The classic Backyard Baseball games have certainly built up an audience, with their old-school charm and their “welcome everyone on the field” mentality. So it’s no surprise then that Mega Cat Studios wanted to spruce it up with its most advanced release yet, while keeping everything on that same easygoing level. The end result is Backyard Baseball, which is sure to be a welcome hit with kids – but more advanced players may find themselves balking.
The game is presented with simple terms. Batting, pitching, fielding and other mechanics are handled with relative ease. It’s a matter of pointing an icon at a perfect spot to hit or get the ball past the base, and, once in play, getting your outfielder to throw to the right base in time. It’s a breeze to get into, and there have been some contests where we’ve built up double digits without breaking a sweat.
The game has plenty of modes, including a very detailed tutorial system. It also has players with humorous personalities (Vinnie the Gooch!) and lots to unlock. Online play is missing, but will likely be added later. So there’s plenty to do. The problem is that the game is relatively too easy. We were looking for challenges, even going as far as to turn off the batting icon. But we still stacked up that score way too high.
Backyard Baseball successfully replicates the wholeheartedness of the games that came before it. But it’s a little too happy-go-lucky for its own good. Some tighter controls and a few more difficulty options would’ve made it a hit right out of the park. As it stands, it’s a must for kids and fans of the series – but other batters may shrug it off.
Backyard Baseball Takes Us To the Ol’ (But New) Ball Game
Mega Cat Studios knows what makes a Backyard Baseball work so fundamentally well. Keep it enjoyable for all ages, and make it feel like you’re walking right out into the sandlot. Here, it succeeds.
The game’s aesthetic has been nicely applied with this new release. It’s never looked better, with good animations on the kids, a highly reasonable amount of backfields to choose from, and full voice acting. (Yes, Vinnie the Gooch is the man – er, kid.) It also runs smoothly, even on the Steam Deck.
That said, there are some noticeable glitches, particularly when it comes to fielding. On a couple of occasions, I’ve had the ball go up right to the rear wall and had difficulty picking it up, resulting in a home run that shouldn’t have scored. I’m sure it’ll be patched up tho.
Backyard Baseball doesn’t look too shabby, and is very approachable for all ages of players. It’s nice to see a sports game welcome everyone onto the field. That said, its gameplay tells a slightly different story.
Backyard Baseball Caters More To the Rookies
The gameplay is broken down like this for Backyard Baseball.
With batting, it’s either incredibly easy or a bit normal. With the batting targeting on, you can see where the ball is exactly going to and prepare for your hit. It’s great for those that have difficulty getting a “bead” on pitches, but incredibly easy for some players, resulting in double digit score victories. Turn off the targeting, however, and it does become more difficult, but the opportunity is still present after a few swings.
Pitching isn’t bad at all. It still uses the same targeting system, and you can select a number of pitches in your arsenal. They’re designed pretty nicely, including the heat pitches, which look like you’re throwing…baseball bombs? It’s all in cartoony fun, tho.
Fielding, however, needs work. I mentioned the glitch that prevented us from getting the ball beforehand. But the players move way too slow for their own good. And throwing the ball to a base isn’t an entirely accurate process. Sometimes the throw won’t go off at all. Other times, the ball gets lobbed and gives the other team a chance to advance. It could use a little tightening.
The overall game, however, is relatively easy. Even in tougher settings, we had no trouble building up a large lead. There is the possibility that online multiplayer will be an addition to the game. As it stands, tho, it’s you against the computer.
There are plenty of modes, including an awesome T-Ball mode, as well as tutorials and unlockable stuff. I also like the idea of picking the kids you want for your team, just like in real life. (Be nice to the “losers,” kids. They might surprise you.) But it’s all built around a relatively simple system that will turn off more dedicated players.
Fans of the series and young players will absolutely adore Backyard Baseball, especially if it comes to Nintendo Switch 2 at some point. (It’s currently exclusive on Steam.) But devotees to the sport should likely stick to MLB the Show 26 instead to stay fresh.
Backyard Baseball Hits Well, But Isn’t Quite a Grand Slam
I think Backyard Baseball is a nice take on the sport and the best in the series to date. It’s got a lot going for it, from personality to simple gameplay to lots of options and unlockables. And, of course, The Gooch. But it also lacks long-term stability for dedicated players, and could use a few fixes to make the game go a little more smoothly.
It’s an easy recommend for kids or rookies looking to relax with a sports game. But this ol’ ball game needs a bit more to keep the dedicated players on the field.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Mega Cat Studios for providing us with a review code!
Need more sports fun to check out? Read our review of NBA the Run!
