review by: Barry C. Dowell  (bdowell@cais.com)


Well folks, heres the next in a line of baseball games for the PSX.   This
time a direct port of the PC version of the game has been used.  What's the
indepth scoop.  Read on.

If you are a stats freak, or want every option available to you in a game,
then this is currently the one for you.  (Who knows exactly what MLB Pennant
Race [Sony's upcoming title] will have in it when it's released?)

Fans of the old HardBall series from back in the C=64 days, or games like
Earl Weaver baseball from the early PC days should find themselves happy
with this game.

The game does however have some areas that need improvement.


Graphics:

If you have seen the magazine reviews about this title (such as in Dimension
PSX), they aren't feeding you bunk on the graphics.  The graphics are grainy
and the perspectives and sizes just don't quite look right.  The outfielders
look to be about the same size as the infielders, and the depth seems too
shallow (it looks like the outfielders are on the heals of the infielders,
though the distances to the fences are supposedly accurate).

The movement and flow of the players looks ok, with the player moves
reproduced thanks to motion capture technology.  If the over layed graphics
weren't so grainy, then it wouldn't be such a drag on the game.


Extras:

There are 40 stadiums in the game.  Virtually every major league park has
been reproduced.  Oriole Park at Camden Yards (my personal favorite!) even
includes the Coca Cola sign on the scoreboard, and the "Hit it Here! -
Maryland Lottery" logo painted on the outfield fence.

This is a definite plus in a Baseball game, where the intricacies of a ball
park change the entire strategy of the game.

Over all grade for the graphics (including the stadiums):        B-/C+


Sounds:

Like the versions of Hardball on the Sega Genesis before it, this version
also includes play-by-play effects featuring the voice of Al Michaels.
While the game calling is a nice feature, unfortunately it's somewhat choppy
and drags enough to be irritating.

The background music and sound effects are nice, and easily tolerable.

Best recommendation, turn off the play-by-play calling to get the best out
of the game.

Over all grade for the sound effects:                           B


Features and Options:

As mentioned earlier, virtually every option you could want is included in
the game, with everything controllable to the utmost level.  If you are a
control freak, this game is for you.

You can manage the team, or play arcade style, or mix various options, so
you only do the work you want.

You can choose from over 800 MLBPA players, and even player with players
from a "Legends" league of 12 all time great teams.

Trading, free agency, injuries, player and team editing,  team logo editing
(in case you want to edit out the substitute logos [there is no MLB license,
only MLBPA folks] and replace them with copies of the real things), league
play, and more.

Also vitally important for those that want to get comfortable with the game,
a practice feature for both hitting and pitching, so you can get better at
the game,  and on top of that, a Homerun Derby feature that allows you to
just swing for the fences.

Over all grade for the options and features:                    A+


Playability:

Any game that goes to the extremes that this one does in the options and
features area wouldn't be complete with easy game play.  This one has that
base covered too.  The game features 10 difficulty levels, selected via
sliding scale.  You can make the game as hard or as easy as you want.

Player controls are more than adequate, and selection of options and
strategies is very easy from the pop-up on screen menus.   Every strategy
for every possible game situation is included as well.  Again, no corners
were cut in the features and playability areas.

One possible missing feature, link play and greater than 2 player capability
isn't included in the game.  The game allows for a maximum of 2 players
that's it.

Over all grade for playability:                                 A+


Statistics information:

This game keeps stats for everything.  If you want to know about it, it's
gonna be there.   The only down side to this, and to the abundance of
options and features discussed above is that there is a price in the use of
memory blocks.  The game uses anywhere from 2 - 15 blocks on it's own!
Thats basically a complete memory card for just this game.  Keep that in
mind when consider getting the game.

Over all grade for statistics information:                      A+

Documentation/instructions:

The documentation for this game is thorough and complete.  Over 40 pages of
documentation that explain every option of the game

Over all grade for documentation/instructions:                  A

End results for HardBall 5 (complete package):                  B/B+

End recommendation:

If you liked HardBall from "the good ole days" then this one will be more
than adequate.   If you are looking for serious eye candy, then as with
Base's Loaded: Double Header, and even Bottom of the 9th for that matter,
you need to keep looking, and hold off until after Pennant Race comes out.

Having spent $59 for the game at Electronics Boutique, I rate it a keeper,
but still not the complete Baseball game that I'll contine searching for.

Until I can afford to pick up another program for my favorite game system -

bcd