Bases Loaded 2: Second Stage is the second part of the NESseries, which is all about Baseball goes. The sports simulator looks good for its age.
The beginning of Bases Loaded 2
At the beginning you choose whether you want to start a new game or continue a saved game. After every few wins against the computer, you will be given a password that you can write down. When you start a new game you can decide to play either a single player game against the experienced computer or a two player game against a friend. Next you choose whether you want to use teams from the east or west division. Last but not least, you choose your team and browse your player list and change it, for example by replacing more skillful players and kicking out incompetent players.
The players in Bases Loaded 2
You won't find any well-known players in the squad. For example, most of the players on the Washington DC team have the last names of famous former presidents. Although the game may not be at all realistic in imitating the major leagues when it comes to the names of the players or even the locations where the teams are located, the attributes of the players come across as realistic for the time (1989). The batters offer different stats, separate builds, and even different stances.
They vary in the way they move and the way they look. Some players are short and chubby, some are tall and chubby, some are beanpole, and some are average height. To keep the diversity intact, players have different approaches. There are those who always throw the ball straight, those who seem to throw it off to the side, and there are even a few southpaws or left-handed throwers.
Bases Loaded 2 gameplay
Luckily, the gameplay is just as lifelike. The game is viewed from behind the pitcher rather than behind the batter or overhead like many other baseball titles. When your team is about to bat, you are further away from the camera than the pitcher. This may sound like a daunting task, but it actually works. Depending on which key combination you press, you can swing in any direction or way you want.
Just like in real life, you usually can't tell how the ball will be hit until you actually hit it. You can hit a classic foul ball, the ball might decide to fly hundreds of feet into the air without even reaching the infield, or you can hit it into the distant centerfield bleachers for a lucky fan to catch.
The defense in Bases Loaded 2
No matter how the ball is hit, once it's hit, it's time for the defense to show what it's worth. In the split second when a batter's bat touches the ball, the game automatically switches to a top view. When you're on offense, you sit back to let your runner run to first base or let the runner stay where he is. There is actually a player in every position.
You just have to do what it takes to catch the ball before it hits the ground or throw it to the right base as quickly as possible. As a pitcher, you can throw a variety of pitches, such as fast balls, slow balls, balls that hit the batter as if he were the target, and even curve balls. Fielding is the most entertaining part of the game.
The ball
While the ball is in the air, you can always look at the ground and see its round black shadow, which shows you the position and speed of the ball floating in the air. Anticipating where he will land, you deploy the next player and try your best to catch him. If your judgment is a little off and you think you're coming up a little short, you can always jump straight into the air or slide a few feet on the uneven ground to make up for the lost distance.
If you've done a good job, you'll hear the referee yell "GET OUT!" If you are unhappy with the performance of any player, including the pitcher, during a game, you can pause the game at any time and make a player substitution.
The rating at Bases Loaded 2
If the scoring column appears too one-sided at the end of the 5th inning or any inning thereafter, the game may simply be abandoned. If you're losing with nine or more, you better hurry up and score some runs before it's too late! If you win by nine or more points, you are the star. When a game is over, the system always shows a short broadcast. This sports update features a brown-haired journalist who can't stop moving his hands for a few seconds before displaying the attributes of each player in the game, filled with pluses and minuses and colorful squiggly lines on a chart.
This game is loaded!
Bases Loaded 2: Second Season is one of those games that never gets old. After playing and winning enough games, you end up in the playoffs. If you're good enough, you might make it to the World Cup.
The graphics of Bases Loaded 2
Unfortunately, some of Bases Loaded 2's graphics and sounds are from worse days. The title screen and broadcasts have good graphics for the time, and the pitchers have nice animations as they pitch, but the crowd and near-faceless players are a bit sobering. The sounds are almost convincing. From the repetitive but very catchy music, to the sounds of the racquet hitting the ball, to the various referee calls, the sounds accompanies the game quite well. Unfortunately not many sounds are included. Only the umpire calls "foul," "out," "ball," or "home run."
Conclusion on Bases Loaded 2
For its age, Bases Loaded 2 is an excellent baseball game that I definitely recommend for baseball fans and retro fans. The sounds fit, but are not outstanding and the graphics are impressive for the age. Realistic sports game fans should definitely take a look.
More information is available from the game factory
