Previous Next

This sports simulation promises 'cheer leaders and all the razzmatazz of the USA', but it's really not that bad at all. As any Englishman knows, baseball is glorified rounders, and nowhere near as good as cricket. Nevertheless, this is a very entertaining game, which attempts to emulate many of the aspects of baseball, including stealing, strikes, and different pitches.

When you're not batting, you pitch and field. Pitching is controlled from the joystick, and you have several options for type of throw.

As batsman you have three types of shot: normal, fast and slow. Hit fire to swing the bat. If you connect sweetly enough you'll hit a home run and romp round the bases to triumphanty music, just like Robert Redford in The Natural.

Possibly the best option is the one that allows you to steal a run. This is like legalised cheating, you make a run for another base when the opposition aren't watching. Select your steal option and go for it.

Nothing is perfect and I do have a few grumbles, particularly about playing the computer, because it cheats. I'm not just a bad loser, honest. Sometimes when a batsman hits the ball out they run anyway. That should be a foul shot. Also as batsman against the computer yourself you are given no chance. Unable to direct your shot, you are invariably caught or run out in no time at all.

These grumbles aside, World Series Baseball is good entertaining stuff. The graphics are fine, particularly so on the giant 3D video screen at the end of the field, which gives you close-up action of pitcher and batsman.