In this game, Mario and company must challenge each other in rough games of easy-to-control baseball.
System: Nintendo GameCube
Copyright: 2005
I will review each mode separately, since it would be unfair to give a poor overall grade for a game I really enjoy. The scale ranges from 1-10, 1 being a total bummer, and 10 being an extreme hoedown.
Exhibition Mode (1-2 Players)
Graphics: 10/10
Hooray! Another triumph for the GameCube! The graphics were definitely not cheesy, and the scenery was great. The staff looks like they put a lot of work into the scenery, especially Peach’s park. The bases are awesome, the bats give a variety, and things such as fountains, characters, and replays are carefully and slowly designed to perfection. One thing about the replays: they are extremely close-up and exclusive. Not only does it organize what happens, but it provides a close look into the game. Graphics are always a victorious feat for the GameCube.
Difficulty: 8/10
For most ages, this level of difficulty is suitable. It certainly takes about fifteen minutes to learn, but it’s wonderful for parties and get-togethers. My brother and I enjoy putting our brains into the game, because it gives a whole new way to look at video game baseball. The difficult portions are actually enjoyable, especially with two players. However, I had little children of 5 and 6 play, and it was an extreme lousy point for them. They still had fun, but they found it awfully difficult to the point where they yelled.
Sound: 7/10
There’s nothing out-of-the-ordinary about this music. Usually, Mario games have unusually good soundtracks, but this one was average. They slapped in some various ready-made tunes, made a few small tunes, and too many little jingles. However, it does make the game better, and that’s where the load of points comes in.
Gameplay: 9/10
Mostly all of the game aspects of Exhibition Mode are well put together. At the touch of a button, the ball is hit, and you are off using your brain and executing great gaming action. Like all Mario games, it uses logic instead of pressing a bunch a buttons with dullness in those violent gun games. When running bases, you can choose to go forward or backward, a strong point. You can also choose which people should run and stay, which gives you an actual chance. Many strategies are used for pitching, which makes it a great action-based experience. No stopping when you are fielding! Catch that ball quickly, and your action is set. However, I must take a point due to problems with throwing to your teammates in fielding. When you try to throw to another teammate, it goes wherever the John’s Dooblehopper Gigglezipper it wants.
Fun Factor!: 10/10
Like Mario Tennis, you can laugh about your many woes. Even if you lose, it often brings memories and lightens up our day. Screaming and yelling positively are able to exist while playing, and getting mad is awfully fun. Yes, I do sound like an idiot, but it’s true. Having fun is a big part in this game, and you can do it easily because of the controls and computer cooperation. The staff works hard at making their games fun.
Doing the math, this was the overall score by average all the numbers: 8.8/10
Challenge (Story) Mode: (1 Player)
Graphics: 10/10
You did hear this utterly boring lecture already. Go back to the Exhibition Mode review if you need to… review.
Difficulty: 2/10
Oh my god, Becky! Look at their skills! They are so hard! I hate hard stuff and I cannot lie, you other brothers can’t… woah. Talk about hard games! Save me Jebus! The computers know their precise moves and it’s certain that they can predict what will happen with any path you take. However I can slip in two of those points, since the comp batters are horrible… until they’re taken their second strike…
Sound: 7/10 (See Exhibition)
Gameplay: 1/10
You run around peoples' homes and face them. They are added to your team, and then you face Bowser… Sounds boring, eh? It is! What a wretched thing. There’s absolutely no good action, and the replays are usually based on the computers, since they’re ever so hard. Don’t play Challenge Mode; it is a complete waste of your time. Sure, you can go to the store and get some bats, but… oh… that’s where the point comes in. The store is, however, unexciting. It’s not like you get to go inside…
Fun Factor: 0/10
So you say, “You can’t have zero! It’s a scale of 1-10.” Whatever. I don’t care. Fun isn’t anywhere to be found in the stenchy Challenge Mode. Yuck. Read Gameplay for Challenge mode. It gives you a lot of reasons to hate this story.
Story: 1/10
Oooo! You get to face Bowser! Oooo! So interesting. He’s trying to break all the friends up! Oooh. I am so interested. Oooh! By the way, as you all know, I was being sarcastic. Yeah, uncreative stuff in the story. Again, don’t waste your time. They could have added stuff like “Bowser has got most citizens on his side now that he lied about Mario destroying all the homes in Toad Town. You must face ‘em!” That sounds boring too, but they could have at least tried. Oh, and yes… the story gets a point due to Lakitu making his strange little comments about the story aspects. “DK, you have a boxing glove for a bat? Is that even legal?” Looks like the staff is poking fun at themselves! Classic!
Overall (doing the math): 3.5
Mini-Game Mode: (1-4 Players)
A few cool mini-games.
Graphics: 10/10
I’ve already gone over this.
Difficulty: 9/10
Easy for all. Even tots could master this cool stuff. Mainly, it is easy due to constant throws and easy timing. Who can fight? The rules are not complex, about two rules, do what it looks like you’re supposed to do and whoever gets the most points wins! You probably won’t have to read the rules or anything, so play on! However, the computer is hard at times.
Sound: 7/10
Talked to you about this.
Gameplay: 8/10
Action, action, and more action! The easiness gives you quick gameplay and easy-to-master skills. All you have to do is press throw, hit, or run. Each game includes one aspect (throwing, hitting, running), which should be the standard for mini-games. We don’t want complex rules for mini-games, and this is a positive role-model for other mini-game-making game makers. I just wish these games would include more logic.
Fun Factor: 10/10
For parties, these are perfect. Simple rules give a quick boost to multiplayer fun. You won’t get tired, and your friends will have a good time laughing and bringing back memories of woes and successes. Be amazed, be dazzled, and be excited by what you see that your friends can do!
Overall: 8.8
Toy Field (1-4 Players)
Take turns to hit, bat, pitch and field. Calculate points by the space and what happens. No teams, just so you know. It’s 4 vs. 4.
Graphics: 10/10
Yadda… yadda… yadda.
Sound: 7/10 (Duh)
Difficulty: 5/10
In the middle somewhere. Hitting is an extreme ease, but trying to actually get points with these complex rules… Hit the ball here, if caught is calculated by the space and where or if the person got hit by anything or if the ball was hit with the person, it… blah, blah, blah. Gosh!
Gameplay: 6/10
Constant action is here, but the rules are so complex that it gives you a bad view of what is actually happening. Getting the ball while computer players are pushing and are somehow suspiciously faster than you is a bad thing. I give credit for computer players being able to be hit by shells and the action that comes with hitting the ball and pitching. Fielding stinks.
Fun Factor: 6/10
No hall-hey-hu-hahs here. It’s hard to remember anything with every single player, because everyone will be whining about the unfair rules the whole time. However, you do have some fun with pitching and batting.
Overall: 6.8
Practice will not be graded, since
it’s basically classes.
Well, that’s it for my Review!
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