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Mixed rounders was always a firm favourite in school PE classes. Not only could you smash the ball off the field and into the garden next door, but you could also chat up your favourite girl on second post. Muck up the rules, dress like a morris dancer and take away the women (killjoys) and you're left with baseball.

The sport consists of two teams amassing points by sprinting round four bases, scores being awarded for getting back to home base. Like cricket, one team fields and the other bats, swapping over when the batting team are all out.

The screen's divided into three vertical strips, the middle section being a behind-the-batting square view, showing the current batsman with the pitcher in front of him. Shots of the other two bases are displayed either side. Should your batsman hit the ball, the viewpoint changes, showing the entire stadium, and follows the ball trajectory with a small diagram of base positions inset. There are three ways in which the fielding side can dismiss a batsman or runner.

1. Causing the batsman to miss the ball three times.
2. Catching the ball before it hits the ground.
3. Getting the ball to a base before a runner.

To safeguard a winning score, you have several time-outs, used to stop the clock and change team members - this is of a high strategic importance because pitchers tire after constant ball-bunging, and feeble throws of 30mph don't do your team any credit.

This isn't as difficult as it sounds. If you're unsure of the scoring system, or anything else to do with baseball, no worries - playing RBI 2 is a doddle. Actually hitting the ball takes practice, but that's half the fun. It's quite an achievement walloping a ball into the crowd for a home run, even if the ceremonial fireworks are just a few paltry pixels. There are lots of features to find and explore, such as stealing bases and making substitutions at the right time.

In comparison to the all-time classic Hardball, RBI 2 fares quite well. True, it hasn't got the depth of options and, while the graphics are functional, the sound is pretty awful... but it's a lot easier to get into and understand. I found actually smacking the ball a lot easier than in the aforementioned game, which is my book makes it more enjoyable. Both one and two player matches provide hours of bat-swinging fun for both fans of the sport and seasoned C64-ers alike. 89%

Swinging a hefty wooden stick at a ball travelling at almost 100mph has never really caught on over here. Perhaps for this reason it's a bit of a neglected subject as far as computer games are concerned. Stateside, though, baseball is a big deal indeed.

The excellent Hardball with all its management options and great player animation has always been the one to beat and I'm sorry to say RBI2 falls short of the mark. Because it's easier to play, it seems rather good at first, but things are a little too shallow and simplistic to keep you swinging for long.

An okay stab, but it wouldn't make the World Series due to serious weaknesses in key positions. 68%

Presentation 89%
Large selection of options and statistics galore.

Graphics 79%
Basic, but rather functional.

Sound 30%
Poor, unrealistic swishes and swipes.

Hookability 88%
Gets easier with every play!

Lastability 89%
Should stand the test of time reasonably well.

Overall 79%