Super Mega Baseball Is A Fantastic Game
On the eve of its sequel, here are some memories of the fantastic first entry
Roughly a year and a half ago, I stumbled on a fantastic little indie game called Super Mega Baseball. I found it because of my congruent interest in baseball and baseball video games, and it quickly captivated me with its complex mechanics and faithfulness to the game. The cartoonish player models belie the game’s depth and long-lasting appeal, elements that conspired to plant me in front of my tv for countless hours. Tomorrow, developer Metalhead Software releases Super Mega Baseball 2, the long awaited sequel, so tonight seems as good a time as any to reflect on the original’s greatness.
Super Mega Baseball combines realistic action with immediate accessibility and a rewarding difficultly system to create a truly magnificent game. It currently sits at an 85 on Metacritic, which is probably fair for average gamers but well below the level of joy that true baseball fans get out of it. There’s also a level of care and creativity that permeates the game’s core. Players have interesting names, teams have the most insane mascots imaginable, and the stadiums provide visual variety.
Most importantly, the game understands baseball. This may seem like a prerequisite for any baseball title, but it isn’t. Creating a physics system that mirrors the real world — the variety of ways that a baseball can be hit alone are staggering — is no small accomplishment, and is crucial to creating a baseball world that feels real and believable. I’ve played several of the recent titles in the revamped R.B.I. Baseball series, and this franchise’s sense of realism is dwarfed by Metalhead’s best efforts. From deciding when to steal, when to be aggressive or defensive in hitting counts, to choosing which pitcher to bring in as relief, Super Mega Baseball shines at every opportunity.
In addition, the game scales its difficulty incredibly well. Most sports games become gradually easier over time, as the repetitive in-game actions of hitting and pitching lend themselves well to practice and perfection. Metalhead’s “Ego” rating system allows for players to crank the difficulty up to borderline-insane levels, and the game continues to provide a welcome challenge even after multiple seasons played. Lower difficulty levels are perfect for beginners, but this scale provides an assurance that the game will continue to engage as long as players are willing to jump in.
Finally, Super Mega Baseball provides a chance to build and construct sandbox baseball seasons that allow players to live out an infinite number of stories. For any real-life sports fan, a baseball season reads almost like a novel, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Take the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, or Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball, for example. All three were excellent last year, but only one found ultimate triumph. This year, roughly one month into the MLB season, all three teams are back at it.
This sense of sandboxes and stories provide the biggest draw for me. I just cancelled my PlayStation Plus subscription, so I’m not planning on playing any of the online modes (at least right now). I’m happy that Metalhead added these modes — they should provide added depth and hopefully increased popularity as well. I’m much more interested in the increased customization for single-player modes, though, and the different teams, players, and seasons that I’ll play through.
Super Mega Baseball is a unique game that provides a wonderful service to video game fans and baseball fans alike. On the eve of its sequel, I think it’s worth remembering just what made the game so special.
