Been waiting for a Baseball game for the PSX since I bought it on the
release day.  Finally Jaleco has come out with Bases Loaded '96 Double
Header.  Does it satisfy the craving?
 
 
Graphics
========
 
Pitcher/Hitter graphics - B
 
Fielders                - D
 
Stadiums (7 choices)    - C
 
Overall                 - C-
 
Graphics in many areas are cheesy/blocky, looking like they came from a
C=64 rather than from a true 32 bit game system.   The picther/hitter
graphics are done in 3d/vector style, and are ok, but not special.
Graphics for individual players are shown occassionally with promo shots
of the players shown in baseball card style with the players stats info
shown on the screen.
A nice bonus is that as each batter comes up throughout the game his
previous offensive stats for the game are shown, either as a K
(strikeout), FO (fly out), GO (ground out), etc.
Stadiums look nice, and there is good selection of choices (seven in all),
but the graphics aren't closeup enough to make much of an impact in that
area.
 
 
Playability
===========
 
Pitching                - B
 
Hitting                 - A
 
Overall                 - B
 
Pitching controls are fairly simple, and easy to understand, but
controlling hi/low location doesn't seem possible, and knowing the
location of the pitch on the horizontal plane isn't terribly easy either.
You can throw a variety of pitches though, including Fast ball, Breaking
Ball, Sinker, Change up, Intentional Walks, and Pick off moves.
Hitting controls are simple, pressing up or down on the D-pad controls a
high or low swing, and pressing the X button causes the batter to swing.
Pressing the square button causes a bunt attempt.
 
 
Statistics
==========
 
Pitching               - A+
 
Batting                - A+
 
Overall                - A+
 
Statistics come from STATS inc    Combined with the MLBPA license, the
complete statistics for all of the 1995 year are in the game.  Players
statistics are tracked throughout the course of the game, and throughout
the course of a season if you play one.  Overall, very well done.  Note,
Players stats and info are also shown as innings end and teams change
places between Offense/Defense.  The graphics for the players come from
their promo photos and can be viewed in the several areas of the games
along with the player stats.
Pitchers are also tracked throughout your season (if you are playing in
regular season mode), and an availability status is tracked for all of
your pitching staff.  If a pitcher is unavailable, then you can't use the
pitcher in your game.
Note that to save all of the season statistics a memory card is required,
with 6 blocks occupied for all of the data that will be saved.  There is
a password feature that will allow you to restart a season at your last
point if you don't have a memory card available, but no statistics would
be saved if you use that feature.
 
 
Sound
=====
 
Background music     - A
 
Sound effects        - A

Game announcer/
commentator          - C
 
 
The background music and sound effects are more than adequate.  The lack
of announcements for hitters coming to bat is a definite weakness for
this game.   An announcer does call Strikes and outs, but the missing
announcement of hitters coming up to the plate is a disappointment.
 
 
 
Additional features
===================
 
Player trades can be made between teams, but there is no guarantee that a
trade that is proposed will be accepted.  If you try to trade worthless
players for super stars, the AI may reject the trade.
Substitutions are allowed throughout the game, but just like MLB, you
can't reuse a player that you previously substituted for.
Designated hitting can be turned on/off for baseball purists.
No MLB license was obtained, so unfortunately the graphics for each team
are generalized, and actual team names aren't available (you can
choose Baltimore or Pittsburgh, or even Bronx New York, but no Orioles,
Pirates, or Yankee logos).
Fielding and Running options can be set to Manual or Auto, so you don't
have to worry about setting player positions if you don't want to.
As noted above, statistics for your seasons can be tracked and saved (6
blocks on a memory card if used), or, if you don't have a memory card
(why not, they're not that expensive?), you can use the password feature
to resume a season where you left off (no stats would be tracked then).
NOTE - trading players during a season will overwrite your previously
saved season data, so be careful with that feature (clearly noted in
manual, but who reads those?)
 
 
Overall ratings
===============
 
Overall               - C+
 
 
This game will satisfy the baseball hunger for someone that has to have a
baseball game, but the somewhat weak graphics draw away from the games
strong points.   The loss of a true announcer for players coming into the
game also hurts the game when compared with -- for instance -- the great
World Series Baseball on the Saturn (the standard bearer for this area at
present).
 
 
 
Cost/Value
==========
 
$59.99 at most outlets
 
Get it used if you can to save some bucks on this one.
 
Best recommendation, rent this one first if possible, or buy it from
somewhere with a good return policy, incase you decide it's not what you
are after.
 
Its a good baseball sim, but not necessarily a visual tour de force.

- Barry C. Dowell