Customer Reviews

Baseball Advance

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This game is alot better than I expected. The graphics are incredible for a handheld and has solid gameplay. Batting is a little unique but makes for better hitting - and it only took me until my 3rd game to get the hang of it. For the guy who wrote the review about not being to steal bases or getting hit by a pitch, I think he is reviewing the wrong game. I have hit a few batters before, and they go to first automatically. As well, you can steal bases as well as pick off runners. I've played high heat 2003 as well, and the graphics alone makes advanced baseball a better bet.

But there are cons, and here they are:
-It should have had a 2-player option
-you can only play in 4 stadiums
-it could use a autofield option, but fielding is not hard once you get the hang of it, provides more of a challenge if you ask me.

Overall - a definite must buy for the baseball fan.

If you are looking for a good baseball game on the Game Boy Advance, this is the only one. You just can't make a better game than this. The graphics are incredible: the batters, pitchers, and fielders look like real MLB players. Though the game is very easy at some points in the game, it is very hard in late game situations. The game was made in 2001, and it is still better than games they make today. It is probably the best 10 or 20 dollars you can spend. The game is incredibly addicting, me and my friend played 80 games in a few days. The game features wall scaling grabs, bang-bang plays, and all 30 major league teams. It has four modes, Rookie, Veteran, All-Star, and Legend. Rookie is very easy, Veteran is a step up but is still not a challenge, All-Star is a little tougher, and Legend is almost impossible. Don't fall for the dumb-ass phony crap they sell in stores. If you are going to buy a video game, there is no question that you shouldn't buy this one. Get out that credit card and buy the game.

Baseball Advance. Simple enough. Just like the game.
You can play as any of the 30 Major League teams, with players from the 2001 season. I, being an A's fan, am glad about this, 'cause then the A's still have Giambi, Damon, and Isringhausen. Anyway, you can only play in 4 stadiums, but they have been done beautifully, and have realistic effects such as wind, error, and injury. There is an exhibition mode, which is basically practice, a Season mode, in which you control player positioning, pitching changes, and such for a 162-game season, which includes an All-Star game and Playoffs(these modes can also be played by themselves).

The gameplay is pretty easy to master. Pitching came first for me, and then hitting came a bit later(I struck out 16 times in my first game). Baserunning takes some good judgement, and I'm still getting fielding down. The problem with it is that, in a fly ball example, the screen follows the ball and not the player, creating multiple doubles and triples. And it's hard to judge which player is going to be selected.

The graphics in the batter/pitcher interface are incredible. The field is a bit less, but still okay. The sound gets a little old, but there is a little rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "Oh Canada" at the beginning of each game. And for some reason, I need the sound on to get my timing right in hitting.

Gripes:
Rookie level is TOO EASY! You get about 8 doubles per game.
Fielding is TOO HARD! Especially on fly balls.
Pitching on Rookie with CPU defense is waaaaay too easy. I've gotten what, 5 perfect games now?

Conclusion:
A fine game. Worth the money, especially if you're an A's fan.

This is a really fun game. I can't recommend it highly enough. It has levels for everyone. Besides 4 skill levels, it has pick and choose features like automatic fielding and automatic running. You can make the game as easy or hard as you want. The screen is well lit, and you can see without eye strain in average lighting. Although I have yet to see a magnifier that worked worth a hoot, you don't need one on this game. The graphics are clean, clear, and fairly large all things considered. If you buy only one Baseball for the GBA, make it this one, you'll like it.

I must say that Baseball Advance is AMAZING. Not just for a Game Boy Advance game, but for any system. Baseball is all about the pitcher-batter interface, and Baseball Advance delivers. The batting/pitching interface, done in 3D and very similar to games like All Star Baseball, not only looks nice graphically but is also very logical in design and gets the job done. This is the one baseball I've played where I've actually been unintentionally walked more than once in a game. Pitching in this game is an absolute joy. Unlike other portable baseball games, the fielding is very easy with a nice camera that allows the field to be seen but is still close enough to pick out the details. The game can also be challenging, and your closers will actually need to be brought in to rack up the saves.

The only area where the game is lacking, however, would be the options. For one, the only option during a season is a grueling 163 game campaign, which can take literally months to complete. Also, there are only 4 fields to choose from (Safeco, Wrigley, Fenway, and the Giants field). Another area the game could have been improved in would be including strategy of some sort, whether it be a hit and run, double steal, or adjustment of the outfielders.

Regardless, this game is great for a first effort in a series. If there is a continuation of Baseball Advance, I would not hesitate in buying it if the aforementioned cons are improved (even if they aren't, this has the makings of a great series).

I bought this game in July of 2007 on ebay. I wanted to write a review then, but have waited a year because it has taken me this long to complete a 162 game season. I finished 123 Wins and 39 Losses as the New York Yankees. I made it to the Division Series and beat Cleveland in five games and currently as I write, have finished three games in the AL Championship Series vs. Oakland, leading 2 games to 1. So I believe I have enough playing experience to comment on this game. This game is excellent, except for a few minor issues and they are as follows.

1. The statistics are not as detailed as some of the DVD-ROM based baseball games available to play on the Playstation or X-box (i.e. no Sac flies stats, MLB team batting averages, nor can I see the stats of the opposite league when in season mode).
2. It is difficult to make errors or injuries
3. No Home Run Derby or batting practice modes
4. Once game is in session I cannot see the name of the pitcher and his ERA.
5. Only 4 MLB parks
6. In a 162 game season I only managed to hit 1 Ground Rule Double. Thats not real baseball.
7. Game lacks fielding strategies (shift fielders,etc..)

Besides these few gripes this game is excellent. Its got awesome graphics, and game play. Batting stances of players are included, and in season mode the game keeps track of bating averages, HR's, RBI's, hits, etc..

For anyone still using a GBA and looking for a awesome game I strongly recommend this game. Don't bother with All-Star baseball or any other GBA game. Don't waste your money, buy this one. Believe me this one is the best of the best.

UPDATE 6/16/08

I finished the season by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 in the World Series coming from a 3 games to 1 defecit. The score for the final game in the series was 4-1. I beat Cleveland 3-2, Oakland 4-2, and Arizona 4-3.

I wish the game would keep track of post season stats, as I was at a stump on the batting averages and so forth during the post season. Bernie Williams ended up with the AL MVP, however the game did not show no other awards, which is not reality to the way MLB Baseball is played. But overall besides its gripes a very fun and addicting game!

Baseball advance is a good baseball game for the GBA. The characters are large and detailed. In addition, the batting and pitching aspects of the game are easy to use. However, the rosters are outdated and there is only 4 ballparks to play in. The cartridge saves all the stats for your roster and allows you to view updated top stat rankings in the league. It could have used an option to simulate the games you didn't want to play. Instead, you have to play every game in the season.

I'm an older gamer that bought the GBA to use while traveling. I first bought the High Heat game for the GBA because I own the PC version but I was very unhappy to see how poorly the game played on the GBA. I then took it back and traded it for the baseball advance game. This game is 100 times better. What makes it better?
-More realistic gameplay (the players that are fast in real life are fast in the game, they match the batting and pitching style pretty well, the ball travels realistically, etc).
-It's much more challenging (pitching, batting and fielding).
-It has four stadiums instead of one standard background.

It also has an auto fielding and baserunning mode, season play with stats tracking, basestealing, 3rd strike rule (catcher drops ball and hitter can run to 1st), HBP, etc.

This is an excellent game. I was disappointed by High Heat's gameplay but Baseball Advance sure put faith and fun back into my baseball gaming experience.

Player rosters are a bit dated but still a fun little game. If you're using the original Gameboy with the ultra-low contrast LCD, avoid batting at Fenway whenever possible. Real hard to see the pitched ball there.

I love it for lots of reason. You get to control your complete team. Controlling outfield is very unique and once you get the hang of it, its not hard at all. You can almost do everything you want to do: hitting the batter, stealing, getting picked off... Graphics are nice. Only complain one might find is, it is hard. Well, it's baseball, not sonic or mario (eventhough they are hard sometimes) You have take your time and play each game everyday or 20 games a day. UP 2 U.