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Oh scriddly dee. La tum te tum. What? A baseball game? What's baseball? Oh, you mean rounders? So what's the difference? A diamond? Where does that come into it?

[Ooh Lordy Simon, you are so thick. Baseball differs from rounders in that baseball is played on a diamond shaped pitch, and only has four bases (including the batting base). All the standard rules of rounders are still applicable as, basically, baseball is just an American variation of rounders, or rounders is just an English version of baseball - Ed]

In RBI 2, most of the game involves shots of the diamond, the field, and the bowlers mound. The animated sequences are absolutely beautiful, with the ball arcing right up to almost obscure your view of the diamond.

The game is quite a good simulation. You have the option to select the starting players in your team and, with none of the messing around involved with positioning people, you can dive headfirst into the main game. Fielding can be a tad slow, with the blokies crawling through the grass, but the batters don't move all that fast either anyway.

Graphically, there's very little you can do with a game like this. If you've ever played a cricket game, you'll know it's just like an isometric version of Lemmings. The fielders are slightly easier to control in RBI 2, though you might have some trouble getting to grips with it first time around.

All in all, RBI 2 gels together quite well. It's nice to be able to select your team, and it doesn't get too tedious as there isn't much tactical talk. It's always a plus point to have some animated sequences to look at instead of lots of boring boxes with numbers in.

I was quite looking forward to reviewing this game but it's quite clear to everyone that I know very little, if anything, about the intricacies of the game of baseball. But I could learn...

The players come in two teams. This guy (the pitcher) stands on this hill and throws a ball at a bloke (batter) holding a big stick that's fat at one end, and thin at the other. The blokey hits the ball with the stick, and then runs around the diamond.

Whilst he's hitting the ball, some of his friends are running round the diamond already. They have to run when he runs, and when they get all the way around, they score a point. If, however, one of the small army of men standing miles away on the field (did we mention them?) manages to get the ball back to a point on the diamond whilst a blokey is running towards it, said blokey goes home and cries a lot. If, however, one of the people on the field catches the ball, then the batter starts shouting and everyone starts shouting and hugging each other.

Now... if the batter is so crap that he can't hit any of three balls that are thrown at him (not all at once, obviously), he's also out straight away, as these balls are all caught by a bloke standing behind him who's dressed like the Michelin Man.

And those are the rules, chap. Happy hitting! Last one home smells like a very old baseball mitt!

1. Righteous Baseball Interaction
2. Rather Blimmin' Important
3. Really Blue Ink
4. Rancid Banana Incense
5. Render Badgers Insensible
6. Respect Bad Instructions
7. Romantic Bohemian Inventor