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All Star Baseball 2001 (N64) ReviewRelease Date: April 2000 Background Info
If you are new to baseball games or are looking for a reason to upgrade to the
latest title, you won't go wrong with All-Star Baseball 2001 (ASB 2001). The game features fast arcade-style play for the impatient or more realistic simulation-style play with games lasting around three-quarters of an hour. Either way you slice it, ASB 2001 recreates the baseball season with the current
assortment of major league talent. The game hits a home run with its wonderful
blend of eye pleasing graphics and solid gameplay. Without a doubt, Nintendo 64
owners will be stealing home with this one.
Graphics : 92
This year is no exception, as the graphics of All-Star Baseball 2001 continue
to amaze on the near-forgotten Nintendo 64. As in the previous editions of
the series, players have a look that's appealing to the eye. Smooth textured
players are the rule, and everything down to the cleats is perfectly modeled.
As the ballplayers swing the stick the animations are flawless. Perhaps the
only graphical glitch with the players is with the names on the backs of the
uniforms. The names are clear and can be read with no problem but as players
swing, their upper torso twists. This twisting motion has the effect of
distorting the names on the back. So rather than having stitched-on numbers,
players look like they swing with Silly-Putty uniforms.
Player models are relatively restricted. Some players are modeled after their
real life counterparts. The major stars have appearances which resemble the
real-life players. But there are many times where the players have a generic
look to them. Craig Biggio does not look at all like how he is portrayed in
the game. Furthermore, players have a limited number of sizes and batting
stances. You have the big boys like Mac and Gwynn, but unless the player has
a big or small build, he's pigeon-holed into the same generic body style.
The ballparks are perfectly done. For my test of the game, I picked the
hometown Astros. For those not in the know, the Astros have a new ballpark -
Enron Field. Other than the fact that it's quickly getting the reputation as
a hitter's park (a 315 foot left field and 326 foot right field will do that
to a park), it's also known as a park with a ludicrous feature - a flag pole
in the field of play. While the hill in centerfield leading up to the pole is
present, unfortunately Acclaim left out this most distinctive feature. It did,
however, have a sign reminding us to play the Texas lottery. Nonetheless, the
rest of the park looks great. And everyone will recognize special features of
their home parks. Boston has the Green Monster, and Arizona has the swimming
pool in the outfield. Parks feature Jumbotrons that clearly display the action
as it happens. The only negative with the parks is the look of the crowd.
For the most part the crowd is modeled as a smooth collage of colored patches.
But the first few rows will sport detailed faces that look like something out
of the Goldeneye game. It's actually kind of creepy looking.
Animations are everywhere in the game. Acclaim has motion captured everything
imaginable. The animations tend to be recycled frequently. For example, if
a player strikes he usually tosses the bat up in the air and quickly snags it
by the barrel. Swinging motions depend on the player; players with compact
stances have different swinging styles than those with an upright stance.
Baserunning utilizes a variety of animations. Sliding into a base is either
head or feet first, and you can actually try to evade the tag by sliding around
the defense. In one game my opponent came up short and was crawling on his
hands and knees to get to the base. In the outfield, you can make spectacular
dives or climb the wall to snag the ball.
Presentation/Audio : 75
Speaking of pizzazz, the crowd at the Astros' former home, the Astrodome, was
never known to rock the house. At times you could hear a pin drop in the
Dome. It seems like Acclaim decided to mike my Houston brethren for ASB
2001. The crowd is dead except on hits or strikeouts. There's no building
rumble as you rally from behind nor is there heckling of the players.
Acclaim did do a fine job with the sounds of the ball and bat. The crack of
the bat stands out (thanks to the mute audience). Players have a grinding
sound when they make slides and thuds when diving for balls in the outfield.
Balls bouncing off the outfield walls have a realistic sound to them. And
pitches whizz by with a brush of air.
Gameplay : 92
ASB 2001 lets you play quick arcade style games as well as going through a full
simulated season. Seasons vary in length from the full 162 game schedule to a
28 game season. For purists I'd suggest the full season. ASB 2001 implements
a hot-cold streak that really plays in the games. Batters who continue to
produce at the plate are rewarded by getting hotter. Slumping players go cold
and it takes a tremendous amount of effort to pull them out. Similarly,
pitchers who give up the long ball too often quickly slump, yet those with good
control are rewarded by becoming more dominant. And the system really works
well. In one series against the Cards, I thoroughly abused J.D. Drew. The
first time he stepped to the plate he was a little on the cold side, say
medium-cold. I quickly found he was a sucker for the high curve and used it
to my advantage. With each subsequent plate appearance, he dropped off even
more until he was ice cold.
Besides implementing a streak system, ASB 2001 does have a good statistical
engine. Though still in the early part of my season, the statistics are
mostly accurate. I've got some players who are in slumps and aren't batting
their weight, and I've got Jeff Bagwell putting up MVP type numbers. Pitchers
come in with realistic ERAs, and batters have a good mix of averages. Just
like the real deal, it's hard to sweep a series, and that's represented in the
game - not just for my team but for the whole league. Subtle rules of the
game are reflected in ASB 2001; if a batter gets thrown out trying to stretch
a single into a double he is rewarded with the single. Likewise, errors in the
outfield are a curse to the batter as batters are not awarded a hit while still being charged with an at bat.
To test the league stats, I played to a particular point in the season and
compared the league leaders' statistics to actual MLB players. What I found
was that while the names have changed, ASB 2001 does a pretty good job
simulating current statistics. The exceptions were better pitching in the
game over reality; each league had five or six pitchers with ERAs below 2.00.
At this point in the season, that honor is restricted to Pedro Martinez in the
AL and Tom Glavine and Randy Johnson in the NL. The offensive numbers were
almost all right on target.
If you want to bypass the realism in the game, ASB 2001 serves up a quick
Arcade-style game. This version of the game is actually quite entertaining
and takes away all the though involved with the sim side. While you can still
guess pitch type, there's no batting target to worry about, and just about
every swing puts the ball in play. While pitching, you just select a pitch
and go. No placement to worry about. For long ball lovers, check out the
recycled home run derby.
Replay Value : 90
Unless a sports game is seriously flawed, it almost has to have replay value.
Finishing an entire season in some sports (all save football) will keep you
busy for months. Certainly some games have a seasonal feel to them. I
currently have no desire right now to play a football game, but come the Fall
I'll be right under center. And honestly, this title will probably be shelved
once that time comes. But in the meantime I will be enjoying the best
baseball series on the Nintendo 64.
Overall : 89
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