Batter up!
For a fairly action-oriented take on baseball which is a little like Micro League Baseball, then this rather obscure title is worthy of investigation. It's not going to convert any non-baseball fans but if you into the sport, then it should keep you happy. There are two main modes of play on offer here, the first being a sort of basic batting training where you just practice smacking out those home runs. This is useful to get your head around the controls but you'll be spending most of your time in the main game, which recreates all the fun of a real baseball match. Here, you find a sort of managerial aspect, as you can choose from a wide selection of teams as well as the lineup and batting order. The gameplay takes a familiar approach, with an interface which allows you to tweak the speed and angle of your pitches and hits by making use of on-screen meters. That's pretty much it in terms of gameplay and if you have ever played such a game before you will be right at home here. If anything, it's this sense of over familiarity which is the game's biggest weakness and it really doesn't offer anything that hasn't been seen before, a common problem with any sports simulator. However, while it lacks in innovation, there's no denying that this is a well executed recreation of the sport and which is generally enjoyable. The visuals and presentation are top notch, with lovely big sprites and some solid animation, while the controls are easy to pick up and respond well. Gameplay too is solid if you're a baseball fan and there is a good sense of atmosphere and excitement, so if you're into this sort of thing, by all means take a look here.
