Bad News Baseball

Bad News Baseball is one of the most entertainingly strange sports games on the NES. Developed and published by Tecmo, it was released in North America in 1990 after originally appearing in Japan as Gekitou!! Stadium. At first glance, it looks like a fairly traditional baseball game, but its colorful presentation, exaggerated animations, and wonderfully odd sense of humor give it a personality of its own.

The basic baseball action is surprisingly detailed for an NES game. Pitchers can throw several different types of pitches, including curveballs, screwballs, forkballs, and change-ups, and you can influence the direction of a breaking pitch after releasing it. Batting is equally important, with timing and pitch selection making the difference between a routine out and a long home run. On defense, players can make catches, throw to different bases, and even attempt pick-offs when a runner gets too comfortable.

There is plenty of variety outside the standard game as well. You can play a one-player tournament against the computer, a three-game series with another player, or an All-Star game where you build a team from a larger selection of players. A spectator mode even lets you sit back and watch two computer-controlled teams play. The game also uses a password system so you can continue a series later.

What really makes Bad News Baseball memorable is its presentation. Games are filled with animated close-ups, exaggerated reactions, and humorous characters, including the game's famous rabbit umpires. The teams and players are fictional, although many of the teams clearly take inspiration from real baseball cities and styles.

Bad News Baseball may not aim for serious baseball simulation, and that is exactly why it remains so enjoyable. It is fast, colorful, easy to pick up, and packed with enough mechanics to keep a competitive two-player game interesting.