August 20th, 2008 by ProfessorLayton
Closing the Curtain
After successfully completing all the main objectives in challenge mode, you will be greeted with an amazing CG that draws the game to a close. Like the opening CG, this one is simply spectacular. Immediately followed by the CG are the credits, which are also fairly well put together. Despite all the praise, I came out a little disappointed with challenge mode. Honestly, it just feels like a very lengthy tutorial that gets old very fast. Yeah, the addition of recruiting characters and a story are nice additions, but they don’t really add anything special to the game whatsoever. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to play the practice mode if you want to get your skills up to par?
Party Fever
As in Superstar Baseball, Sluggers plays home to a handful of wacky baseball-themed minigames. As you progress throughout challenge mode, more and more will become unlocked. Though some of the minigames are just duplicates of some of the prequel’s, some new ones have been added. In total, four players can battle it out in nine unique minigames.
After meeting special requirements in Superstar Baseball, Toy Field could be unlocked. On this field, a unique game of baseball could played. Players would take turns batting to score coins. The three players in the field would have to successfully catch the ball or take possession of it once it fell. The player with the ball -once the timer runs up- gets to bat. If nobody took possession of it, the same batter would bat again. This process would be repeated for x number of terms and whoever had the most coins at the end would win. In Sluggers though, there’s a twist; after the allotted number of terms are over, awards will be distributed and attached to the awards, coins.
Looks Great!
Perhaps the biggest improvement with Sluggers is how great the graphics have improved. Just by glancing at a screenshot of the game, you can tell the game has undergone a huge overhaul. While playing baseball, the graphics are spot-on. While exploring Baseball Island though they aren’t quite as great. In the sound department things have improved a little, but not enough to warrant it a higher score. The music is upbeat and has tons of personality, similar to that of Super Mario Sunshine.
Out of the Park?
All in all though, Sluggers retains almost all the features that made the original so fun and introduces a few new concepts. The game’s challenge mode is a couple of steps down from that of the originals, but then again, most people who buy this are going to be looking for a great baseball game. That’s what Sluggers truly excels at – both alone and with friends.
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