I just thought of something that is vastly underrated about RBI. I think when a player hits a homerun, the fact that they speedily round the bases (ala Mickey Hatcher) really enhances the playability of the game. Imagine if you had to wait for the slow fattys to complete their homerun trot everytime. Especially Evans, Armas, Nokes etc. The game would be excruciatingly slow!
Anyway, I feel this feature of the game is very important and is part of what makes it the great game it is. What do you consider underated /underappreciated aspects of RBI that really add to the game's fun and excitment?
By the way, has anyone given serious thought to this fast homerun trot phenomenon? Do the players get excited? Does one of those bullpen carts pick them up at first base and carry them?
Nobody has thoughts on this?
another aspect of rbi that speeds up game play is that we dont have to watch the catcher throw the ball back to the pitcher after every pitch unlike all these other stupid games that try to be more realistic.
as for running around the bases after homeruns, it is a good thing that we only have to watch the fire works. for all we know, the fat pigs probably turn right after reaching first base. unfortunately, there are no cameras to prove this theory.
While the speed around the bases is a great feature about RBI and the fact that it is the greatest video game ever produced, I also like RBI for the following reasons... RBI has never told me that I drink to much or that I should wash myself more. RBI has never told me that I should do something with my college degree. RBI has never told me that I don't pay enough attention to it. FInally, RBI does what I tell it to do the first time its told. I find these qualities very relaxing
Just to make a few points to why we still play after 15 years:
1. Games are quick
2. No bullshit anouncers
3. Umpires sometimes blow the calls
4. Bopps and random errors
5. Timing for the plays are right on, for example a ball in the hole at short can be made if you charge it some and make a strong throw, also you cant throw a guy out at the plate from the waning track like those other P.O.S. new games
6. You can pitch around a guy and he can't hit the ball
7. Your pitchers will wear out if you use them wrong
8. Games can be played quick without deciding what stadium, weather, uniforms, all that uneeded shit
9. The ball comes off the bat accurately, you can swing late and hit it to left, and swing early to hit to right...no modern game does that, in RBI you can get jammed and hit it off the end of the bat and the ball doesn't go anywhere, in other games the ball might shoot off anywhere.
10. With few teams and players we learn their skills and they are known to us as legends.
i concur with pines to all those points...
my only regret is that tony gwynn has no game...
Great points, pines. Especially about the new games' batting physics being all wrong. About the only "modern" baseball game that I think comes close to RBI in fun and playability is the first "Bottom of the 9th" for playstation 1.
i have to vote for baseball stars as a close second to RBI. Incredible that NES has the top two spots
I remember baseball stars--good game, but it took forever to put in the names of the guys, and usually the info got lost for no good reason.
Good point....I only play stars on my CPU and only against one of my buddies who for some reason likes that game best. However, RBI is still the game of choose at my apartment
My guess on the fast homerun trot, would be that the fatties hop on the beer scooter at 1st base. It's the only logical explanation.
Hey Big Hath, I agree on Bottom of the Ninth for PS1, that is a solid game with accurate hitting. That was the only newer generation baseball games I have played for more than 1 hour. That game came to my mind when I was writing about RBI being the only realistic hitting game.
I concur with everything else... The speed is definitely the key to RBI, especially the amount of time per AB. I played some XBox baseball game awhile back and the game took forever. You first have to pick your pitch, select a location, throw the ball, move the ball in the air, etc. Too much work, throw and hit...
GPines, I think my favorite part of that Bottom of the 9th game is the random "pitcher mistake" when the exclamation mark flashes above the pitcher's head. My eyes just light up and I can hardly wait for that slow pitch to get to the plate so I can knock the crap out of it. I have hit numerous homers with pitchers in that game because of the "pitcher mistake" pitch. I always thought it was funny that an exclamtion mark appears over the pitcher because it's like he's saying "Oh, $%#@!"
Gantry, another aspect of RBI that adds to the games simplicity is the 2 dimensional strike zone (not counting the "knuckle ball" that drops out of the zone), yet it is still challenging to hit (in curve-style).
i didnt notice if there was a big x that popped up above russ ortiz' head when he threw that pitch that spiezio lifted out of the yard putting the angels back in the game. its things like that that make new games what they are, crap.
ortiz? I thought that was felix that gave up the speizo bomb.
for some reason i thought it was ortiz still out there in a 5-0 game... my bad... i was at work... all i know is the place went nuts.
i was just trying to make my point about the x showing up over the pitchers head when a mistake is coming... sounds like something fox would tried.
they should have put an x over dusty baker when he started livo for game 7....i'm still sctatching my head over that one
I may be wrong, but i think livan hernandez was game 7 starter in '97 with the marlins.
yeah, but he got a lot fatter since then.
All fat players suck, unless they're in RBI.
Livo is a fat tub of shit who needs to learn to mix in a salad every once in a while. I'm glad dusty baker is going ot the cubs. What the fuck was he thinking starting him is game seven.