Super Mega Baseball was something of an underground sports hit. The goofy big-headed players and cheery presentation evoked strong memories of kids’ titles like Backyard Baseball, but hiding underneath all the cartoon charm was a damn good single player baseball arcade game. Metalhead Software have announced Super Mega Baseball 2, and the developers are keen to refine the experience so the sports audience won’t mistakenly dismiss the sequel as another kiddie game.
First, Super Mega Baseball 2 will have multiplayer gameplay. Either online or in the same room, players will be able to pit their teams against one another. Second, Metalhead is revamping the art style so there isn’t as large of a disconnect between the playful look and the serious sim. Everything still looks bright and exaggerated, but the cartoony assets have been taken down a notch. Finally, the sequel will offer more team customization and stats reporting, so players feel more invested in their teams.
This game reminds me of all the backyard baseball games I played as a kid and I’m thinking of what some of those kids in game would look/perform like if they went to grow up being big leaguers in Super Mega!
Super Mega Baseball 2 will launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2017.
Super Mega Baseball is a video game series developed by independent studio Metalhead Software in Victoria, BC, Canada.[1]
Super Mega Baseball[edit]
| Super Mega Baseball | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Metalhead Software |
| Publisher(s) | Metalhead Software |
| Engine | PhyreEngine |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 Xbox One Shield Android TV |
| Release | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4Xbox One
|
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Dec 23, 2016 This is my first time SUPER MEGA BASEBALL on my PS4 and I'm loving it! Can my Moonstar softball players win it all? Backyard Baseball: Part 10 - Final Showdown vs Jimmy Knuckles & The Bullies. Jan 21, 2017 I'm brand new to SUPER MEGA BASEBALL on my PS4 and I'm loving it! Can my Moonstar softball players win it all? Backyard Baseball: Part 1 - Flash Jackson Jr. Vs Pablo Sanchez - Duration: 16:38.
History[edit]
The first game, Super Mega Baseball, was released on December 16, 2014 as a PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 cross-buy title on the US PlayStation Store.[2] It was released on the European PlayStation Store on April 1, 2015.[3]
An updated version called Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings was released on Xbox One on August 14, 2015 and it was released on Steam for PC on August 21, 2015.[4] The extra features from this version were released as free DLC for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in 2016. Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings was released on Shield Android TV on March 24, 2016.[5]
Super Mega Baseball was a critical success, earning an average score of 85/100 on Metacritic, based on 14 reviews.[6] Gaming-Age gave the game a grade of 'A,' saying that 'Because really, Super Mega Baseball is the sort of fun, easy to pick up diversion that video game baseball was at the very beginning of its lifespan — and if it's as great as it is here, there's every reason to believe it can still fulfill that function.'[7]IGN, meanwhile, gave the game an 8.1 'Great' rating, praising the game's sense of humor and easy pick-up-and-play gameplay, but criticising its presentation.[8] It was named 'Sports Game Of The Year' by Polygon.[9]
Features[edit]
Super Mega Baseball supports 1 – 4 players in local competitive or co-operative play. Primary game modes include Exhibition and Season.[10] The game has 216 customizable players and 24 umpires, as well as four different ballparks (6 in the Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings version).[11]
Super Mega Baseball 2[edit]
| Super Mega Baseball 2 | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Metalhead Software |
| Publisher(s) | Metalhead Software |
| Engine | PhyreEngine |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One Nintendo Switch |
| Release | May 1, 2018 |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
History[edit]
Developer Metalhead Software announced the second installment in the series, Super Mega Baseball 2, on September 28, 2016. Super Mega Baseball 2 was released in 2018 as it had been delayed, and includes updated art, online multiplayer, and full customization.[12] On April 20, 2018, Metalhead Software announced that the game would be released on May 1, 2018.[13] It released into Xbox One's Games with Gold for the month of May 2018.[14]
Super Mega Baseball 2: Ultimate Edition was then announced to be released on July 25, 2019 on Nintendo Switch. 'Metalhead Software is bringing the critically acclaimed baseball game Super Mega Baseball 2 to the Nintendo Switch for the first time as Super Mega Baseball 2: Ultimate Edition, which includes the complete set of Super Mega Baseball 2 content (game, DLC), fully featured online play, and runs at 60 fps in both docked and handheld modes' - Operation Sports.[15]
Super Mega Baseball 2 earned an 81 Metacritic score for Xbox One based on 21 reviews.[16] Forbes gave it an 8.6/10 saying 'While it's not a full-fledged AAA title, SMB 2 blurs the lines with its fantastic gameplay and mode depth.'[17] Gaming Age gave it an A-, saying 'There’s a good argument to be made that it’s the best baseball game of 2018.'[18]
Features[edit]
Super Mega Baseball 2 supports 1 - 4 players in local co-op or online multiplayer. Primary game modes include Exhibition, Season, Elimination, and Pennant Race. Pennant Race is the 1v1 online matchmaking mode, while the remaining modes can be played locally or online in arranged games.[19] Super Mega Baseball 2 also has three DLC packs containing additional customization content: Wild Team Customization Pack, Wicked Team Customization Pack, Bold Player Customization Pack.[20] In season mode, it has deep, multi-season tracking of stats.
All console versions of the game can be matched with one another in the online multiplayer (Pennant Race) mode.
Awards[edit]
The game won the award for 'Game, Franchise Sports' at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.[21]
Super Mega Baseball 2 Backyard Baseball League
Super Mega Baseball 3[edit]
Metalhead Software announced the launch of their latest game in the baseball series, Super Mega Baseball 3, on March 11, 2020. The game is set for release in April 2020.[22]
References[edit]
- ^'Super Mega Baseball Coming to PS4, PS3 this Fall'. September 17, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ^'Arcade-style indie sports game Super Mega Baseball launches Dec. 16'. Polygon. December 3, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ^'Breakout indie sports hit Super Mega Baseball goes to Europe this week'. Polygon. March 30, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ^'Extra Innings release dates set'.
- ^'Play Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings on SHIELD | SHIELD Blog'. NVIDIA SHIELD.
- ^'Super Mega Baseball'. Metacritic.
- ^Pollesel, Matthew (December 16, 2014). 'Super Mega Baseball review for PS4, PS3'. Gaming Age.
- ^'Super Mega Baseball Review - IGN' – via www.ign.com.
- ^Good, Owen S. (December 17, 2014). '2014 in review: The sports video game of the year'. Polygon.
- ^'Super Mega Baseball Coming to PS4, PS3 this Fall'. September 17, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ^'Learn about SMB'. Super Mega Baseball. Metalhead Software.
- ^Sarkar, Samit (September 28, 2016). 'Super Mega Baseball 2 coming in 2017, adds online play and more'. Polygon. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- ^Makuch, Eddie (April 20, 2018). 'PS4/Xbox One/PC's Super Mega Baseball 2 Gets Release Date'. GameSpot. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
- ^Nelson, Mike (April 3, 2018). 'New Games with Gold for May 2018'. Xbox Wire. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^Noah, Steve (July 18, 2019). 'Super Mega Baseball 2: Ultimate Edition Coming to Nintendo Switch on July 25 - New Bundle Also Coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 & Steam'. Operation Sports.
- ^'Super Mega Baseball 2 for Xbox One Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^Mazique, Brian (May 10, 2018). ''Super Mega Baseball 2' Review: The Good, The Bad, The Bottom Line'. Forbes. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- ^Pollesel, Matthew (May 9, 2018). 'Super Mega Baseball 2 review for Xbox One, PS4'. Gaming-Age. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^Maciejewski, A.J. (May 3, 2018). 'Super Mega Baseball 2 Review'. Video Chums. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^James (May 1, 2018). 'Super Mega Baseball 2 swings onto Xbox One for free with GWG; Paid DLC pieces also available'. The Xbox Hub.
- ^'Winner List for 2018: God of War Breaks Record'. National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. March 13, 2019. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- ^'Super Mega Baseball 3 announced, coming in April'. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
