I was seven years old when the original Backyard Baseball launched. A sport that I had already been playing for a couple of years at the time, but I didn’t really love it. I remember, even at five and six years old, asking my parents not to go because I was “bored”.
Turns out, I just needed something to get me hooked on the sport. That’s where Backyard Baseball came in.
We always had baseball video games in the house, as it was my dad’s favorite sport. But the games were a bit too complicated, even in the 16-bit and 32-bit eras of gaming for someone my age. Backyard Baseball changed that for me. A game where I just had to use the mouse to point and click, and I was ready to go.
With easy-to-pick-up gameplay, simple yet fun game modes, and a roster of characters that felt unique to each other, it was a game that I continued to play, on and off, for the 15-20 years that followed. And now, it’s back to give that experience again to a new generation of players.
Backyard Baseball Review
Immediately upon booting up Backyard Baseball, you’re greeted with the familiar clubhouse so many of us came to love. From there, you can choose to play a quick game, take part in the Backyard Derby, play the new 4v4 Wiggle Ball mode, check out your card collection, customize your baseball bat, or start a league.
The game was supposed to launch with an online mode, but that was delayed just days before release. As of writing, it’s still not available, which is a disappointment to me and many others who were excited for the option.
There are 30 neighborhood kids to choose from for your roster, including all of the classic players like Pablo Sanchez, Stephanie Morgan, Kiesha Phillips, Billy Jean Blackwood, and dozens more. The characters are voiced, and all the action is called by the legendary Sunny Day and Vinnie the Gooch.
As you play, you’ll also be able to unlock legendary MLB players similar to past games. Players like Vladimir Guerrero Sr, Sammy Sosa, Jason Giambi, Chipper Jones, and others all have child versions of themselves in the game. To unlock, you’ll have to complete various tasks, whether it’s hitting a certain number of home runs, stealing a set number of bases, or more.
League Play is where you’ll spend a lot of your time. Like in the past, you create a team, draft your roster, and work to win the Ultra-Grand Championship of the Universe.
Classic Gameplay For A Modern Era
On the field is where the Backyard experience comes through. The game works with a controller, but I found it more enjoyable with a mouse and keyboard. I think that’s just because that’s what I was used to growing up. My eight-year-old son, on the other hand, prefers a controller.
Luckily, the game plays well with either control setup. It just comes down to personal preference.
In a game geared more towards a younger audience, batting can feel a bit too easy. Even on the higher difficulties, you can often find yourself having success thanks to the swing spot assist that tells you exactly where the incoming pitch is going. Luckily, if you want a challenge, you can just turn it off. Again, it’s a game with kids in mind to get them into the sport and then get harder as they improve.
Speaking of that, there’s a t-ball option to help those brand new to the series get right into the action.
But for as good as I believe the hitting is, fielding and running were more of a hit or miss. Reaction time to balls hit to the outfield can feel slow, even if you attempt to move right away. My fastest players, like Pete Wheeler, can struggle to get to what should be a routine fly ball. There’s also an issue with the game autoselecting the wrong player, leading to what should be easy outs ending up with a runner on base.
Throwing the ball, even with players with the highest fielding ratings, feels slow, and so many just don’t get to the target on time. Almost every throw is a lob instead of a straight line. I get that these are supposed to be kids playing, but some kids have arms, too!
On the mound, pitching feels pretty good. You have your standard four pitches of heat, left and right hooks, and slow ball. As you get strikeouts, you’ll earn your special pitches that make hitting even harder for the opponent. The pitch-timing system determines the quality of your pitch, and once you figure it out, it might start to feel a bit too easy. But just when it starts to feel easy, a pitch you thought was perfect ends up over the fence. It’s genuinely a nice mix here.
Backyard Baseball Review Verdict
For the first time in over a decade, fans of Backyard Sports have a new Backyard Baseball game to enjoy. What makes this latest installment work is that it takes plenty of what we remember from the classic games and brings them forward in a modern way.
The improved graphics and design of the kids are spot on, the voice-over work is great, and the recreation of the fields all feel unique. It does struggle with fielding and running, but there continue to be updates from the developers at Mega Cat Studios to improve the play.
The foundation is here for a game that won’t be an annual franchise. Additions will be put in, and changes will be made for a game aimed at bringing generations new and old to the backyard. Overall, it’s a fun time that brought me and my son hours of fun. It’s gotten to the point where it seems like he asks me to play with him every other day. There’s truly no better feeling than that.
Backyard Baseball
7
Backyard Baseball
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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