PlayStation 1
Released in 2000 by 3DO
Grade: C+
Given the standard of baseball games on 32-bit systems, High Heat 2001 does an admirable job providing a user-friendly experience, but its gameplay limitations and hideous graphics drag it down.
Where it falls in the series
This is the third of three High Heat games on PS1. The series got better on the next generation, finishing with the respectable High Heat Major League Baseball 2004 on PS2.
Praises and gripes
We all know that PS1 graphics don’t age well, but jeez, but this game is ugly even for its time. The players are boxy and jagged and robotic. The stands appear to be filled with dirt instead of people. The whole thing has a murky look. Day games basically look the same as night games.
On the bright side, the game gives you a few effective camera angles for hitting and fielding, and the ball is extra large, so it’s easy to see coming toward the plate.
The ball also moves slowly as it comes to the plate, with exaggerated, high-arcing movement. Pitchers choose a pitch type, then fire away with X for a strike or Circle for a ball. I never liked this binary type of system, and it’s particularly lame here. Anything in the strike zone is easily hittable, and anything outside the strike zone is WAY outside the strike zone. The saving grace, I suppose, is that most pitches end up being hit, placing lots of action out in the field. The CPU pitches and bats aggressively. You won’t have any lengthy pitcher/batter duels.
There’s also a “guess pitch” mechanic, but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how it worked. If I was guessing pitches at all, the game surely wasn’t telling me if I guessed right or wrong. And by the way, you don’t actually see the strike zone on screen. I guess that would be too easy.
The fielding and baserunning are both good by PS1 standards. I like that there’s AI assistance for baserunners, helping you avoid stupid mistakes. The fielding controls are very forgiving, but also a bit sticky. This is offset by slow-moving action, so you have a moment to decide what to do and push the right buttons. You won’t lose your mind making careless errors.
You may be sensing a theme. This game dumbs a few things down, slows down the action, and is nicely paced, so it’s a breeze to play … but it’s presented in a dull sim style. There’s no over-the-top arcade flair at all. It’s like it’s trying to trick you into thinking you’re playing a realistic baseball game.
The options offer five difficulty levels and a “simulation” setting on a 1 to 5 scale. The lower the scale, the more batted balls go for hits and home runs, while the highest setting makes for low-scoring games.
All in all, this game is far less frustrating than many other baseball games, but it’s certainly not rewarding. The C+ grade I’ve giving this game puts it right alongside Grand Slam and MLB Pennant Race, at the top of the leaderboard for PS1’s weak crop of baseball games.
Published July 24, 2024