World Class Baseball

~ WORLD CLASS BASEBALL ~

Hudson Soft / NEC

HuCard

1989

I've owned this game for about a million years, and I still play it somewhat regularly. I've been a big Tokyo Ninjas fan since day one, and I have much more fun "managing" them than I would controlling "actual MLB players" in some "realistic" baseball sim. I insert Aki for extra speed on the basepaths, endure Takas' struggles on the field, and call on Hiro in late-inning save situations... without ever having to deal with Ula demanding a trade or rumors that Shima is using steroids. I prefer simple, fast fun to realism in sports games, and this one has always delivered the goods.

I always go with the Ninjas. The Fuka - Ula - Shima heart of the order is devastating, and Tsuji and Kondo are excellent pitchers.

Baserunners get down the line pretty quickly, and most of the fielders have weak arms, so slow grounders to the left side like this one often result in cheap hits. Double plays are nearly unheard of.

Fielding fly balls, on the other hand, is made pleasantly simple, as your player looks up at the ball when he's in position to make the catch.

Shima is a threat to go deep every time he steps to the plate.

When someone does hit one out, it's celebration time.

Last inning. Time to hunker down and protect that slim lead.

Nearly every game against the computer results in an easy victory.