Sega Genesis
Released in 1995 by Acclaim
Grade: C–
Big Hurt Baseball is an attempt at simulation baseball that has some good stuff going for it: responsive controls, quick action in the field, and decent graphics. But the stupid thing is half-baked, it was clearly rushed out the door, and it’s got no charm to make up for it.
Where it falls in the series
Acclaim released one other game on 16-bit systems, Roger Clemens’ MVP Baseball, in 1992. Big Hurt Baseball had versions on Genesis, SNES, PlayStation 1, Sega Saturn, GameBoy, Game Gear, and PC. Acclaim’s next baseball offering was All-Star Baseball ’97 Featuring Frank Thomas on PS1 and Saturn.
Praises and gripes
Perhaps taking its inspiration from World Series Baseball, this game uses an effective behind-the-plate view, which was still a fresh, new concept in 1995. The ball comes in fast and smoothly, and swinging the bat feels right. Seems promising, but there are issues.
The pitching interface is illogical and tedious to use. First, point the ball along a left-to-right meter, then press A, B, or C to target a section of the plate (huh?), then press A, B, or C for the pitch type, then press A, B, or C for high, middle, or low (why can’t I just point up or down?), and then A, B, or C for fast, medium, or slow. Aren’t you annoyed just reading that sentence?
There’s more. Breaking balls break too drastically. The pitch speeds are too widely varied. Every pitcher has the same nine pitch types in his arsenal, which made me wonder, do all pitchers play exactly the same? Who knows, I wasn’t willing to do any scientific tests, but I assure you that any tactical substance offered by the pitching system is outweighed by its absurdity.
The controls in the field are quick and snappy, and it feels good to whip the ball around, and the whole scene has a no-nonsense vibe. Baserunning works okay. Fielding is assisted by players automatically running to the ball and you just throw it. This a merciful choice … except when it’s NOT and your fielders take bad routes to the ball. D’oh!
The logic in the field is out of whack. You can never seem to turn a double play, but you can routinely zip the ball from the warning track to second base with pinpoint accuracy. So much for relying on your baseball instincts.
I like the motion-captured digitized batters, but Acclaim couldn’t be bothered to differentiate between white and gray uniforms. Both teams wear gray at bat, but in the field view they both wear white! The poor “Colorado” team has purple trim from the batting view, and once the ball is put in play, they’re suddenly wearing red. Come on!
Each generic Major League team has their own stadium, but they all feel lifeless. There isn’t much sound, and every now and then, you’ll hear a little organ tune … the same one over and over! Ugh!
And guess what else? That’s right: slow pacing! You have to return the ball to the pitcher after every play. You keep being force-fed a look at the scoreboard, even after simple foul balls! What?! For a game this flawed, it sure demands a sizable time commitment.
This game is more interesting than I thought it would be. At times it’s impressive for a 16-bit game. Batting is certainly the highlight of its gameplay. Unfortunately, the rest is jacked up.
Published November 14, 2024