And so the final plumber crosses the finish line.
Let's see here, Mario Superstar Baseball...
Gameplay: Nintendo never ceases to really amaze me in the games they create... well, sometimes they cease to amaze me, but this is not one of them. They've taken one of the most complicated sports to learn and turned it into an easy-systematic playing field. The controls are quite simple and easy to memorize, I must say. The system used for this game allows easy maneuverabitity of your characters, although sometimes I get dissapointed when I'm on the pitching side. Most times you can't even tell which fielder you're using, as the fielders can only move to a certain boundary before running back to their neutral position. I've lost many a fly ball to my uncooperative shortstop, who, a second before he catches the ball, runs back to second base and leaves it for the left fielder who's quite far away from it (the ball). Also, the computers can be enormously tough during the Challenge (single player) mode. I've lost a match on the bottom of the final inning with 3 runs ahead, the other team's up to bat, their bases are loaded, two strikes, two outs, and the person who sucks at batting hits a Grand Slam with a normal swing. The comeback AI for the computers is too high for anyone to comprehend, and that's what gave me a letdown about this game, as it is really quite frustrating at times.
Gameplay: 7.5/10.
Graphics: Been there, done that. The graphics are nothing new to the Mario universe, they look more like things from the Mario Party games, and we're pretty tired of that. The character models run smoothly, however, but that's all dependent on Namco's part, whom, as I recall, have had quite a bit more experience than that of Nintendo. Overall, the graphics are okay, but nothing that'll blow your mind.
Graphics: 7/10
Sound: Oy, I gotta tell ya. If you've got sound and music turned on it gets annoying after a while. If you charge up you make this weird sound and combined with the ever-repetitive background music, the homerun medley, and the "Strike", "Out", etc. voice really makes this game....*shudders*.
Sound: 5/10
Value: This game is good, but not awesome. I'm pretty sure that next time Nintendo makes a proffesional sports game (football, for instance), they'll make it a lot better.
Value: 7/10
Overall (including my rating):
7.4/10.
Good, but not awesome.