Baseball Stars Color for the Neo Geo Pocket Color released Summer 1999 FAQ by Mao398@yahoo.com November 24, 1999 Version 1.4 CONTENTS: 1. A Quick Note 2. History 3. Introduction 4. A Quick Review 5. Gameplay 6. Team Guide 7. Just For Fun 8. Notes And Credits ======================================================================== all help and feedback send to mao398@yahoo.com, and is appreciated!!! ======================================================================== >>1. A Quick Note This FAQ will try not to cover anything that you would know due to common sense, the manual, or by playing past baseball games, especially Baseball Stars in one of its various incarnations. But, no promises! : ) Also, I am super-biased toward this game based on my long affair with the retro original that was cutting edge when I was in grade school. I'm talking PRE-Gameboy people! So, if you want to know if it is worth buying, I can't give a great answer, but if you read this you will get an idea of what it is like. ======================================================================== >>2. History 1.0 = Basic FAQ outline 1.1 = some corrections and addtion of 3 new sections 1.2 = team data added (1st wave) 1.3 = player data added for Runners and Condors 1.4 = fun data added, incomplete for time being POSSIBLY COMING IN FUTURE VERSIONS: player data for each team, additions to fun section secret teams, free agents, extra skill descriptions team synopsis, comments from Stymie, BS history animations list, anecdotes, quirks, strategies ======================================================================== >>3. Introduction Picture if you will a warm October night in Iowa, 1999. Man does that sound lame. Anyway, my soon-to-be 25 year old self walks into the local Electronics Boutique and sees that some new upstart portable console has Baseball Stars available for it! Now, many of you are like me... Baseball Stars fans for life, based solely on the 8 bit NES version. Maybe you too have played your copies until the battery is suspect and the fun has become trying to see how far you can get before your data is zapped! I was so excited I called my friend in Colorado, Stymie, and we both ordered a NGPC and BS cart based on the strength of the title alone, no research. Later we did research, and found out a lot about my new favorite toy the NGPC. Being a totally loyal buyer (I only own 1 console and sell out to it), I soon mapped out my future NGPC purchases, but that is beside the point. Two things happened after our preliminary research and ordering (well, if you don't count the horrible service we got through Buyrite): One: We were diappointed to see everything we loved about NES BS was gone! The stats, custom leagues, beloved CPU teams (Ghastly Monsters!), female players, money earning, power-ups, trading, firing, hiring rookies or vets, and name your own players/teams! Surely without all of that this game would just be a watery skeleton of the past-time we treated like a cult! Right? Gone are the days when 5 of us junkies are huddled around a dirty NES, two dying controllers, mounds of empty 2-liters, and each taking turns pounding the Lovely Ladies and jacking up stats to face off! Two: We found that NGPC BS was a whole new creature, with totally new charms! While we still want to see SNK recitfy the franchise by adding in some of the features we loved (at least stats and custom leagues, okay and name your own guys/teams... oh shoot, do it all next time!), for the time being IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO BE OUR NEW CULT-FAVE! I will try to be fair in this FAQ by NOT comparing it to the predecessor too much, and to try and apologize for my ignorance to all of the BS editions that I have never played, since in Iowa Neo Geo units are darn near non-existant. If anyone has info on what the various forms on NG consoles were like, drop me an email! Oh, and Baseball Stars 2 for NES missed us too, but I did rent it once in college and it was more or less the same deal, but with some added stats on the leader board and new teams. To get this last complaint off my chest, its not like the NGPC doesn't have the ability to load up on features. Look at the upcoming SNK vs. Capcom:Match of the Millenium and Neo Geo Cup '98 Plus. Both show that the little hand-held is without limitation for features and extra modes. To close on a funny anecdote, once in CO when I was living there, Stymie and I saw a used NG console (it was huge!) and it was $75. Not so bad, but the only game they had was Baseball Stars, which was like $50. I had a hard time with coming up with cash then, and I would have loved to have bought it, just to play BS once again, but it was not to be. Someone else "stole my sunshine" so to speak and within the week it was gone, making my decision a lot easier. When Stymie and I discovered this little gem of a system NGPC and saw that BS was a launch title, we both agreed immediately to buy it. Our motto was "It is well worth $100 to play Baseball Stars again." So, if you liked the NES version, don't let the fact that it isn't the exact game you remember scare you off, rather, let my FAQ convince you that BSC is a GREAT game, and is just as fun as you'd expect a BS game to be. ======================================================================== >>4. A Quick Review Packaging = A+ BSC has the same old cool NGPC packaging and a smooth manual full of brightly colored pictures and actual gameplay instructions, unlike the original NES book that left you to rely on guessing and superstitions to play at your best level! Gameplay: Offense = A Somewhere I read that a theory among programmers/developers was being circulated that there is a sort of "language" that develops among die-hard/repeat video game players, and that this makes learning curves, features, and replay different that for a new gamer. This is what allows most of us to play a 2D fighting game without touching a manual for a few hours. Anyway, the offense in this game is classic basbeall game language. "A" swings the bat, "B" + direction of base's position on the diamond steals... and so on. It is, as is over-said in FAQ's, intuitive. Some nice extra additions are the "mash buttons" to run faster, and the realization that when you press a direction while you bat, it influences the hit. (Previously we just did this as voodoo, with no proof it was programmed that way). So it is quite possible to aim shots, hit grounders, or try to pull one over right field fence. Gameplay: Defense = B- The defensive element is just frustrating. So was NES, but we played it so much we knew mentally where the players would be standing and which player the AI would determine you need control of. Here there is no such luck. The AI switches to who it feels you need control of, making for akward situations. "B" makes your fielders run to the ball fast, which is nice, but for some reason "A" which throws sometimes delays in its response, if it responds at all. I haven't played enough to determine if that is a defensive skill problem, "A" button timing problem, or a not- pressing-true on the directional pad problem. Back again is the "A" button dives, which are what you will do knee-jerk every time, but so often you miss the ball and lay on the ground for precious seconds. Overall, it just takes getting used to, and never, EVER overlook a great SS! Gameplay: Pitching = B+ A word to the wise: get to learn pitching. It will win you games. My partner in crime Stymie led me to this realization. Gone are the corner-cutting ways of pumping up your defense and hitting so high that you can exist without a decent pitcher. You will not win trying to curve-fastball-curve-fastball your way through a game. The commands are not very detailed, which is a mixed blessing. It is identical to NES BS in that holding a direction after the pitch moves the ball or adjusts the speed. Not quite as perfect as World Stadium or Powa Puro Baseball, but way better than the too- technical Triple Play and MLB series. Features = A- Enough to make it great, but just shy of perfect. Some new additions to BS are unlocking free agent players and new teams. The new teams are super tough and have empty slots for you to trade in some of your beloved players from around the league, or some of the FA's that you have unlocked. The VS mode allows you to link up and even assemble an all-star squad to face another drooling BS junkie. Also, there is a lot of other minor features (game length, VS record saving, etc.) but the best features are the cut-scenes and the ace-in- the-hole! The cut scenes happen when a home run is hit, and so on. It is really cool anime/hand drawn still style. The ace... is a great assest to you, in that once a game you can designate a pinch hitter or relief pitcher as the Ace, and that player's powers are augmented for a spell. It makes it possible to have a pinch hitter come on in the 9th and clear the bases at will. Makes for a chess game and war of timing. A disappointment is the fact that there are only 2 stadiums, and virtually no difference between. Sound = B Everyone wants to avoid critiquing sound on the NGPC but I will have to say that the sound is perfect for the type of game this is. Repetitive, yes. Tonal, yes. Fun, yes. Plink, zip, and boink. Too bad there isn't voice, because I would LOVE to hear the announcer actually say "Bagoon!" Replay = A Lots of stuff to unlock, teams to play as and against, link mode, and the fact that BS games never get old. However, unless BS2 (pray, pray, pray) is a real stinker of a game, I can't see coming back to this one when (if) it is released. Overall = B- Is a great game and worth buying, especially if you can get it used! Only, if you buy it used, there is no data reset, so if the player before you put time into it, you won't get to unlock teams and free agents yourself. Other Info = The cost is more or less $29.99 everywhere. Be aware that there is a monochrome edition of this game floating about that released with the original NGP. As far as I know it is the same game, only monochrome. Make sure you say you want BS Color. Also, there are Japanese counterparts for each game, but I think you can enable English text with the NGPC's own built in language switch. As a warning, the manual talks about saving midgame and so on, but I cannot figure out where you even get that option. Until I do, expect to sit through the whole game or turn it off and lose your data from that game. Beings that the cart only saves unlocked secrets and W/L record, its not a big deal if you abort mid game. ======================================================================== >>5. Gameplay The gameplay is pretty simple, but there are some things that can help you win... FIELDING: Well, this is what will make or break you. Some things to remember when fielding are: a] on hits that have a parabollic trajectory (pop-ups), a little dot will appear on the ground. If you can get a player's feet (and I mean it has to be their feet) to that dot before the ball drops, your player will lock into place for an automatic out! b] "B" button will make the player the PC designates you have control of run faster. Use it! But it is not a hold down function, rather is a tap function, so tap tap tap! c] "A" button is dive. The length and recovery time are all dependant on that player's defensive skill level. I reccomend NOT diving at a ball that is in the OF,especially if it is in play, and never at a line drive. When you dive at a pop up, you will not "stick" to the dot as you pass it, rather, you slide right on through, often missing the ball. d] for heaven's sake, put your best defensive guys OF. You have a better chance to win with defense than offense. e] in the IF, put your best defensive guy at SS . Do not be afraid to dive at SS <2B> to stop a ball from exiting the IF, because most teams will make extra bases on any such hit. f] when throwing, the release time and speed of throw always depends on the skill levels of that player. BUT some of it has to do with you, the USER!!! Make sure you are not pressing diagnally by accident, the stick must be at TRUE north, south, east, or west. Likewise, do not hold "A" down in anticipation. Press "A" + direction after the player gloves the ball. Your timing at this will make you either a winning player or a losing player, trust me! PITCHING: Less frustrating, but more important to the world of BS, is pitching. Not a lot of depth here, but some things you may want to remember are: a] More than any other player, your pitcher is succeptable to his status. If the liitle face is blue, stay away if possible! b] With the exception of your starter, pitcher fatigue does not carry from game to game so don't be afraid to use a lot of them if you need to! c] You CAN hit a batter, so be careful... or not (grin), depending on the situation. BATTING: One button, one plane, how hard can hitting be? Well, it isn't, and BS centers on a hitting game. Some hints would be: a] You almost always pop it up IF when you press up when hitting. If you are desperate for a HR, you may try this, but I am warning you that a line drive is better than an out. b] Ace In The Hole does not equal HR. c] Pay little attention to BA's. They are set based on what this imaginary player would have done in one imaginary full season. But the AI looks at the player game-to-game, so a pitcher who says .180 may in actuality be 3-3 easy every time you use him. I am not saying it doesn't give you a measure, but your playing has a lot more to do with performance than the numbers. GENERAL: The game has some general glitches and features you may want to know about: a] A few teams aside (Rays and Bolts), it really doesn't matter who you play or who you play as. The skills will be different, so find one that is string where you yourself are weak, (for example: defense). b] You can save Ace-In-The-Hole specials from game to game, with a maximum stockpile of 3. Keep this in mind so you don't waste any. c] There are no errors, so the stealing base trick we all mastered on the NES is no more. But there are some great glitches in the AI that allow you to get an extra base if you pay enough attention... (for example: the CPU will almost always throw to a base where a runner is furthest advanced, so if you get a good jump, you can almost always get the bag and no out!) d] The CPU rarely throws out to the bag you are leaving if you are leading off or stealing. ======================================================================== >>6. Team Guide This section is devoted to those who want to get the most out of their teams, and to know what the opponent is packing. Remember as always that the players condition has influence as well as their skill level. NOTE: Skills are rated like academic grades: A, B, C, so on. Only, I haven't seen an "F", but there are "E's" which are very bad. Also, there is "S" which means "special." Not neccisarily better than A, rather, it means that the skills are subject to a special talent. For the sake of brevity, I have shrunk ratings for teams/players into a string of letters. Below is the key to deciphering that string... ALL ENTRIES= name: position/hand/skills grades (see below) TEAMS= pitching/batting/fielding/running PITCHERS*= curve/off speed/stamina/extra skill/ERA/high speed FIELDERS= fielding/throwing/running/extra skill/AVG/home runs *Pichers have 2 sets of stats, 1 for pitching, one for fielding ** Real Runners: D/C/C/A - Oz Imide: P/R/C/C/S/Slow/4.52/90mph P/R/C/C/A/-/.185/0 HR - Azel Gonza: P/R/C/E/S/-/5.20/87mph P/R/C/D/B/-/.187/0 HR - Carl Plunk: P/L/D/D/S/-/4.72/86mph P/L/C/C/B/-/.199/0 HR - Yomi Tatis: P/R/D/C/C/-/4.20/86mph P/R/C/D/B/-/.185/0 HR - Rod Tendy: P/R/D/E/C/-/5.60/84mph P/R/C/D/B/-/.191/0 HR - Tom Zeal: OF/L/S/B/A/TC/.363/15 HR - Nobu Tendy: IF/R/A/D/A/Pinch/.347/18 HR - Dean Gab: OF/R/A/C/A/Tap/.355/12 HR - MJ Andre: IF/R/B/D/B/-/.225/38 HR - Henry Fuge: IF/L/B/C/A/Full/.259/20 HR - Picky Sosa: CA/R/C/C/B/-/.250/11 HR - Keith Nels: OF/R/B/C/A/-/.254/10 HR - Niko Cruz: IF/R/B/D/B/-/.247/8 HR - Harry Smith: OF/L/B/D/A/-/.243/5 HR - Mad Renny: IF/R/B/C/A/-/.275/0 HR - Rick Heart: CA/R/B/C/B/-/.262/10 HR - Mike Mils: OF/L/C/D/A/Bloop/.288/13 HR - Max Wand: IF/R/C/C/A/-/.252/7 HR ** Burning Reds: C/A/C/D ** El Condors: D/D/A/B - Roy Ghost: P/R/B/C/S/Slow/3.80/96mph P/R/A/B/D/-/.189/0 HR - Mike Corb: P/L/D/E/S/-/5.20/84mph P/L/B/B/D/-/.180/0 HR - Cliff Cone: P/R/C/E/S/-/4.96/86mph P/R/A/C/D/-/.200/0 HR - Dolph Robin: P/R/B/C/C/-/3.48/92mph P/R/B/B/D/-/.180/0 HR - Jose Lewis: P/L/D/D/C/-/5.24/87mph P/L/B/B/D/-/.190/0 HR - Ester Cremz: IF/R/B/B/A/-/.212/4 HR - Spiny Islet: IF/L/A/A/A/Tap/.288/8 HR - Heron Hoof: IF/R/B/B/C/Bloop/.220/2 HR - Noel Cruz: IF/S/B/A/B/Pinch/.374/58 HR - Steve Leon: CA/R/A/A/D/-/.206/3 HR - Aqa Kirk: OF/R/A/S/B/-/.210/8 HR - Gray Silva: OF/R/S/S/C/-/.239/0 HR - Yan Kirk: OF/R/A/S/B/-/.218/3 HR - Matt Gomez: IF/R/C/C/C/-/.232/5 HR - Lucia Rover: IF/R/B/B/B/-/.224/2 HR - Sam Elf: CA/R/A/D/C/-/.287/18 HR - Alf Mond: IF/R/B/C/C/-/.200/0 HR - Jeff Kelly: OF/L/B/B/B/Bloop/.227/2 HR ** Thunderbolts: A/C/C/D ** Grooves: C/B/C/C ** Lumieres: A/E/B/C ** Hyper Thieves: C/D/C/A ** Flamingos: D/B/A/E ** Jackals: B/C/C/C ** Cyclops: E/A/C/C ** Ox Horns: C/A/B/E ** Star Rays: A/D/D/B ======================================================================== >>7. Just For Fun Baseball Stars is a great game, regardless of the platform. Here are some fun stats and notes from my impressions/experiences with this installment: FAVE TEAM: El Condors (yeah baby!) BEST TEAM NAME: Jackals FAVE PLAYER: BEST PLAYER NAME: BEST TEAM: BEST PLAYER: LAMEST TEAM: LAMEST TEAM NAME: Flamingos LAMEST PLAYER: LAMEST PLAYER NAME: Mad Renny (Real Runners) WHAT "BAGOON!" MEANS: Is an ottomottopia, like "boom" or "bang." BEST ANIMATION: When batter is warming up and throws bat accidentally toward dug-out AVERAGE GAME LENGTH: 9 innings = 30 minutes NUMBER OF GAMES I LOST BEFORE FINALLY WINNING: 9 BEST STREAK: 2 won WORST STREAK: 9 lost BEST SCORE: 19 runs MOST HR PER GAME: 2 HR ======================================================================== >>8. Notes And Credits FIRST AND FOREMOST: do not do business with www.buyrite.net or www.buyrite1.com, they are horrible to their customers, and have horrible shipping. Ordering from them is a gamble and trying to track an order from them is a nightmare. Also, sales and special prices via the net do not exist in their walk-in stores, making it impossible to make a cheap and secure transaction with them in any manner. This FAQ was complied by me and me alone... okay, with some help from: Stymie - my older but, well, just older friend and Baseball Stars addict from way back. The Manual - Perhaps one of the less ambiguous manuals for a baseball game ever. And its purty! Sellers of the game, pictures, reviews, Real Player movies of the game itself, FAQs, and fellow NGPC junkie's can be found at these great spots on the net: THE BEST NGPC SITE EVER! (10/10) http://www.digiweb.com/~dimension-sega/sngp/ SNK's USA site (9/10) http://www.snkusa.com Japan's Neo Geo site (7/10)