Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 14

Movie sequels generally don't go beyond a certain number. In recent history, trilogies have been the norm with notable names such as the Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and the Pirates of the Caribbean stopping at film number 3. In the video game market, there's no real restriction on sequels other than market apathy where buyers go on strike after a certain number of the same-old, same-old. This vote of no confidence hasn't afflicted either Hudson's Momotaro Dentetsu series or Konami's esteemed Powerful Pro Baseball series which reaches its fourteenth stride this week.

What's the first impression that the uninitiated receives when staring at any Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball game cover? If you mumbled, "It's a kiddy baseball game," you would be correct. This is where NCS schools you on the majesty of Konami's baseball simulation which is built on a game engine that has been refined for fourteen generations. Forget the childish graphics for a minute and immerse yourself in the actual gameplay. The controls rely on a cursor targeting system where every pitch or swing of the bat is governed by a reticule which pinpoints the area of impact. The fielding isn't as precise but players in the infield or outfield can efficiently sidle left and right to home in on grounders as well as fly balls that pop upwards momentarily.