- Intuitive controls let you get right into the batting action
- Cute, witty commentary
- Build your team and compete to win the Ultra Grand Championship
Backyard Baseball ’97 is a cosy baseball experience in which you control a team of quirky, quick-witted kids as they try their best to win game after game. A remake of the original 1997 title, this zany tee-ball title will charm you with its comedic commentary, precocious players, and simple batting-based gameplay.
Backyard Baseball ’97 is All About Batting
In Backyard Baseball, you control each member of your team when it’s their turn to swing. Once the pitcher throws the ball, you’ll need to time your swing in order to hit it. Getting the hang of when to swing can be a bit tricky, which is why I recommend hitting up batting practice mode before jumping into a game.
When at home plate, there are four modes of batting f or you to choose from: power, line drive, grounder, and bunt. Use a bunt to tap the ball rather than swing or a grounder to get the ball moving across the field rather than in the air. Line Drive lets you whack the ball so it travels fast and low near the ground while using Power lets you blast the ball far across the field.
When it’s your team’s turn to pitch, you’ll have the following pitching options: Heat, Slowball, Left Hook, Right Hook, and Intentional Walk. Pay attention to whether the pitcher nods or shakes his head when selecting a type of hit for the best results.
Running the Bases in Backyard Baseball is Out of Your Control
When you successfully hit the ball, you’ll see the entire field from a bird’s eye view, where you’ll watch your players attempt to hit the bases while the other team scrambles to stop them. This part is entirely out of your control, so whether your player makes it to a base or not is more luck than anything else.
It would be cool if you were able to control your batter when they run bases for a more interactive experience. However, if you’re a fan of old-school games and baseball, you’ll still enjoy this batting-based experience.
Backyard Baseball ’97 Features Multiple Modes
Backyard Baseball ’97 features several modes, including Random Pick-up, Single, and Season. In Season mode, you’ll need to build your own team. You’ll mix and match words from a list of adjectives and names to create a silly name for your team, such as Junior Melonheads or Super-Duper Wombats.
You’ll also need to choose a colour for your jerseys and hats. Next, take turns against AI, picking team members from a slew of kids sitting on the bleachers, after which you’ll partake in a 14-game season with the ultimate goal of making it to the Ultra Grand Championship.
Single Game mode, as the name suggests, lets you choose your team for a single game. Like in Season mode, you’ll need to choose your players from the bleachers. In Random Pick-up mode, however, your team and your opponents are randomly selected, letting you get right into the swing of things.
Get to Know the Backyard Baseball ’97 Players
You can learn more about the various players by checking out their stats in the card binder. Each player’s card features their nickname, a brief description, and how they rank in batting, running, fielding, and pitching. For instance, Kenny Kawaguchi’s card shows that he’s a great pitcher and runner, while Pablo Sanchez is clearly the MVP of the group with his top-notch batting, running, and fielding stats.
Backyard Baseball ’97 is a fun throwback full of cute commentary, distinct players, and classic baseball action. The touch controls are simple and intuitive, allowing you to easily get a hang of gameplay, though you’ll have a harder time mastering it. While the gameplay can get repetitive, the lively commentary and cute antics of the players when they come up to bat will keep you engaged.
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