publisher: Atari / Infogrames

Game mode: single / multiplayer

Multiplayer mode: local network / Internet, players: 1-2

game release date:

10Jun2008

The Backyard series has been one of my favorites for years. They keep it that way too with the first backyard baseball game on ps2. This game, like the other games, is just fun to play.

Overview:

Knock One Out Of The Park!

Backyard Baseball 2009 is the latest and greatest installment of the best-selling kids’ baseball video game series. Play hardball with David “Big Papi” Ortiz, A-Rod, Jeter, Ichiro, Griffey, Pujols, and other MLB superstars as kids. Choose your favorite MLB or Backyard team or create your own. And now, Backyard Baseball 2009 for PC features NEW Backyard Baseball All Star Game and tournament mode along with season & single game options, create-a-player, Homerun Derby mini-game, and unlockables. With outrageous gameplay and awesome power ups combined with authentic baseball action, Backyard Baseball 09 is the most fun you can have outside the ball park.

Features:

All current MLB teams uniforms and logos

Pro player from every MLB team— David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro, & more

11 Backyard Teams and your favorite Backyard Kids— Pablo Sanchez, Joey MacAdoo, Ernie Steele, Tony Delvecchio, & more

NEW Auto Play, All Star Game, and Tournament Mode

Season play or pick up game

NEW Power Ups with Meter

Custom team and player options

Enhanced Hitting and Fielding Controls

NEW Player Capabilities

Unlockable fields & players including the great Babe Ruth!

Multiple levels of difficulty

age requirements: everyone

System requirements

Sony PlayStation 2

Uses: card pamięci 8MB

PC / Windows

Recommended: Pentium 4 1.5 GHz, 256 MB RAM, graphic card 64 MB (GeForce 3 Ti500 or better), 64 MB HDD, Windows 2000/XP

Backyard Baseball is a fun and casual sports game aimed at kids, developed by Humongous Entertainment and released in 1997. The cute and colorful visuals invite youngsters (or wondrous adults) to partake in a classic game of baseball. You'll pick your team from a group of neighborhood kids, and enjoy a simplified and addictive match of the sport. As a series, the Backyard sports titles have found great ways to introduce sports to gamers of all skill levels. Whether or not you're a fan of baseball, Backyard Baseball finds charming and fun ways to motivate you to play.

From the main menu, you're able to hop into a pick-up game, check out your coach trophies, and join the Backyard Baseball League. The League mode is the main focus of the game, and where you'll find the most customization and gameplay. Once you've signed in as coach, you'll get to create your own team and pick their colors. After that, it's time to draft your team!

There are around 30 different neighborhood kids you can draft onto your team. You'll have to choose nine, and there's a wide variety of characters to pick from. Kids from all walks of life are ready to play; humble farmhands, Spanish-speaking sluggers, nervous nerds, and more. Each kid has their own stats to check out, ranging in power in four categories. Pitching, Batting, Running, and Fielding are all taken into account, so you'll want to pick a good spread of strengths for your team. For those who don't care, you can also let the game choose for you.

Once you've crafted your team, it's time to take on your opponents in the Backyard Baseball League. In the Team Dugout, you can arrange players on the field, see your schedule, and check match records. It's your job to carry your team to victory throughout the season, winning the award trophy. Playing the actual match is easy enough. When you're at bat, you simply choose the kind of swing you want to take, wait for the pitch, and try to click at the right time. You can also adjust your stance while at bat. Pitching and playing outfield is similarly easy. When pitching, you simply choose the type of pitch you want (including fastballs, intentional walks, etc) and click to throw. If a ball is hit, you direct one of your team members to catch it and throw it at a chosen base. Everything feels incredibly easy to figure out, and the overall gameplay is welcoming and cheery.

Overall, Backyard Baseball is a fun baseball title that's great for kids. The colorful cartoon visuals and personable athletes make games fun and memorable, and the commentators and player jaunts are fun and witty. Playing the game is easy and enjoyable, making it perfect for newer gamers. Multiple stadiums, over 30 unique characters, and a happy attitude make Backyard Baseball a content-rich and enjoyable game. If you've got a younger gamer you want to introduce to baseball, or you have some nostalgia for this late 90's sports game, Backyard Baseball is a must-play.