RBI Baseball 2
System: NES
Release Date: June 1990
Developer: Tengen
Publisher: Tengen
Genre: Sports
If you want to play with the boys of summer, you can pick up RBI Baseball 2. This sequel brings back the MLBPA license and moves the rosters forward to 1989. I played a couple games to get a feel for how things have advanced. I started out as Detroit and definitely recognized some of the players. Though I am sad Cecil Fielder was in Japan this year.
Gameplay is everything that I’ve come to expect from an NES baseball game. Choose the speed of your pitch with up, down, or neutral. Once the ball is released, press left tor right to break in that direction. If you can strike them out, great! But if you can’t, you take control of your fielders. If the ball is close, but just out of reach, you can press the A Button for a jump (22:20) or a dive, which will trigger a replay when the ump calls time. In fact, anytime something out of the ordinary happens, expect a replay. As you can see, base running AI wasn’t particularly brilliant. (5:40)
After tiring of looking at brown jerseys vs. maroon jerseys, I decided a rematch of the 1989 World Series was in order. Boy, the Oakland A’s sure were stacked that year! Batting consists of moving around in the box and hopefully making contact. If you get a good hit, take an extra base by holding the direction of the next base and pressing the A Button. If you need to tag up or run back, press the B Button and the direction of the base you need to get back to.
Players have speed and power statistics. Ricky Henderson is as fast as you may remember. He can take it to the stands if he can get a solid whack, too (30:05). Canseco and McGwire must not have been on the gas, yet. Pitchers get tired and must be subbed, but be careful not to waste another starter, because they won’t be able to play in the next game of the series if you do.
Graphics: 2.0
RBI has received a graphics upgrade away from blobby masses, but it’s very low-res.
Sound: 1.5
The music isn’t very good and the sound effects aren’t pleasant.
Gameplay: 2.0
It’s what I expect at the bare minimum from a baseball game.
Difficulty: 2.0
If you have plate discipline, you should be just fine.
Fun Factor: 2.0
I’d say it’s fun enough, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
Overall Grade: 1.9
RBI Baseball 2 earns a C. There’s nothing wrong with this game, it just doesn’t really do a whole lot new or novel. Maybe your favorite player was in the league this year.