A fun baseball game that was some awkward controls initially, but once overcome, the fun doesn't stop!
Baseball Stars, another Neo Geo AES launch title that is solid, but with slightly awkward controls, that plaque the game when in a heated competition with friends or against the computer, or more importantly: when in the final match of a long tournament.
The controls are responsive but when throwing to certain bases (mainly second), you must use the joystick, pointing up and diagonally. If you're throwing from home, diagonal down left throws it to second base. This is the Japanese version, if it changed in the US release disregard this, but man is it awkward, and frustrating when your playing with friends when you need to make a double play. However, once you get over this the game is great.
Included are a full roster of teams, with the option to trade teammates, two stadiums, full stats, two player mode, and a tournament mode with up to 16 players.
The single player is fun, and although the matches are kind of long, the pace is still fun, and the game has cool cut scenes when you switch players, make a home run, or at the beginning of the game, etc. The teams initially are well balanced and the stats to players are important (especially your pitcher's and when batting). Trading is a possibility as well. All very cool for a game that's now 21 years old.
Two player is similar to the single player, but with a friend, and a lot of fun to this day.
Tournament mode is great, but it's slightly annoying when you simulate a match you have to watch a small cut scene every time when you want to get to the action (or you can watch the match but yeah I usually don't). Like I said earlier, 16 players, it's great if you want to have a fun get together with a few friends or 16.
All in all it's baseball, done well and something that can be picked up cheap (usually about $20-$30). It's fun, and definitely way to add a solid game to your AES collection for cheap.