Gaming Target - Game Boy: All-Star Baseball 2003

Written by Matt Swider on June 26, 2002

Review: Survey [still] Sez, Ken Is Better In Hi Rez

Each time a developer stepped up to the plate in an attempt to produce a portable version of Acclaim's All-Star Baseball series, the only thing that resulted was a swing and a miss. With three different portable editions failing to capture the All-Star essence, a strikeout has occurred and a new developer has made its way to the plate. While new to Acclaim's dugout, Software Creations is no rookie when it comes to portable baseball. Previously, the developer played for the opposing team in working on Nintendo's Ken Girffy Jr. Baseball series on Game Boy and Game Boy Color. After the All-Star series missed out on the 2002 baseball season, Software Creations now bats for Acclaim on the new turf of Game Boy Advance. Though Software Creations wasn't able to develop a home-run king in one season, All-Star Baseball 2003 represents what we have come to expect from a first year baseball title on Game Boy Advance: a passable experience with room for improvement.

Once again, this year's All-Star Baseball features four-time World Series Champ Derek Jeter as well as all the teams, stadiums, and players from the Major League. Around the single player end of the game, modes include Quick Play, Exhibition, All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, Season, and World Series. In addition, All-Star Baseball utilizes the system's link cable for two-player support. With so many modes, multiplayer support, and inclusion of collecting and trading Donruss baseball cards, the game could last all baseball season. Despite all of these variations to the gameplay though, the many quirks found within may remain so unsettling that it'll put a damper on the game from inning one.

ASB 2003's use of the MLB license is apparent when sporting first-rate visuals that make the player models come alive with distinctive animation. Each player is well rounded and captures the movements seen on televised baseball games. The developer attempted to cut some corners within the graphics department much like 3DO did with High Heat this past season. Behind the plate, a backdrop representing each stadium with a number of unique facets is present, however as soon as the ball is hit and the view shifts into the Mode-7 perspective, a generic stadium is inserted losing any distinctive fashion it had before. Though this is of course a cheap effect, ASB is able to keep enough detail within the field perspective as well as behind the plate.

While it all looks pleasing to the eye, not everything plays as sweet as candy, especially when it comes to controlling players on the field. As the ball is hit into the field, there's no telling where fielders will appear as the camera follows behind the traveling baseball. With this, not only do players have trouble pulling of double plays, but also easy outs tend to be lost due to frustrating camera work. Other times, when I am looking to throw to one base and clearly attempt to launch the ball in its direction, its destination is somewhere else thus screwing any play I thought I might have lined up. Another oddity I noticed was that I could throw the ball to one base, and the announcer could call safe along with the text displaying the same thing. However, when I looked at the baseline radar, I noticed that the only other player on base was at third.

In light of all these downsides, I must say that the batting interface is well done. It steps away from the past All-Star titles on Game Boy and Game Boy Color by borrowing the style that is often found in console ball games. In addition to getting the correct timing down, players can control where they want to send a ball by adjusting the three dimensional cursor. Unlike other baseball games we have seen before, the pitching interface is setup through a menu rather than the quick select form most titles have been using recently. While it works, it is not as glamorous, or as the other type says in its name, quick. Both interfaces provide rich qualities that make the game seem as solid as any other, however the field view seems to hamper that very accomplishment in a single bound.

Just when you think All-Star Baseball is down by a couple of runs, the audio sets the game back further by featuring grainy tunes and sound effects throughout the entire game. During many instances, an inning will fall silent except for sound effects, making one think that the music option was turned off. However, the eerie silence will end after a minute when "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" plays yet again.