Bases Loaded
Publisher: Jaleco
Genre: Sports
Year of Release:
1988
Date Reviewed: 2-15-98 ("Old Era")
Before corporations
began torquing with baseball in order to present innovative video games based
thereon, all games were in competition for only one thing: to see who could
produce the most realistic adaptation of the sport. Jaleco's Bases Loaded is a
textbook case of how a realism-based baseball game was best designed for an
8-bit system.
All 8-bit baseball games had one choice to make: who should
have more freedom of movement -- the batter or the pitcher. Bases Loaded elected
to go with the less-utilized television perspective, giving the player a view
from behind the pitcher. However, the batter was not completely neglected -- far
from it, in fact. When in control of the batter, the player must choose from
nine different positions to swing at, from high and outside to low and inside,
with everything in between available. The pitcher has each of those positions to
throw at, and, in addition, must choose the speed of his pitch. An understanding
of what must be done in the wind-up is essential for success. After selecting
one's position on the mound, the player in control of the pitcher presses the
"A" button to begin the wind-up. In the brief time before the ball is released,
there are two entries that must be made -- one determines the speed of the
pitch, the other determines the direction. Pressing up increases the speed of
the pitch, pressing down decreases it, and direction is self-explanatory.
Pressing nothing for both of those entries throws a pitch of average speed at a
centralized position.
However, 90% of the game's interface is present in
the pitching/hitting portion of play. The fielding interface is comparatively
basic. It still maintains the game's feeling of realism, but in a slightly more
unorthodox way. The force of gravity is somewhat odd in that the ball falls more
quickly than it rises. This was orchestrated to reduce the frequency of home
runs, thus making the game more realistic. That effort is commendable. However,
an unfortunate side effect of this is that it is nearly impossible to anticipate
where the ball will land. Even the computerized players seem confused of the
landing position of the ball.
To further their efforts to make this game
as realistic as possible, Jaleco deepened the rosters of the available teams.
Most baseball simulations of the time featured no more than four pinch hitters
and relief pitchers. Bases Loaded, conversely, features no fewer than
seven or eight per team, each varying in skill. Also, given that certain players
may start fights when hit by a pitch, and thus be ejected, there is potential
for these substitutes to actually be needed.
Another negative facet of
this game, however, is its lack of user-friendliness. Bases Loaded cannot
be casually played. The only possible season length is the traditional 162-game
pennant race. This season cannot be saved. Instead, there is a password option,
so the player must take down a different password after each game. Keeping track
of the passwords is tedious, not to mention a waste of paper. There is no
exhibition mode, so the player cannot choose the teams that play, and must
complete a three-game series with one team before being allowed to play another.
The probability of that team being the one the player was hoping for is still
only about 10 percent. Bases Loaded was remarkably realistic for an 8-bit
adaptation of the game of baseball... perhaps too realistic.
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My Score: 7
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