a rival. Enter Ken, a flashier version of Ryu. Naturally, he’s a bit temperamental and one cocky son of a gun. Ken is perfect for those who want to control someone with Ryu’s moveset but has a little edge to their character.
A sight that once dominated my Sunday mornings
Ken’s stage has always been one of my favorites. Being the complete opposite of Ryu in terms of personality, Ken wants a crowd to witness and worship his skills. Nothing gets him going more than humiliating his opponent in front of a packed house, or boat as it were. A pair of barrels propped to the right will shatter upon impact, adding insult to injury.
Similar moveset to Ryu but Ken’s Dragon Punch travels a bit farther.
Homie needs to cover up his junk better…
The residential sumo grand champion, Edmund Honda is determined to show the world that a sumo champ can also be the world’s greatest fighter. I never much cared for Honda back in the day but over the years have come to appreciate him more.
Prepare for a blood bath [HAR HAR -Ed.]E. Honda’s stage is awesome. I love the combination of colors used and that background mural is so bizarrely memorable. The best thing about this stage is when the fight is over, the mural lights up and the mural man flashes a sign at you. It’s bonkers.
Edmund uses his thick head to devastating results. “OOP OINK!” He also has the fastest hands around, unleashing hell in the form of a hundred hand BITCH SLAP. It’s been upgraded; Honda can perform it while inching toward his opponent.
Honda’s new move serves as a bit of an anti-air special, followed by a diving ass attack. Assack, perhaps.
Now with a fireball in tow — the KIKOKEN!
Many people think of Chun Li as being the first lady of fighting games. Other people have, AHEM, other thoughts about her but it would be inappropriate to cite said thoughts. You know her story. She’s out to avenge the death of her father who fell at the vile hands of M. Bison. She got arguably the best new move in Turbo as well. A fireball! Hey, it was a big deal back then.
He’s watching Chun Li while choking his chicken
He’s really got no shame, the git. Chun Li’s stage is another classic that is burned into my soul. Duke it out in front of a busy marketplace complete with cyclists passing through. Should you emerge victorious, you can then partake in buying some dinner or even get a haircut. All in a day’s hard work!
#NEVERSKIPPEDLEGDAY.
Remember what a big deal people made back in the early ’90s that Chun Li now has a fireball of her own? And on a side note, her annoying infamous head stomp returns as well.
“Quit blocking my barbershop post, Chunners!”One of my favorite Capcom creations of all time
Ah, the tragic tale of Jimmy. The little boy who descended to the depths of a Brazilian jungle during a plane crash, only to be mutated and raised by the wild savages of the jungle. All that produced the beast you now see… BLANKA!
So many awesome memories of this stage!
The music, the locals snapping photos to prove the existence of the beast, the savages cheering on from inside the hut packed in like a can of sardines, the giant clouds scrolling lazily by in the background, the giant anaconda wrapped around that decaying tree… this stage tells such a rich story and is perfection personified.
Blanka’s electric shock fits him so well. That x-ray animation is legendary. His rolling attack has been improved — Blanka no longer takes double damage if he’s hit during the attack.
Blanka’s new trick is a vertical rolling attack. It doubles as an anti-air move and it can also nail opponents on the way down.
Don’t mess with a guy who wrestles with bears
If Chun Li is the first lady of fighting games, then surely Zangief is the first muscle maniac of the genre. It takes a very skilled player to use Zangief effectively. I love how he wrestles bears for a hobby, and his scar-laced body is proof that he is certifiably a turnbuckle shy of a wrestling ring!
Those are some rowdy Russians!
Held in the heartland of the USSR, factory workers take a break from the work grind to witness their beloved Zangief crush yet another poor victim.
Similar to Honda’s Hundred Hand Slap, the Spinning Clothesline can now move. It’s cool how a small change can actually make a big difference. His new move is a crushing German Suplex that would make ECW’s Taz proud!
Spinning Pile Driver still the most devastating move in the game!
Guile was always the “cool rebel” to us kids
There’s something cool about a good old American badass. Guile fits that role to a tee. He doesn’t have a lot of special moves but he makes each one count. Forget about Charlie, Guile is where it’s at!
We called the guy in the middle there Cyclops…
Street Fighter II has some of the best stages in fighting game history. Guile’s is yet another example of such. The music of this stage is stuck in my head to this day, and it never gets old throwing your opponent through the crates.
Hadoken set the bench mark for all projectiles to follow, but I’d argue that the Sonic Boom is almost just as memorable. Remember how the jab version was so slow that it allowed you to bash your opponent’s head in with a well-timed back fist? You can’t do that with the Hadoken, that’s for damn sure!
Champion Edition tweaked the Flash Kick to hit two times. I was never a fan of this change. Thankfully, it’s back to the classic one hit in the Turbo edition. I’ve always been a huge fan of Guile’s Flash Kick. To me it’s just as iconic as the Dragon Punch and it looks way cooler.
[Very funny… NOT -Stretch Armstrong]Forever a perennial favorite of mine, Dhalsim was the first Street Fighter character I ever used. He was also the one I used when I perfected my brother’s annoying cocky friend at a 7-11 circa 1991. He had no answer for Dhalsim’s long limbs and his hubris was his ultimate downfall. Dhalsim and I have shared a lifelong connection ever since.
Seeing this brings back so many memories of 7-11
Yet another haunting stage. The elegant blue rug, the elephant god mural and of course, who could forget the elephants trumpeting at the end of each battle?
Dhalsim had the very unique ability of being able to stretch his limbs. This great gimmick was often copied in other fighting games from other companies. Hey, he was a trailblazer!
Teleportation is Dhalsim’s new special skill. Check out how he uses this new power to confuse, daze and nail his opponent!
Known for his signature fiery antics, he can spew a small fireball (Yoga Fire) or blow a larger one that is more short ranged but hits for more damage (Yoga Flame). The “on fire” animation is, no pun intended, seared into the memories of anyone who ever ventured through an arcade hall in the early ’90s.
Ah, such a nostalgic visualIn Japan he was originally called M. Bison
The first of the four boss characters, Balrog has always been the least interesting to me. He was a sign of the times; Capcom drew inspiration from “Iron” Mike Tyson.
Dat stage tho
Fighting under the bright lights of Las Vegas, combatants duke it out as strippers, pimps and tourists cheer the carnage on. Epic background.
Balrog’s two special moves consist of rushing punch variations. In fact, he is the only fighter in the game to never use his feet. It takes a skilled player to use him effectively.
Vega was Balrog in Japan
The first time I ever saw Vega I remember thinking how cool he was. Vega to me seemed like a combination of Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers. It wasn’t long before I realized he was nothing more than a masked narcissist with a claw. Just a pretty boy, and nothing at all like those terrifying monsters of my youth. Needless to say, I didn’t like him as much then!
You can knock his claw off, but not his mask
Dropped in the middle of an underground fighting world at an undisclosed location somewhere in Spain, the steel cage protects the spectators from the sheer chaos. But really, it serves as a tool for Vega to scale when things get too hot and heavy…
Vega’s rolling attack can connect several times and inflict a good deal of damage.
Nimble as a cat, Vega takes to the cage when all else fails. From here he can either pierce you with his razor sharp claw or catch you in an devastating overhead throw.
How many Asians you know are 7’4″?
In the first Street Fighter tournament, reigning champion Sagat was dethroned by a young warrior named Ryu. Ryu’s Dragon Punch left an enormous scar on his chest and ever since then the Thailand terror has been training 24/7, waiting for the perfect moment to exact his revenge.
The chest scar, the eye patch… what a character
A giant Buddha statue oversees the battle as combatants wrestle to the death in this beautiful and serene stage. The temples in the backdrop remind me of the old 1982 Jet Li film, Shaolin Temple.
Sagat’s two Tiger Shots hits either high or low. Switch the velocity to keep your opponent on their toes.
Sagat’s Tiger Knee connects on the ground for up to two devastating hits, and doubles as an anti-air attack to boot.
Needing to counter Ryu’s lethal Dragon Punch, the deadly Tiger Uppercut came to life. His chest scar is a daily reminder of the pain and humiliation he suffered in the first tournament. Seeking vengeance, Sagat believes his Tiger Uppercut will be the difference maker.
He was known as Vega in Japan
Remember how much we hated M. Bison as kids when he was in Street Fighter II? And remember how much we wanted to control him just so we could pull off his Psycho Crusher? Street Fighter II Turbo made our dreams come true.
That cape tossing is so bloody cool
The sky paints such an ominous backdrop. Towering golden statues decorate each side of the stage which you can send your opponent crashing through. A massive bell that looks like it came straight out of a Bob Ross water painting rests center stage.
Scissor Kick can hit up to two times, one high and one low. Tricky and deadly!
Jumping high, Bison plants both feet into your skull and then flies backwards to smash your temple in with his tyrannical fist. OUCH!
You felt so badass screaming across the screen!
BONUS STAGES
Who could ever forget the first time seeing the car bonus stage? It’s an iconic gaming sight, and one that still resonates more than 25 years later.
Bricks don’t hit backBonus stages became a staple for the genre
THE MAN IN THE MOUNTAIN
Is that really Dhalsim there?
When we were kids my brother and I believed that was none other than Dhalsim on the front cover showing off his new teleportation special move. Fast forward some odd 15 years to 2008, I posted my memories about this on a message board and everyone there told me “No, it’s just Honda and Sagat on the cover.” I wasn’t so quick to buy in, though, as I assumed everyone thought back in the day the same thing that my brother and I did. The debate somehow summoned the original artist of the SNES Street Fighter II Turbo cover into the fold. He claimed that the strange bald figure seen on the cover is NOT Dhalsim. I asked him who was it then, but he never got back to me. The mural man doesn’t look a damn thing like the bald guy we see on the cover. Strange. I guess we’ll never know for sure. But I still stand by my original statement… to me it was clever Capcom showing off Dhalsim’s brand new special skill. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! #childhoodconvictions
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
1993 — what a time for a gamer to be alive
Street Fighter II Turbo was a smash hit with the critics. It earned Game of the Month accolades with EGM, posting scores of 9, 9, 10 and 10. GameFan gave it ratings of 98, 98, 99 and 100%. Super Play rated it a whopping 96% — the highest score they ever dished out. This port is widely considered as one of the BEST arcade to home translations on the SNES. In terms of top 100 lists, Nintendo Power ranked it #10, EGM had it at #5 and Super Play placed it at #2.
Street Fighter II Turbo ranked high on many lists
WHAT YOU, THE READERS, SAID
Which SNES Street Fighter game got the most votes?
More than a decade ago, way back in February 2007, on my old original RVGFanatic website I ran a survey asking my readers to vote for their favorite SNES Street Fighter game. You voiced your opinion loudly. Now, more than 10 years later, the final results are in. Come on, you didn’t think I would lose those figures, right? Don’t answer that. While obviously not conclusive — this is one small sample after all — it’s interesting to see nevertheless. 10% prefer the very first one while 39% voted for Super Street Fighter II. It was no shock that Street Fighter II Turbo won the poll with a stirring 51% of the votes. I love all the SNES Street Fighter games (yes, even 1996’s Street Fighter Alpha 2) but Street Figher II Turbo to me will forever be the king.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Simply the best
Street Fighter II Turbo forever holds a special place in my heart. It gave me and my gaming crew so many fond memories over the years. For my money, it is without a shadow of a doubt the best fighting game on the Super Nintendo. At the time it blew all of us away. And while it’s true that it isn’t a perfect conversion of the arcade (nobody expected it to be), it still made for the perfect SNES fighting game. Even though there have been arcade-perfect ports of Street Fighter II Turbo released on other systems over the years, I still find myself coming back to the SNES version and having a blast. Maybe I’m a little blinded by nostalgia but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t still hold up well nearly 25 years later.
Shit never gets old
No, it definitely doesn’t.
Graphics: 10 Sound: 10 Gameplay: 10 Longevity: 10
Overall: 10 PLATINUM AWARD
When you talk about Super Nintendo’s very finest, any discussion excluding Street Fighter II Turbo should automatically be null and void. It was a video gaming revolution — a special time we’re likely never to see again. I’m thankful I got to witness it first-hand.
Super Baseball 2020 was originally released in the arcades back in late 1991 as part of the Neo Geo lineup. It was later ported to the SNES in the summer of 1993. It’s crazy that we’re only two and a half years away from 2020! When I first saw the arcade cab in ’91 I remember thinking to myself that 2020 would never get here. Indeed, at the time it was nearly 30 years away. 30 years to a kid is an eternity. Yet here we are. On the brink of 2020. That blows my mind. Looks like we won’t have super robots playing baseball a couple years from now, though. But hey, you can always simulate that with Super Baseball 2020!
WELCOME TO THE YEAR 2020
HE HITS IT HIIIIGH…… HITS IT DEEEEEEP…… IT ISSSSSS…… OUTTA HERE!!!Gotta have giant scrolling letters in the 16-bit eraLove that classic SNES controller
FAIR OR FOUL?
Baseball rules and regulations have drastically changed by the year 2020. Now the emphasis is on a larger fair playing field, making action quicker and more exciting. The foul zone’s been reduced to strictly behind the catcher. As a result, one can score hits all over the field!
SHOW ME THE MONEY
Upgrade your robotic players to super soldiers of destruction. Money is earned based on positive plays. Similarly, money is lost on negative plays. Adds a bit of depth and strategy to the old baseball formula.
Super Baseball 2020, sponsored by Pete Rose
SPECIAL CUTSCENES
Exceptional outs are highlighted by cutscenes, just like in the arcade!
Check out the timing on this one. The ball should sail off those fancy blue glass plates for a single or double, but alas…
Some robots are faster than others
“DAMNIT UMP, I WAS SAFE!”
“DAMNIT UMP, HE WAS OUT!”
WHAT THE PROS WEAR IN 2020
NEO-TITANIUM ALLOY BAT FTW
Leap over 20 feet in the air to rob home runs
KICK SOME GLASS
Home runs are delegated to dead center
One of the best things about this game is no doubt those futuristic looking blue glass plates that cover the audience. More than cosmetic, balls that are hit on the glass plates are considered in play! This leads to what I like to call “Wall Ball.” Nothing beats smacking a ball so hard that it rolls down several planes of glass, allowing you to stretch singles into doubles or even triples!
JUST foul! D’oh
Balls to the wall fun… [You’re fired -Ed.]Wall Ball is a hoot. It’s even better when you have runners on base. Balls hammered to the far reaches of the stadium bounce slowly off the glass as your men round the bases.
They remind me of Lego’s blue plates…The nostalgia!
Who didn’t love Lego back in the day? In addition to the huge bases and fortresses you could lose yourself in for hours on end, I was always fascinated by the color glass plates. Playing Super Baseball 2020 takes me back to those innocent childhood days playing with my favorite Lego sets. One of my favorites was the Metro PD Station. The glass windows resemble those of Super Baseball 2020 so much.
WHAT’S THE PASSWORD?
Seasons are 15 games long, not 162“OOH YEEEEAH! DIG IT!”The real Mega Powers
The password feature is a bummer. Baseball games of this era mostly used a battery backup memory. Thankfully, seasons are only 15 games long. It makes the password tracking a bit more bearable. Also, the 12 character passwords aren’t the worst in the world. Not ideal, but not a deal breaker.
THE TEAMS
There are 12 teams in allTotal points: 22
Total points: 26
Total points: 23
Total points: 24
Total points: 29
Total points: 22
Ninja Black Sox? Best baseball team name everTotal points: 20
Total points: 22
Total points: 28
Total points: 25
Total points: 24
Total points: 29
Lowest team in terms of total points: Aussie Battlers (20). Highest team in terms of total points: Taiwan Mega Powers and Tropical Girls (29). The Tropical Girls and the Battle Angels are the two all-female teams. I love that each team has its own pros and cons.
PLAY BALL!
Overwork your players and robots will falter and break down. Once they explode, they become extremely ineffective. As soon as they show signs of wearing down, you’d do well to replace them.
Well that was an easy decision to go with Lu…Tonight’s exciting match-upBlatant Mode 7 up the wazoo
All games in the year 2020 are played exclusively in the Cyber Egg Stadium. Gone are unique team stadiums and home field advantage. It’s a bit of a shame but the Cyber Egg Stadium is so cool that it almost makes you forget about there being only one ballpark to play in. Almost.
Looks fairly close to the Neo Geo originalIt’s HIGH… but FOUL!The audience looks great“It’s at the 10… the 20… it could… GO ALL THE WAY!”
Apparently, even in the year 2020 some things never change. Seems like in the off-season the Cyber Egg Stadium also acts as a football stadium. Oakland A’s and Oakland Raiders, I’m looking at you.
Home runs only count when hit to dead center
HURRY, get in position! Now jump! *CLUNK* D’OH!
Trash talkin’ while all this is going on is half the fun!
Replace your pitcher, fielders, base runners or hitter with a robot off the bench, or upgrade if you have the cash.
Be a shame to ruin its brand new shiny exterior…
REVENGE OF THE BOTS V: BALLS TO THE WALLSBases loaded make it even sweeterCheck out how long this ball will roll for…Not stopping for the first row…… nor the third row…Get those Pokemon Ball looking runners home!
After being crushed way to the top of the upper deck, it finally lands somewhere on the 8th glass plane and begins to bounce off several on the way down. Meanwhile the runners are circling the bases like mad ants and the opposition can’t do a DAMN thing about it but wait and curse. This unique feature alone makes Super Baseball 2020 a blast to play with a friend.
6-0 and STILL bouncing!7-0 and STILL no end in sight. Crazy!
It cannot be overstated how much fun comes from the trash talking that ensues in moments such as this. My brother and I had a riot taunting each other while playing this game. Having only one stadium for all 12 teams is a bit of a bummer but like I said, when the one stadium is as cool as the Cyber Egg Stadium, it’s a lot easier to overlook.
It could help or hurt you. It all depends…
Instead of the typical 7th inning stretch, in the year 2020 the 7th inning means only one thing: the WILD CARD INNING. This is where both teams receive a major boost of added power. Because you know, baseball and steroids have never been linked together before. Things tend to get a little nutty in the 7th…
[Sure ya did -Ed.]Fireworks down 9-2? You’re better than that…
MEGA POWERS WIN IT ALL
I played a 15 game season with the Mega Powers and was neck and neck with the all-female team, the Battle Angels. The most epic game of the season came in Game #13 which saw my Mega Powers (10-2) going up against the Battle Angels (10-2). I was up 6-4 going to the bottom of the 9th, but the Angels scratched back to tie it at 6 a piece. I ended up surviving a barn burner 7-6 after 13 innings and five (!) dead robots. It was one of those epic games you never forget. I finished the season 13-2 and went on to defeat the special team in the Championship game.
THE FUTURE ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER
No tagging back. If you attempt to advance on an outfield out, there’s no turning back. I guess the robots were programmed with this flaw and no one caught it during quality assurance.
No way to change the batting order or fielders.
Zero individual stat tracking.
You can’t run to the next base until the other runner passes it. This becomes glaringly annoying when you have a fast robot trailing a pair of robots that would make Bernie Sanders look like Deion Sanders.
Fielding is about 75% automatic. The other 25% of the time it’s not as smooth and well executed as the baseball game that set the standard for defensive fielding, Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
The SNES port of Super Baseball 2020 was well received for the most part. GameFan gave it ratings of 70,76, 80 and 82%. Super Play rated it 85%. The SNES port did an admirable job replicating what made the arcade game such a fan favorite. Appealing even to non baseball fans, Super Baseball 2020 brings a refreshing new take on America’s favorite pastime.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I love me some good old 16-bit baseball!
It was quite the thrill seeing this childhood favorite of mine at a retro gaming store back in 2006. Seeing Super Baseball 2020 in the wild brought back a flood of fond memories of playing the Neo Geo cab at Safeway as well as renting the SNES port. Being that the game takes place in the year 2020, there’s a neat little futuristic feel to the whole game. This includes the robotic players, the sleek looking blue glass planes that cover the entire Cyber Egg Stadium, and the interesting financial aspects that bring a new dimension of strategy and know-how to the old baseball formula. Put together, it all works rather well. I can’t stress how fun it is to play this game against a like-minded friend or sibling. OK so there are only 12 teams, only one stadium and too many players look alike, but the fun factor covers a multitude of sins.
“WHAT CHU LOOKING AT?!”
Is it the pinnacle of baseball games? No. It’s certainly not without its flaws (as noted earlier), but you simply won’t find another baseball title like this on your 16-bit Super Nintendo. Any time a game can put itself in a “special class” of its own and is fun to play, that game is going to earn bonus points with me. Nothing beats hitting those scorching wall ball hits. The best ones are the rare hits where the ball doesn’t bounce but roll slowly down the glass planes. These hits can lead to inside the park home runs but are extremely rare, which makes it all the more satisfying when it does happen. Aside from the missing bombs, speech samples and some frames of animation, this is a faithful translation of the arcade smash hit. The graphics are big and colorful. There’s a certain solid simplicity to the visuals. The sound is nothing to write home about, but not anything I hated. This is just a fun little baseball game. It doesn’t come close to touching the epochal Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, but for a decent alternative with a neat futuristic ambiance and quirks you just won’t find elsewhere, Super Baseball 2020 smashes a solid double in the bottom of the 9th.
Pub: Nintendo | Dev: Software Creations | March 1994 | 16 MEGS
Yesterday, June 20, marked the first day of summer (2017). I love the summer time. It just takes me back to my youth. To a time of innocence and hot lazy summer days spent playing the latest 16-bit games with my brother and our friends. Summer also always makes me think of baseball. It’s hard not to get romantic about baseball. It’s my first true love as far as sports go. And the best baseball game on the SNES is hands down Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball. My brother and I owned this game back in the mid ’90s and we played it to death. Never once did we get sick of it. It’s amazing how well it holds up more than 20 years later. I still frequently play it and I probably always will. This will be more of a love letter than a review. Because damn do I love this game!
MEET “THE KID”
Lovely little intro.
Arguably the best 16-bit baseball game of all timeIt sure has my vote
WHO IS “THE KID” KEN GRIFFEY?
One of the best baseball stars from the ’90s
Ken Griffey Jr., the son of a Major Leaguer, shagged fly balls and took batting practice with the game’s best players from a young age. This experience paved the way for his own big league career. In 1989, at the tender age of 19, Griffey’s lively bat and dazzling defense led him to make the Mariners’ opening day lineup. In his Major League debut he showed the poise of a veteran, doubling off Oakland ace Dave Stewart in his first at bat. Throughout his first season, Griffey’s stellar defensive achievements drew immediate comparisons to the original Kid, Willie Mays. His love for the game was handed down from his father, Ken Griffey Sr., who played 19 seasons in the Majors and won two World Series rings with the Cincinnati Reds. Coincidentally, Griffey Jr. spent most of the 2000s as a member of the Reds.
Destined for greatness
In 1990 the pair made Major League history as the first father and son to play together on the same team. Later that season, the Griffey duo smashed back-to-back home runs in the first inning of a game against the California Angels. Following the 1990 season, Jr. won his first Gold Glove to become the youngest American League player to receive that honor. Not satisfied with being described as a potential star, Jr. made huge strides in 1991 and 1992. In 1991, the 21 year old set a team record by hitting .327 and in 1992 he led the Mariners with 27 home runs. He also drove in 203 runs during that two season stretch and was named the MVP of the 1992 All-Star Game in San Diego.
1993 proved to be the year of the KID
1993 was the year that transformed Ken Griffey Jr. from a star to a legitimate MVP candidate. En route to clouting a (then) career high 45 home runs, Griffey tied a Major League record by hitting at least one home run in eight consecutive games. In 1994 — a season cut short by the baseball players’ strike — Griffey broke Mickey Mantle’s record of 20 home runs through May on May 23. He was on his way to break Roger Maris’ home run record of 61, which no one had come close to challenging since Maris met the record more than 30 years ago. Shame about that strike. We’ll never know.
What a five year start!
THE KID AND ME
Sometimes the smallest moments carry us through
I was in the middle of 7th grade when my family moved us in January of 1996. It was difficult adjusting. The kids in my new town were nice to me, but they weren’t like the ones “back home.” Moving away from my best friend Nelson was particularly hard. One quirky memory I have of those early months in my new town involved “The Kid.” After school one day I was walking out when I saw a card lying by the bushes. It was a Donruss ’89 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Seeing it made me think of the Griffey SNES game, which brought a smile to my face during a time when I found it difficult to smile. Like a hero reaching out to save me, I reached down and plucked the card out of the dirt, brushing it off as I held it up in the glistening sun to admire it. Sure, the corners were nicked somewhat and the card surely had seen better days. But to me, in that moment, its imperfections were perfect. My brother and I would go on to buy the Griffey SNES game later that same year. We wore out our thumbs playing it to death. Playing the game helped me get through my hometown blues in those early days. I still fondly remember all the times I spent playing the game after a particularly tough day, and how it lifted me up in those trying times. Thanks, Kid.
REAL MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS!
This book was a game changer, pardon the pun
Sharp baseball fans knew that while Ken Griffey was the only real named player in the game, the whole game was based on real players all. It had authentic stats but used fake names instead. All stats are based off the 1993 season. Cleverly using a name edit feature, one could edit the game to have all the real players’ names! My brother and I were at this mom and pop book store in 1996 and there we found THE SCOUTING REPORT: 1994. For just five bucks, we now had access to all the real players! We went to town with the edit feature later that night in order to make our game 100% authentic.
Very sneaky of Software Creations. Brilliant!The game’s stats matched the 1993 stats to a teeLook what happens when you try to be immature…OK, not reallyHey, I can be shameless from time to timeBarry’s reaction to hitting #756 (August 8, 2007)
Barry Bonds, even before he likely took steroids in the late ’90s, was one of the game’s very best. Long before he broke Hammering Hank Aaron’s home run record of 755 bombs, he was already a major force to be reckoned with. Many considered him and Griffey to be the top two talents throughout the 1990s. His bio in THE SCOUTING REPORT is fun to look back on.
“The Man” and “The Kid” carried baseball in the ’90sWow, 43 million. That’s now money for a journeyman
AIN’T A TEAM IF YA AIN’T GOT A THEME!
The fake names are hilarious here. Rather than being random and generic, each team has a theme. For instance, the Chicago White Sox features former star athletes from St. John’s University: Mark Jackson, Chris Mullin and the late Malik Sealy to name but three.
The California Angels have famous actors: Fred Astaire, Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, etc.
The Boston Red Sox features members from Cheers (Norm Peterson, Sam Malone, Cliff Claven), Boston Universities (Harvard, Radcliffe) and key figures from early American history (John Adams, John Hancock and Andrew Jackson).
The Atlanta Braves makes reference to famous DJs like Sasha and Digweed. Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff is “D. Crime” and “Neon” Deion Sanders is “D. Neon.”
The Colorado Rockies will instantly be identified by horror film aficionados, with names like George Romero, Roger Corman, Vincent Price, Wes Craven, Alfred Hitchcock, Bela Lugosi and Tom Savini.
There’s even a team dedicated to the great females of past generations, a team for Software Creations itself and Nintendo of America. Good stuff.
THE TEAMS
Choose from one of 28 Major League teams. 1993 saw the inclusion of two expansion teams: the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins. Please note that today there are 30 teams (Tampa Bay Rays and the Arizona Diamondbacks). Additionally, the Brewers moved to the National League and the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals. Some team logos have changed as well.
THE BALLPARKS
All 28 of them!
SOME OF MY FAVORITES…
Love the warehouse that looms in the background
Ol’ Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore is a beaut. The infamous B&O Warehouse in the backdrop is a classic sight. At eight stories tall and 1,016 feet long it’s been the longest building on the East Coast since it was completed after seven years of construction in 1905. Standing 432 feet from home plate, only one player has managed to hit the warehouse. That man, ironically, was Ken Griffey Jr., who smashed a 445 foot shot while competing in the 1993 Home Run Derby contest.
Ah, baseball historians know what this means!Honor the man!
Another Junior, Cal Ripken Jr., made Major League history on September 6, 1995 when he played in his 2,131st consecutive game. It broke the 56 year record held by “Iron Horse” Lou Gehrig. Cal retired having played 2,632 games straight. That’s a record that you can bet will never be touched. Sorry Tony Stark, but Cal is the real Iron Man.
Otherwise, Camden Yards is pretty damn accurateHD scoreboards are all the rage nowKauffman Stadium, Kansas City
Kauffman Stadium is another striking ballpark, most notable for its roaring water fountains in the outfield. How did it fare in 16-bits?
Not shabby at allA little slice of Heaven
You can’t discuss classic ballparks without bringing up Wrigley Field. Some have even called it a slice of Heaven. One thing’s for sure, it’s a field of dreams and a field for the ages.
As Harry Caray would say, “HOLY COW!”Love the quirky design
But just how accurate is it in Ken Griffey Jr.? Do the outfield walls jut in and out as they do in real life?
You bet your ass they do!Be careful of that brick wall and door there…
[I wouldn’t bet on that -Ed.]Last but not least…
Fenway Park. The classic CITGO sign behind the Green Monster (the tall wall in left field), the medium wall in center and the short in right. What a timeless design.
Absolutely breathtakingAnd who could forget the Fisk Foul Pole?Or Pesky’s Pole?Who are you, Manny Ramirez?!Or perfect for “cheapie” home runs
RATINGS R US
Players are rated from 1-10 in these categories:
BAT: Base hit potential
POW: Home run potential
SPD: Speed around the base path
DEF: How strong his arm is
Ken Griffey Jr., not surprisingly, has the highest ratings of any player in the game. His total of 36 points makes him the only “red” player in the game. The background colors are based on the player’s point total. I love how at a quick glance you can see how good (or bad) a player might be. Now it has to be said that these colors (and ratings) are not the be all end all. Some players simply hit better than others in spite of their supposed ratings! The game has a lot of these quirks and oddities that I will highlight below.
A player with low BAT and/or low POW can still be a legitimate threat. I smacked 24 homers with Queens in a 162 game season and his POW is a measly 3. His BAT is a paltry 4 and yet I finished batting .318 with him. So don’t automatically assume the ratings tell the whole story! POW is far more important than BAT, but most important of all is the stance of the batter oddly enough, as well as the timing of your swings.
So don’t write a batter off simply based on his POW/BAT stats. As a long time Griffey player, and I have easily played over 1,000 games since ’94, I have also noticed the following, when it comes to player ratings:
Generally, a POW of 7 or higher means you’re pretty much good for 30+ home runs in a 162 game season. There’s a BIG difference between POW 6 and POW 7.
Likewise, there is a BIG difference between SPD 6 and SPD 7. With a speed of 7, your guy is capable of wrecking havoc on the base path, but a guy with speed 6 just doesn’t have that extra gear.
Speaking of speed and power differences, although all ratings are even (i.e. ratings are not based on .5 increments), secretly there appears to be “highs” and “lows.” For example, Tolstoy (Dave Henderson) of Oakland has a POW 7 that definitely lands on the high end of the scale. I know this because the dude is damn deadly. I believe his stance is also conducive to his hitting the long ball. It’s almost like he’s a 7+ and oddly that appears to sometimes be better than an 8- if that makes any sense…
Meanwhile, Oakland teammate Ernest (Mark McGwire) is an 8 but it’s a weak 8. As I said, I do believe stance factors in as well. McGwire has an awkward stance while “Hendu” has a better home run stance. So even though McGwire is an 8 and Hendu is a 7, Hendu in this game actually tends to hit more home runs. These quirks make this game extra awesome. Only veterans of Griffey will be able to suss out these subtle ticks and differences.
Now let’s compare two exact numbers. Here we have good old George Bell of the White Sox. He was well known for being a hacker. His scouting report read, “He’ll swing at anything.” His POW is 6 but because of his stance he’s actually one of the deadlier 6 POW ratings in the game. He’s easily a 6+in my book.
And here is Iron Horse (Don Mattingly) of the New York Yankees. He’s a 6 in the POW department just like Bell, but his 6 is a 6-. In other words, consider him a 6.0 while Bell is more of a 6.9. It matters and it does make a difference! For what it’s worth, Bell has the better “home run stance” between the two as well… there is definitely something to that!
Speed also has the quirks of the power rating. Broadway (Pat Kelly) of the Yankees is listed as a 7 but I swear there is a noticeable difference with his 7 and other players’ 7. On the bright side, Kelly’s 5 POW is abnormally strong. I managed to belt 30 HR with him in one season before. His stance is underrated and allows him to smash more homers than one may initially assume.
Weakland (Al Martin) also has a speed of 7. But it’s a high 7. He feels significantly faster than Pat Kelly. Martin is one of my favorite hitters in Griffey. The guy is a hitting machine. While his power 7 may not be on the high end of a Dave Hendu, Martin cranks out singles and doubles like nobody’s business. Plus, his speed is a 7.9. Jack-of-all-trades, that bloody Al Martin.
BAT doesn’t seem to mean much. High BAT but low POW can be a bad combo. POW is so much more important. Your BAT can be low, but if you have a decent POW then you’re a dangerous hitter. Case in point, see Jojo (Mark Carreon) of the Giants. Carreon is BAT 9 and POW 4. I played a season with the G-Men before, and he sucked. That BAT 9 was pretty much useless thanks to the low POW and the awkward batting stance he has. When in doubt, remember this: POW >>> BAT.
MY MAN! Here’s the man, Harlem (Kevin Maas) of the Yankees. 3 BAT? SO WHAT! That 10 POW is the difference maker. Dude hit .406 for me and crushed 75 homers. He is the game’s best home run hitter by a mile. A legend in the Griffey community. DUDE’S A BEAST. Remember, POW >>> BAT!
Defense 9 and 10’s have rocket arms. 8 is pretty good and 7 is acceptable. Around 6 is as low as you want to go. There are no low 7’s or high 8’s on defense as there appears to be with POW and speed. You can change player positions. Catcher with DEF 8, but shortstop DEF 6? In real life you obviously can’t switch them, but here you can. It’s cheap but hey, it’s your call.
These little nuances add a layer of depth to the game. It never gets old discovering something new you hadn’t seen before, despite having played it to death already! Like the old baseball saying goes, “You see something new every day at the ballpark.”
Speaking of something new, Gary Sheffield made Major League Baseball history today (note: this review was originally written on September 8, 2008). The 21 year veteran at age 39 hit a Grand Slam in the 2nd inning against Oakland Athletics rookie Gio Gonzalez. That historic blast marked Major League Baseball home run 250,000! Coincidentally, this occurred on the 10th year anniversary (September 8, 1998) of when Mark McGwire hit home run #62, surpassing Roger Maris’ 35+ year mark of 61 in a single season. To honor Sheffield, I fired up a game using the Marlins that same day he belted MLB home run #250,000. Batting the then 24 year old stud third in the lineup, in the 2nd inning who else but Sheffield came to bat with the bases loaded. It’s like the game knew. First pitch Grand Slam in the 2nd inning just like he did in real life! Wow. That actually freaked me out a bit.
Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball… ITS THINKING…
COLOR ME BADD
16 total points or less17-2021-2324-2627-2930-3233-3536+
I loved running through rosters, seeing which teams had the most hitters who were yellow or better. A couple clubs have five guys yellow or better, but the Chicago Cubs have six: Mark Grace (31), Ryne Sandberg (31), Sammy Sosa (33), Rick Wilkins (28), Derrick May (27) and Willie Wilson (27).
DAMN YOU, CUBS!
Ay caramba! Let’s move on…Press X to go back and get this fancy fade-outNow you’re playing with SUPER powerOooh…… Ahhhh
Queens may appear to have “bad” ratings, but the little bastard (Gerald Williams) can hit. His speed 9 is 9+. I bring him, Harlem and Bronx off the bench to be my starters. My 3-4-5-6-7 hitters are POWER 7 or higher!
BATTING AND HITTING
Individual game within a team game. Gotta love it
It’s easy to make contact as pitches go slow, medium or fast. They can be curved but they don’t dip. Sorry, no sliders. Purists may scoff but this means games are quick. It usually takes 12 to 15 minutes to finish a game. Griffey places more emphasis on arcade-like action than it does on simulation, but don’t mistake this for MLB JAM… it plays realistically but with heavy arcade overtones. It strikes a near-perfect balance.
A game of precision and skill
ProTip: you can pull the ball based on when you hit the ball and on which part of the bat. A hit in the center will likely take the ball to the middle part of the field. The more you get the timing down with where you wish to place the ball, the more fun it becomes. Looking for the opposite field hit or just to move the runner from 2nd to 3rd with a right-handed batter? Then you’ll want to swing late, just as you would in real life. So while you can only miss a swing based on timing, rather than levels of depth (the ball travels in one plane but at varying speeds), the batting interface is not as simple as it may initially appear. Therein lies the beauty of this game!
PITCHING
One bar of FAT is good for about 6.25 pitches
Leaving in a pitcher to hang and dry when he’s huffing and puffing is just asking for bad news. His pitches will be slower, harder to curve and easier to hit. Great eye for detail! The longer you leave him in there past expiration, the quicker he puffs!
Not realistic but who cares, it’s fun!
Griffey defies the laws of gravity as you can change the flight manually of a pitch once it leaves your hand. The higher his control rating, the better he’s able to curve it. It usually tricks CPU opponents into swinging and missing. Also a good way to start some heated arguments with your brother or friend!
Straight up filthy!
Earning a strikeout the real way is quite rare with CPU opponents. Against a bud it’s a blast mixing up the speed of your pitches to throw them off. The slow pitch seems to get people the most.
Don’t blame me for your suckage!
DEFENSE
Jim Edmonds would be proudMiss the dive and you’ll never hear the end of it!None, especially with the bases loaded in a tie…Be like the prosWell that worked out all right…
The best (and most rare) defensive play however is the wall leaping catch. There’s nothing like taking a home run away from the opposition. Of course, this can only be done on short walls like Yankee Stadium for example. Players cannot scale 20 foot walls. So while it may have lots of arcade qualities, it’s done so within a realistic scope.
Torii Hunter is out there somewhere smilingJUST FOUL. Oh, the anger or joy!Even better when you have fast runners on baseI love the *CLUNK* sound it makes!Steve Bartman rolling over in his grave…One of the many odd quirks I love about this gameDouble play is smooth as silk
Nothing like an inning ending bang bang double play to lift team morale.
Close plays at the plate can determine the gameRay Fosse having nightmares somewhere
Tagging out base runners is amusing as hell. The runner collapses like he was shot. I love the sound effect of the collision. Whenever and wherever I can, I like to tag them out…
Talk about a photo finish! … Sorry“Oh quit yer bitching!”About the only thing missing are the mascots!
Following each game you get a box score. I wish doubles and triples were specified, but that’s just me nitpicking. It’s cool how the box score looks and reads like your local newspaper sports page. The upper right hand corner offers some entertaining random comments. One of them makes a reference to the Game Boy… something like “Star outfielder caught playing the Game Boy in-between innings!”
And on that note, it’s time to move on
CELEBRATION TIME, COME ON!
The Eager GrasshopperThe Statue of LibertyThe StrollThe Swag
Home run celebrations are a hoot.
COMPUTER AI… AI = ACTUAL IDIOTS??
Don’t tell the computer that…
Computer AI throws it to second base anyway, when the only play was at first. So instead of one out and a runner on second, there are NO outs and runners on second and first. Huge difference. If you play with auto fielding turned on, these are blunders you’ll endure. It’s a gameplay flaw but a small one I’m willing to overlook. Especially since it doesn’t come into play with two human players both on manual defense.
Another example of bad AI: when the bases are loaded with less than two outs, the computer is adamant on throwing the ball home. Even when the easy play is second to first for the inning ending double play, nope, they’ll always chuck it home. Often times this leads to cheap runs and everyone called safe, as seen here. Talk about stat padding!
Tag third base then throw to first, playa!D’oh…
CHEAP TRICKS
This is either a free run or a free hit…It’s imperative that you stay a step off third baseComputer AI exploitation at its best… or worst!Er, imagine runners on second and third hereAgain, staying ONE step off third base is the keyRight as the catcher receives the ballRemember, there’s no crying in baseball!
NEW YORK YANKEES SEASON STATS
Colossus of Clout, Sultan of Swat, the Great Bambino!
In the summer of 2008, I played my 7th full 162 game season with Griffey. Once again I used the Yankees. Babe Ruth isn’t in the game, but Harlem might be just as good. One season I hit a career high 80 home runs with Harlem. My goal going into this season was to have five guys finish with at least 100 RBIs each. In addition to winning as many games as I could and setting all kinds of career highs. Let’s check out the stats!
THE PITCHERS
Whitey (Jimmy Key) was my ace. He went an unprecedented 36-0! If you count the postseason, 40-0! He also had a team-high 87 strikeouts (not counting relievers) to go along with NINE shutouts. His 1.32 ERA was good for second place among starting pitchers and he logged over 310 innings.
Pfeifle (Jim Abbott) was my #2 guy, Jimmy Key’s “right hand man” if you will [See you in hell -Ed.]. Abbott, as you may know, played with only one hand. He threw a no hitter on September 4, 1993 (in real life). He pitched very well for me, posting a 31-3 record with a 1.73 ERA and had 8 shutouts. In one game he pitched 18 (!) innings, the equivalent of two full games!
Snake (Melido Perez) was my #3 and a damn fine one, too. 32-1 with a 1.70 ERA. His first start of the season saw him giving up 7 runs but after that he was pretty much lights out. Chalk it up to opening night jitters!
Big Soho (Bob Wickman) did the unthinkable: pitching with a sub-1 (!!) ERA all season long. Thanks in no small part to him throwing two ONE HIT games. So close to the perfect game! Bob Wickman was a big guy in real life, and it’s nice to see Griffey didn’t cut any corners, or fat *rimshot*
State (Scott Kamieniecki) finished 24-1 with a 1.91 ERA, proving he is indeed one of the game’s best fifth starting pitchers. With a FAT of only 5, State was able to throw just one complete game (a shutout no less). He’s good for about 6, maybe 7 innings before huffing like a you-know-what. A reliable back end of the rotation guy.
My closer was Island (Jeff Johnson), not Steve Farr or Lee Smith who owns a career 478 saves! Nope, Island was my man. With a speed rating of 5 and control of 10, that meant he was a strikeout machine. He was good for 52 saves and an eye-popping 0.37 ERA! He appeared in 66 games, pitched 95 innings and struck out the competition 241 times! His FAT 3 allowed me to use him for up to 3 innings if needed. What a tremendous asset!
STARTING PITCHER SUMMARY
GS = Games Started
W = Wins
L = Losses
ERA = Earn Run Average
IP = Innings Pitched
H = Hits allowed
R = Runs allowed
K = Strikeouts
SO = Shutout
CG = Complete Game
Team AVG = Team Average
Bold stats indicate best performance in that category for the entire starting rotation.
I’ve never gone undefeated with a starting pitcher in a single season until Whitey’s 36-0 mark. He had a remarkable year, as did Soho, who only gave up 26 runs all year long, en route to a mind-blowing 0.92 ERA! State has always been one of my favorite #5 starters, and once again he had a superb season for me. Island had 52 saves, just five short of tying real life single season saves leader Bobby Thigpen, who had 57 saves in 1990. Island boosted a 0.37 ERA and 241 strikeouts. Overall, my starting pitchers had an average of 30 wins and a 1.52 ERA.
THE HITTERS
Queens (Gerald Williams) was my leadoff man. His 9 is a 9+. So many infield singles with that guy. He has good pop in his bat as well, evident by his 24 home runs. He had eight leadoff home runs — Rickey Henderson would be proud.
Clipper (Bernie Williams), though not a spectacular player, is solid and steady with above average all-around play. 27 homers is a career high for him. The switch hitter is a monster from the right side. Don’t let that power 5 fool ya, and he’s got a good arm to boot!
Mick (Paul O’Neill) is a beast. With the second highest batting average on the team (.395), a cannon of an arm and a 5+ in speed, he is the perfect player to put in that 3 spot. His power 7 is weaker than some other 7’s but he’s always good for 30-35 jacks and 100-105 RBIs each season. Just made 100 this year, sweet!
Bambino (Danny Tartabull) had another strong season for me. My cleanup hitter did just that. He’s third on the team in batting average and second in home runs and RBIs. That power 9 is 9+ folks, believe that! Named after Babe Ruth himself, you know he’s gotta be pretty damn good. And he is!
Harlem! ‘Nuff said. Kevin Maas is one of the best hitters in the game. Griffey has an odd glitch where the guy with the most homers at the All-Star break has his number reset. I was at 42 HR at the break and finished the second half with 33. 75 bombs. He led the team with a .406 average and a whopping 184 RBIs. Harlem is a gawd damn legend.
Bronx (Matt Nokes) is another bench gem turned starter. That power 7 is 7+ for sure. With Bambino and Harlem snatching up all the RBIs right in front of him, it’s amazing he was still able to knock in 112 himself. In the three seasons I have played with the Yankees, Nokes is always good for 40-45 homers and 110-120 RBIs. What a weapon to have at the sixth slot!
Thurman (Mike Stanley) has never been able to reach 100 RBIs, with Mick, Bambino, Harlem and Bronx stealing the majority of them. Finally, I did it: 100 RBIs even with Stanley! FIVE guys straight who have 100 or more — WOW! To have him hitting in the bottom third of the lineup shows you how strong the Yankees are. His 100th RBI came on the last day… what a way to cut it close!
I’ve not been able to hit 20 home runs with Horse (Don Mattingly). Had two seasons of 19. Finally, 20! It came during the last week of the season no less. Perfect example of BAT 9 POW 6 being good but not great stats. BAT 6 POW 9 however? That’s a true difference maker. Power is so much more important than Bat. Congrats Mattingly on finally hitting the big 2-0… it’s about damn time!
I had a career season with Broadway (Pat Kelly). He’s always been good for 20-25 home runs, so that power 5 is 5+ no doubt, but 30 home runs? The power came from out of nowhere. His speed 7 however is one of the worst speed 7’s in the game. Still, 71 RBIs to boot, what a season for him. With him hitting 30, I had SIX guys who had 30 or more home runs. Bravo, Broadway!
HITTING STATS
BA = Batting Average
HR = Home Run
RBI = Runs Batted In
MH = Number of multi-hit games
3H = Number of 3-hit games
4H = Number of 4-hit games
5H = Number of 5-hit games
MHR = Multi-Home Run games
GS = Grand Slams
Team Total = Team Total
Team AVG = Team Average
Team APG = Team Average Per Game
Not all categories are applicable to the above three.
Bold indicates a team high.
Another hi-octane season with the Yankees. I averaged 5.5 runs per game, 13.2 hits per game and 2.1 home runs per game. Five guys had 100+ RBIs. Six guys had 30+ home runs. All nine players had at least 20 home runs. Team batting average was a staggering .349, with each player averaging nearly 38 homers and 100 RBIs. What a season! I love this team, and I love this lineup.
OTHER RANDOM STATS + POSTSEASON PLAY
These are how many times the ballplayers hit back-to-back jacks:
A total of 24 times, and every possible combination sans one.
In Game 122 of the season, I had my one and only back-to-back-to-back moment. It came against the Rangers’ ace Mix (Kevin Brown). Mick-Bambino-Harlem. Home runs number 21, 45 and 60 respectively. Interestingly enough, that was also the game where Harlem hit 3 home runs in one game — the only time this season I’ve been able to do that. He had homers 60, 61 and 62 that day. Sorry, Roger Maris!
Inside the Park homers… I only had four all season long. One with Thurman, Harlem and two with Queens. Harlem and Queens each had one in the same game versus who else but Boston (their outfielders have terrible arms).
Longest game of the season went 20 innings. I was at home against the Orioles. Horse (Don Mattingly) sent the crowd home happy with a walk-off home run.
Longest win streak was 44 games… undefeated from August 25 to October 20.
I had two triple plays during the season: one in Oakland, the other against the White Sox.
Computer starting pitchers are automatically yanked after giving up 5 runs. My personal best was booting a pitcher after just SIX pitches! I’ve done 8 and 9 a bunch of times, but never six
Harlem had three games where he drove in 7 runs, and one game with 9! In 4 games he had 30 RBIs. Man’s a freakin’ beast. It took me 39 games to get him to 50 RBIs. Unfortunately, at the All-Star break Harlem was at 99. Ironically, first game back, first at-bat no less, solo home run for RBI #100. I think Harlem was pissed that he missed the mark prior to the break because over the next 10 games he had 20 RBIs!
In postseason play I went 11-1. In 12 games I scored 102 runs and had 99 hits, 32 of which left the park.(Hits / Home Runs / RBI)1. Queens: 26 / 1 / 4
2. Clipper: 24 / 2 / 5
3. Mick: 28 / 2 / 15
4. Bambino: 23 / 9! / 29! 5. Harlem: 24 / 5 / 16
6. Bronx: 22 / 3 / 8
7. Thurman: 30 / 5 / 11
8. Horse: 19 / 3 / 9
9. Broadway: 13 / 2 / 5
Combing his regular season and postseason, Harlem had 300 hits, 80 HRs and 200 RBIs!
As usual (with this being my third 162 game season with the Yankees), Bambino went absolutely nuts in the playoffs. It has happened three seasons in a row now, where once the calendar hits October, Bambino and Harlem switch roles. Harlem had a nice postseason, but Bambino is Mr. October. He had two 7-RBI games and cranked out an amazing 9 homers in just 12 games (3 home runs in one game). 29 RBIs in 12 games!
Only my World Series opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals, were able to pull one over me. Overall, I outscored my opponents 102 runs to 32… a whoppin’ 70 run differential.
Harlem (Kevin Maas) was the only player to hit for the cycle this season.
EVEN MORE CRAZY STATS
My first 30-hit game of the season. Huge 9th inning!Harlem went deep twice, had 5 hits and 7 RBIs!Must hit eight team home runs in one game…
I’ve hit six home runs in a game before, but never seven until now! Queens and Mick both went deep twice, and everyone had at least one hit and one run scored. Talk about an offensive explosion!
Harlem does a hat trick with a career high 9 RBIs!BEST.GAME.EVER!It was the game of my life…
Game 2 of the ALDS. 30 runs, 40 hits. A career high for me in both categories, this game was once in a lifetime. I thought the 7th inning with 8 runs scored was huge but the very next inning I went off for 15 runs, FIFTEEN! In that record setting 8th inning I cranked out 15 hits, 12 of which came consecutively. First pitch after first pitch I nailed single after single, double after double, BANG BANG BANG. It was the most incredible moment I’ve ever experienced with a video game. 12 straight hits, 15 total hits in the inning, 15 runs! That virtually never happens. Bambino belted a Grand Slam in that inning and Bronx and Thurman went back-to-back. I was laughing like a crazed ’70s Japanese mad scientist after about the 7th straight hit. I mean, the hits just kept coming, literally! Coincidentally, my brother happened to walk by and witness pretty much all of it. He kept saying “WHAT THE!”and “HOLY SHIT” after each hit which made the whole spectacle even funnier.
Insanity
Bronx cranked out a career high SIX hits. Eight players had FOUR or more hits, everyone had at least two RBIs and eight players scored at least THREE runs. Bambino had a career high 7 RBIs. Five guys with 5+ hits. Talk about one for the ages.
Total domination
My Yankees finished the season an incredible 154-8, posting a winning percentage of 95%. I only lost back to back games once. Opened the season winning the first 27. Had a 33 game win streak June 10-July 16, another one July 19-August 23 and a career high 44 game win streak August 25-October 20. Boston was 64-98, 90 games back! Ridiculous.
“WEEEE ARRRE THE CHAAAAMPIONS…”
THE EVER ELUSIVE PERFECT GAME
The man born with no right hand
I’ve played well over 1,000 Griffey games and only once have I been able to throw a perfect game. Came close a few times to throwing my second — Bob Wickman had two 1-hit complete games. My one and only perfect game came back in ’96. I was so proud, thinking to myself I’d have another one down the road. Over 20 years later and nope. I might never do it again.
The man I did it with. Er, that came out wrong…The unlikeliest candidate to pitch a perfect game!
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
Iconic
EGM gave it ratings of 6, 6, 7, 7, 7. GameFan rated it 84%. Although it received less than staggering scores, ask any serious SNES fan what the best baseball games are on the system and more likely than not people will cite the first Ken Griffey Jr. game. It’s one of those games that didn’t get a whole lot of love at the time of release from the “professional critics,” but the fans adored it from day one. It was in Nintendo Power’s Top 10 for almost a year, ranking in the top three for its first several months holding its own against the likes of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, NBA Jam and Super Metroid. The game is still beloved by many SNES fans to this day.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
So many good memories!
I was at a BBQ party with my cousins on a lazy Sunday afternoon in 1996 when my dad told me and my brother those ten magical words every kid hopes to hear: “Let’s go to Toys R Us and buy that game.” I had called them earlier that morning and Griffey was marked down to $29.99. We left the party early to claim the game we had wanted for two years. My bro and I played the game like it was crack. Our friends were into it as well. I fondly remember our out-of-town friend Ben driving down to our place that same year and the three of us spending the whole night playing Griffey against one another. Ben was around 20 at the time, my brother was 15 and I was 13. We weren’t exactly little kids at that point but that night we played Griffey with the wide-eyed innocence and exuberance of six year old children. It was beautiful.
Griffey scores the winning run (’95 ALDS)
The graphics are large and arcade-like. There’s great attention to detail, from the team’s name on the uniform to the nicely replicated ballparks to even the chalk line in the batter’s box disappearing after six innings. The players look good and animate well. During the game the same theme loops which may annoy some folks but I think it’s pretty damn catchy myself. Steve Palermo’s digitized voice adds a cordial touch to the proceedings. Each game opens with an abbreviated version of the Star-Spangled Banner. During the 7th inning stretch, an abbreviated version of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” plays. When a team starts a rally, various rally-like themes play to add to the atmosphere. Of course you get the choice to cut them off, but they’re nicely executed.
Greatest feeling in sports is a clutch win
The gameplay is the best part. It’s largely an arcade-like experience, but with enough simulation where it’s not outlandish like a Super Baseball 2020, nor serious like a Tecmo Super Baseball — both of which are solid to very good baseball titles in their own right. But Griffey combines the perfect combination of arcade and simulation in my book. Sure, hardcore purists may be disappointed in the lack of pitches available, a lack of overly comprehensive stat-tracking and what have you, but it’s a small gripe. Ultimately, it boils down to how fun a game is, and for me, baseball games simply don’t get much more fun than this.
Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball is arguably the best baseball game on the Super Nintendo and even possibly of all time. From the optimism of Opening Day to the dog days of summer to the Fall Classic, baseball doesn’t get any better than this!
BONUS MATERIAL (UNCENSORED)
“Folks, what a gorgeous day it is at Yankee Stadium!”*SOMEWHERE HIGH UP IN THE STANDS*
“Easy now Ray you know we ain’t twenty five thirty five year old no mo’!”
“Ah shaddup Claude. You know this still in don’t cha. Ol’ Ray still hip, yes he is, ol’ Ray still hip!”
“More like old Ray’s gunna need a new hip!”
“More like Claude betta SHUT THE HELL UP!“
“Haha, fifty years and we still goin’ at it. Look at you Ray. Old dried up, crusty, nasty-ass looking fuck!”
“That’s where you wrong. Coz I got plenty left in the ol’ tank. Today, Yankee Stadium. Tomorrow, Ray’s BOOM BOOM ROOM!“
“Man you been talkin’ that up for fifty years, and it’s as real as Bigfoot, Ray!”
“Nuff ’bout me, let’s talk about you.”
“Alright, wha’cha wanna talk ’bout, Ray?”
“The plan.”
“Plan? What plan Ray?!”
“The one you got brewing.”
“I ain’t brewing SHIT Ray! I ain’t got no plan!”
“Yes you do, I know it, I KNOW IT!”
“Listen here Ray. You gawd damn lost your mind Ray!”
“MMMM hmm. I know you got a plan and I don’t care what you say, coz I know you better than that, you sly little motherfucka you.”
“MOTHER WHAT! Ray don’t make me slap the hell outta ya now. For the last time, I ain’t got no plan Ray. We out Ray, we OUT!”
“OH we out, yeah we OUT. That all ya gotta say?”
“Don’t talk to me Ray.”
“OUT MY ASS!”
“Quit talkin’ Ray!”
“I’m just gunna sit here, look at your old black ass and wonder… what you got up that sleeve of yours, coz I know you got something up that sleeve.”
“You something else all right, Ray… you some hing else… and it’s NO DAMN GOOD.”
“Wait wait shut up. That Harlem guy is up. He all over the radio! They say he’s the next Babe Ruth. One more home run and he will be the new king. Whoever catches that ball I’ll kill him for the money!”
“OH SHIT RAY THE BALL IS COMING YOUR WAY, RAY!”*CLUNK*
“AW RAY! THE FUCK WRONG WIT YOU!?!”
“The fuck wrong wit me, the fuck wrong wit you!”
“You just dropped the ball that would have set us for life, RAY!”
“See now if you just told me your plan, all of this could have been avoided!”
Today, June 20, officially marks the first day of summer (2017). Summer always reminds me of hot dogs, fireworks, SNES games (see The Summer of Imports) and of course, baseball. Although basketball is my favorite sport, baseball has always been my first love. There is something very romantic about the sport of baseball. Tecmo has been well known for their sports games. Tecmo Super NBA Basketball and Tecmo Super Bowl spring to mind. Tecmo Super Baseball was a game I wanted to play back in the day but never did until recently. I’m happy to say Tecmo did not disappoint. This just might be my second favorite baseball game on the SNES… trailing only the almighty Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball. So kick your feet up, grab your peanuts and Cracker Jack and let’s head to the ballpark.
“PLAY BALL!”
Officially licensed by MLBPA (Major League Baseball Players Association) but not sponsored or endorsed by MLB (Major League Baseball). What this means is you get real pro players but not actual teams. Not a deal breaker by any means. Welcome back, Tecmo Bunny.
Atlanta, not Atlanta Braves. No team names here, just the city. I like the portraits of the players scrolling across the title screen. The menu is classic Tecmo. By the way, it must be said, hell of a “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” rendition here!
Speaking of Atlanta, they had an amazing starting staff that year of 1993. Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Steve Avery combined to win 75 (!) games. Love how each pitcher in this game has a specialty pitch.
Select from all 28 MLB teams at that time. The two Super Stars teams are the All-Star teams, but Tecmo couldn’t secure the rights to the official titles. You can adjust the positioning of your defense to your heart’s content.
Barry Bonds is the best offensive player in the game. Look at those ratings — almost every category is maxed out! This was before steroids. I love how the game rates each player’s abilities as well as show their stats from the 1993 season. Definitely appeals to the hardcore player.
Tecmo Super Baseball allows for two perspectives. Hit select to switch between the two. Personally, I love the pitcher’s view. You can actually see curveballs and changeups move up and down. Pitchers have the option of four pitches. The highlighted one is their specialty pitch. Batters have four choices as well. I use normal most of the time but I like to use power for the big boppers.
Playing view on the defensive side takes a little while to get used to. Most baseball games from that era used the opposite view. Center field is typically north but here home plate is north. Tecmo even called it “The Flying Camera.”
No seriously, they did!
Beautiful seeing the ball dip like such!
Markers help indicate where the ball will land.
National League “Super Stars” go up 1-0. But wait a second here, is that fool seriously trying to make it to third base? OH HELL NO!
Rickey Henderson you ain’t, SUCKA!
Leave it to Ken Griffey Jr. to quickly respond. Home runs are accompanied by a quick popping sound effect. Unfortunately “The Flying Camera” doesn’t show the ball landing in the bleachers. The American League “Super Stars” go up 2-1.
American League showing that it can play small ball just as well as the National League. Crisp single followed by a well executed bunt. OOH! That elbow is going to be sore in the morning…
Baseball games from that era tended to suffer from the lack of ability to score from second base on a single. However, Tecmo Super Baseball actually allows you to score in such situations! It’s my favorite thing about this game.
Nobody will ever accuse this game of having excellent CPU AI. Notice that the third baseman didn’t wait to tag out at the runner at third — in a non bases loaded situation he needed to tag him. To compound the error, he throws it home a smidgen too late. If the third baseman had simply tag my guy out, it would be end of the inning 2-1. Instead, it’s 3-1 with a runner on third. D’oh.
Sacrifice flies were tough to do in many baseball games from this era. It’s the same here. Unless you throw to a bad base. In this case I was trying to gun out the runner from first, but he got back well in time. Sadly for me, the runner from third is taking advantage of my own stupidity…
Although the AI is pretty bad generally speaking, it will seize opportunities should you present them.
Trying to sneak another run across, eh? I don’t think so.
Cutting off a ball from rolling toward the gap with a diving save is sick.
Another diving save… d’oh! It slid under my glove and rolls all the way to the wall. Baseball can truly be a game of inches…
Scoring from first base on a double was also pretty rare for a baseball game from this era. But you can do that here, just like you see in the Major Leagues. It makes playing Tecmo Super Baseball extra fun when the scoring mirrors that of real life.
Another diving save? Nope, BOTCHED! Son of a bitch!
Should have been satisfied with runners on first and second. Foolishly he tried to get to third base but promptly got denied. [Story of your life! -Ed.]
Double play is a pitcher’s best friend. Love the animation of the second baseman leaping to avoid contact with the incoming runner. It’s just like it is in real life.
Check up on your pitcher’s current abilities. It actually shows how diminished your pitcher is currently compared to their original ratings. LOVE THIS! Hard to believe strikeout king Randy Johnson has 0 strikeouts thus far. Well, he quickly rectified that
Don’t f*ck with Randy Johnson
ROSTER TWEAKING
Tecmo Super Baseball even allows you to switch up the rosters to a certain degree. Want your favorite ball player, Lee Tinsley, to play with the All-Stars? Done!
SPEED KILLS
Unlike many other baseball titles from that era, you can actually score from second base on a single. However, it’s not always guaranteed (as it should be… it’s the same way in real life baseball). It depends on the type of single you hit as well as the jump your runner gets and his speed. Here you see Wade Boggs, not known for his foot speed, getting gunned out at home plate.
Boggs’ speed is about average or slightly below. Belle, on the other hand, is above average. Let’s see the difference below.
Albert Belle beats the throw by a decent margin — speed matters! Scoring from second base on a single is one of my favorite things about playing Tecmo Super Baseball. Most baseball games you can’t score from second on a single. But you can here!
SHADES OF LAZINESS
Tecmo Super Baseball is far from perfect, however. There is only one stance for all the players. The only difference is whether they bat left or right handed, and whether they’re white or African American. Speaking of one, there’s only one ballpark in the entire game. A bit of a downer to say the least since ballparks are one of the unique and beautiful things about baseball. Basketball courts look relatively the same from team to team, but baseball is the one sport where each field has its own special, unique look. Maybe not all 28 parks but would it have killed you Tecmo to give us at least 3?
“ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US”
What’s going on in that first pic there? Talk about giving new meaning to the term “getting to third base” … even though he’s sliding home. [And that second picture says it all about your humor -Ed.]. Hey, you win some, you lose some.
So much for getting to third base
SNES AND GENESIS DIFFERENCES
No “Flying Camera” here
The Genesis version lacks the innovative “Flying Camera.” Instead it uses the standard baseball view from that era. I personally prefer the SNES version. Here’s an ad that Nintendo themselves ran in gaming magazines back in 1994.
Shots fired by Nintendo
SPEAKING OF ADVERTISEMENTS…
Tecmo Super Baseball had me at this ad
I remember seeing this ad in EGM June of 1994 and being absolutely intrigued. First of all, Tecmo has always made solid to great sports games. And secondly, the ad simply captures that time frame for me. It perfectly depicts a lazy hot summer night in the suburbs of AnyTown, USA. And the feeling of kicking back in your favorite La-Z-Boy to enjoy a good old 16-bit baseball game. The ad got me super hyped to play the game. Hell, the house in the ad even looked exactly like my childhood home! Sadly I never got to play it when it first came out. Such is the joy, then, of being able to finally play all these old games you never did 20+ years ago. In some ways it’s the closest we’ll ever get to a time machine.
Good stuff, Tecmo
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
This page is seared into my memory bank
The critics loved Tecmo Super Baseball. In particular, GameFan used to have a GameFan Sports section to their issues. This “cover page” is forever burned into my retina. I just love the way they repeated the image of the goofy looking Tecmo slugger. There’s a pseudo-Garbage Pail Kids aesthetic to it all. EGM gave it ratings of 85and 89%. GameFan rated it 94%. GameFan reviewer Talko called it the best SNES baseball game. Personally, I disagree — Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball is number one in my book, but Tecmo Super Baseball is easily in my top 5.
Mighty praise from Talko!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
“SAFE!”
Tecmo Super Baseball gets my stamp of approval. Talko said it best. It blends simulation with a quick arcade style that makes playing it rather fun. Games are quick and fast. Best of all is the ability to score from second base on a single and from first base on a double. Very few baseball games from that era did that. The hitting is simple and the fielding is generally very smooth. A couple negatives, however. Every outfielder throws the ball like a bullet, despite varying defensive ratings. It’s pretty much impossible to score on a sacrifice fly. As mentioned earlier, all player stances are identical. Diving is not as smooth and natural feeling as in other baseball games. There’s also only one ballpark and the computer AI is terrible. Then again, most baseball games from the ’90s had awful AI. But these are minor quips. The game delivers otherwise.
Nice try, pal
The graphics are a bit lackluster. The crowd is indistinguishable. The one ballpark doesn’t have much of a personality to it and the players don’t differ in size whatsoever. But who plays sports games in particular for its visuals? I love the sound in the game, particularly the “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” rendition. The announcer adds a nice touch. The gameplay is what makes this game. Nothing beats seeing the 12 to 6 Uncle Charlie curveball. It actually dips if you play using the pitcher’s perspective (which is my recommendation). On the offensive side, you can select whether you want to bat using power, contact, normal or bunt. It adds to the variety of what you can do. If you’re a baseball fan and you still enjoy playing the Super Nintendo then I can’t recommend Tecmo Super Baseball enough.
They truly were the Capcom of this particular genre. So how does Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 separate itself from the crowded pack?
![[Boy, please -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SupPO.jpg)
![Was there any doubt? [There was ONLY doubt -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SupPO99.jpg)
![What can I say. I'm pretty good... [PLEASE -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SupPO101.jpg)
![Prepare for a blood bath [HAR HAR -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SF2Turbo12.jpg)
![[Very funny, NOT -Stretch Armstrong]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SF2Turbo32.jpg)
![Balls to the wall fun... [You're fired -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2020Baseball20.jpg)
![[Sure ya did -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2020Baseball96.jpg)
![[I wouldn't bet on that -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/KenGriff35.jpg)
![[Story of your life... -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TecmoBaseCrit.png)
