All-Star '97 Featuring Frank Thomas

by PS1

Product Features

• PS1

Product Details

• ASIN: B00002STQJ
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,458 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

GameSpot Review

Regardless of a sports game's features, it lives or dies by two things: play control and graphics. All-Star Baseball '97 Featuring Frank Thomas is a good example of a feature-heavy game that has adequate play control and adequate graphics. The end result: an adequate game that lacks the polish and finesse needed to be great. All-Star Baseball features all 30 Major League teams, including the new Tampa Bay and Arizona teams; over seven hundred real MLB players; 28 stadiums to play in; the complete 1997 schedule, including the new interleague games; player trades; and 27 category statistics from STATS, Inc. In addition, there are six modes of gameplay: exhibition, season, playoffs, all-star game, home run derby, and batting practice. In terms of features it is definitely on par with the other titles out there. Rendered in 3-D with motion-captured players, All-Star Baseball looks good, although there are a couple of flaws. For instance, entire transitions are missing, so players jump around while batting. Player movements are jagged, giving the game a delayed time-warp feel. The play-by-play calls, voiced by Jon Miller, also suffer from imperfection; it is quite common for the strung-together phrases to sound completely wrong. On the plus side, the calls of hot dog vendors were good. When it comes to gameplay, All-Star Baseball '97 works, but that's all it does. The batting and pitching interface are completely old-school - no pointers or meters, you just swing the bat or throw the pitch. While this basic approach is refreshing, hitting the ball is awkward; the split-second delay before the ball takes flight makes you feel like you're batting with a plastic Wiffle bat. The fielding uses a basic approach as well, making defense quite simple. In one-player mode you can expect a fairly quick game, although the computer AI can be tough at times. With so many baseball games coming out for the PlayStation this year, the battle for stickball supremacy is cutthroat. Is All-Star Baseball '97 Featuring Frank Thomas a good baseball title? Yes. Is it the best one on the market? No. Should you buy it? Sure - but only if you're buying two baseball titles this year because this game is really second best.--Glenn Rubenstein--Copyright © 1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.

Manufacturer Description

. A super-realistic full-season simulation with motion-captured animations by two-time MVP Frank Thomas and play-by-play by Jon Miller. And each player performs like real-life counterparts; pitchers' arsenals even feature actual specialty pitches.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All-Star '97... The Very Best!, August 1, 2000

By 

Mark Randal (WA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: All-Star '97 Featuring Frank Thomas (Video Game)

I was really excited to see this game after non-stop playing of last years Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball. Let me start by saying, this isn't just a better than FTBHB, it's amazing. The gameplay has kept me hooked since I first got it. The graphics are good. The sound effects are really good, Jon Stirling is the announcer, it's just like listening a live broadcast. If you bought FTBHB then you just have to buy this game, its significantly better and even more fun. All in all, All-Star 97 is the best baseball game out there.