Gaming Target - GameCube: MLB Slugfest 20-03

Written by Tim McGrew on October 18, 2002

Full Review: Metal Slug? NoЕ But the characters are packing bats and the bats catch on fire!

Baseball was at its best during the 16-bit generation. The simplicity of it all was the primary catalyst of creation for some of the best baseball games highlighted because of their lineups, game play elements, and of course, their high scoring nature. Games like Baseball 2020 by SNK, Baseball Simulator 1.000 and of course Baseball All-Stars were but a few of the over the top baseball titles that really challenged players and stayed incredibly fun for multiple games in one sitting. Just taking turns in two player games between three or four people was still great fun as each person could easily jump in and play like a pro after fifteen minutes.

Since Midway is well known for completely throwing rules out the window when it comes to its brand of hyper intensive sports games, one would be hard pressed to imagine just what rules of an extreme baseball game would be ditched entirely. If there is one thing I've learned when it comes to the sport of baseball, it's that rules are as much a staple of the game as the bat and the ball are. In fact, one might go as far as to say that rules make the game as fun as it is, but whether that is good or bad is all a matter of perception. However, the basic rules in Slugfest still remain: three strikes and you're out, three outs in each half of an inning, substitution players are allowed, and of course, if the ball flies over the fence it's a homerun. The rules that keep the sport one of non contact are gone and players can freely charge whomever they wish.

Not too keen on being thrown out at second base? Slam that turbo button and charge into the second basemen and you just might be able to knock the ball out of his hand and him into left field. Not too happy with the speed of a particular runner at the plate? Bean him in the leg with a fastball and watch him struggle for the rest of the game with his injury. Simple extremities such as those make the game very enjoyable if not completely hilarious. There's nothing like watching Sammy Sosa go berserk and charge the mound after being beaned in the head just one too many times in a row. In fact, since the MLB doesn't condone such actions, the game won't actually show the conduct, but it will hint at it and the players stats will increase as he is hit.

Like any other Midway developed sports game, players can enter into streaks with great defense and offense and they will eventually launch into fire mode where they have unlimited turbo to do as they please. Bringing a player down from turbo isn't exactly the easiest thing to do, but the game makes it difficult to obtain such status since it remains unpredictable and challenging both with the computer and against friends. Given the modes that players can choose from, there is even a mode where the computer will throw nothing but strikes just the same as your pitcher. This doesn't mean it's hard to hit the ball in the first place since the bat will make contact with just about any pitch, it does mean that the chances for homeruns and the fire mode will be much more easily accessible and the game will take a much more offensive twist where hitters try to outscore each other through homeruns and triples rather than soft grounders, bunts, and sacrifice flies. With the strategy essentially removed, players can just enjoy the primary action of the game and let themselves hit to their hearts content.

Since this isn't a game for simulation fans, it is devoid of a franchise mode. This severely limits its single player attributes. Although that doesn't mean the game is hurt because of it, it does mean that one would be hard pressed to continue through with a full season solely to win the World Series with the only fun part being found in the straight games that you play against the various authentic teams. Since all of Midway's extreme sports games really shine with its multiplayer, the game isn't hollow with the franchise missing. The game is still great fun and hilarious just to observe, but it's meant for multiplayer of which only two people can participate in at a time.

MLB Slugfest also has a fairly amazing graphical engine. Real players do look like their in game counterparts, but it does take liberties with animations exaggerating almost every single detail about running, sliding, and of course turbo induced power tagging. Even more enjoyable are the animations when players are hit with the ball at the plate since the camera shows a nice angle of the hit and the batter's reaction. Although the frame rate is a bit jerky at times, it's hardly noticeable during a crucial event and thus, it doesn't interfere with the game play as much as one would expect. After all, it is baseball and frame rate isn't exactly detrimental to ones success much like it is in an FPS or other type of twitch based action game.

The texture work is also really nice and the models of the stadiums are accurate, much like those in other baseball simulators presented by EA and Sega adding a bit of realism to an otherwise unrealistic game. With the team and player licenses in place, the game benefits greatly from allowing players to immerse themselves into the game and drive their favorite player down the baseline and completely crush the first basemen with a shoulder hit knocking him right out of their shoes.

In terms of sound, the game does surprisingly well with commentary that is as deep as any other simulation. What's even better about this commentary is that the two speakers will talk about irrelevant things in the middle of the game and humorous comments will be heard from them. Although it starts to repeat after about fifteen games, it's still a high volume of content for a game that isn't even supposed to be a simulation. Ballpark noises such as cheering and jeering as well as the scream of the umpire's is also present in an impressive fashion and cranking up the sound sure doesn't hurt for these particular moments. It's very surprising to hear such great sound work from a game that has its main focus centered on the over the top action and hilarious moments.