BASEBALL ADVANCE

Baseball is one of those sports that almost anyone can enjoy. I guess that's one of the reasons it's America's pastime. Most portable versions of baseball games are quite simple, meaning all you have to do is swing the bat on time and you get a hit. Now, Sega has taken portable baseball gaming to a whole new level with its new baseball game, BASEBALL ADVANCE.

BASEBALL ADVANCE is the best looking portable baseball game I have ever seen. Sega of Japan has done a really good job in developing the graphic engine, making this game resemble the older WORLD SERIES BASEBALL games for the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast. Players now have "somewhat" accurate batting stances, and the uniforms aren't always an off-gray color, as they at least resemble the uniforms they are supposed to look like.

The graphics aren't the only thing that makes BASEBALL ADVANCE stand out above its competition. The player hitting and pitching gameplay engine is magnificent. In most portable baseball games, if you swing the bat at the right time, it's a hit. Not so in BASEBALL ADVANCE. Taking a note from most console baseball games, you have an aiming reticule that allows you to try to follow the baseball's movements. If you're off you'll miss the ball, just like in real life. Pitching is a lot like the console versions too. Most pitchers have three to four different pitches, and by pressing the directional pad a certain way before the pitch signals what pitch you're going to throw. After that, you can move the pitching reticule around the plate for just the pitch you're looking for.

Fielding is a different story, though. With the Game Boy Advance's screen being so small, it is difficult at times to see where your fielder is when a ball is coming at him. Since the camera follows the ball, and not the outfielder, if a ball is hit into deep right field, you'll have to "guesstimate" where your fielder is, and either back peddle or sprint forward to try and catch the ball. At times it's easy to see if it's going to be a pop fly, or a long bomb, but occasionally you'll be running forward when you should have been going backwards. I've let up way too many in-the-park home runs that way.

Another thing is that the game doesn't have the most updated rosters. Most of the teams from last year's rosters are still on the game, and major off-season trades were not included. Also missing are most of the stadiums. Sega opted to only include four fields, including Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. The stadiums are pretty detailed, thus the reason Sega could only include four stadiums in the game. The Game Boy Advance has more memory than the Game Boy, but not enough for 32 perfectly detailed stadiums.

While the game does have the occasional fault, it's still the best portable baseball game on the market right now. The rosters may not be current, but once you begin playing the game, it doesn't seem to matter that much. BASEBALL ADVANCE is good, old fashioned fun, and a great way to enjoy America's favorite sport.