A plethora of game modes join the standard Season Mode including Success Mode where a fledgling player aims to make it to the majors, General Manager Mode which is exactly like it reads, and a Baseball Card mode which features animated players who perform repetitive moves on a virtual baseball card. For players who are rusty after the long winter, a practice mode allows for battling at an incessant string of pitches to hone one's chopping skills.

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NCS Game Notes
» In the intro to the game cel-shaded big-headed baseball players swing, slide, and engage in histrionics on the mound and on the batters box while the crowd is pumping. None of the players have legs. They have feet but invisible legs...

» The text in the game is entirely in Japanese but gamers may opt for English speaking announcers if so desired for the play-by-play.

» In the normal baseball game mode, one chooses the teams and then the stadiums which are viewed from overhead along with each park's dimensions. Before each game starts, the players take the field and a Japanese announcer preps everyone for the game about to be played. When a home run is hit, players will do a little bit of subtle showboating right before they touch home plate. The default announcer is Japanese but one can still hear the English announcements in the background.

» The game is crisp and well done as usual. The action is fast and sharp with balls that pop off the bats. Players may select two different batting reticules by hitting the R1 or R2 trigger - there's a bat-outline with targeting marker inside and then just the targeting marker.

» In the home run derby mode, the pitcher serves up a total of 10 fat pitches right down the middle of the plate. Smack them for distance and a Home Run indicator splashes on the screen when you hit one out of the park.

» In the batting practice mode, the pitcher fires off pitch after pitch after pitch. If you want the AI to help position the batting indicator when a pitch is thrown to the plate, you can set the auto-tracking function so that all you have to do is press the "X" button to attempt to knock one out of the park. Press the L1 or R1 trigger to toggle from batting on the right or left side of the plate.

» A General Manager mode puts the player behind the scenes in handling the operations of a baseball club. In the first few seconds of starting a GM game, the protagonist brings a pizza to his new office before being made manager.

» There's a Baseball Card mode where animated athletes do their thing inside a virtual baseball card. Collect 'em all!

» A Story Mode gives players the reins to a baseball athlete who lives, eats, and breathes baseball from morning to night. In addition to mundane tasks such as sleeping, training, and watching a dog take a whiz during short intermissions, players also seek the advice of coaches and teammates. There's copious amounts of conversations to read and a lot of banter between players and coaches to wade through. If you're of the type that eschews action and trends towards verbose interaction, this mode is for you.

» The American and National leagues are made up of thirty teams and everyone's included; even the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Washington Nationals, the Colorado Rockies, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The alternative SKU # for this product is VW308-J1.

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