Roger Clemens' MVP Baseball

Roger Clemens and the folks at UN pitch a clean, straight game with Roger Clemens MVP Baseball. It's a revved up, 16-bit powerhouse that's ready to come off the bench and do some damage.

Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

Well, it's about time that the full rotation and scaling effects of the SNES are put to their proper use in a baseball game. As a matter of fact, this game may make you dizzy as you watch the perspectives change from behind the plate to behind your outfielders to beside the men on base. The graphics are as clear and as uncluttered as a rookie's stats, and the movement of all characters is smooth and realistic. This game features Wrigley park greens and on-the-mound browns in an awesome array of true-to-life color and playability. You can hit, run, steal, and dive for spectacular catches, or jump for those almost goners. You can do just about everything you could at a real ball game, except call for a cold one.

The Change Up

This game has most of the features that make baseball games a chip off the old bat. You can play one or two players, in full season or exhibition play. You can rotate your roster, yank the bench warmers into action, or give the thumb to a pitcher that's bruised you.

At the same time, this game has that something extra that can turn mediocrity into magnificence. It gives the illusion of speed, fluidity, and grace under pressure, kinda like the Major Leagues before free agency. The players move quickly with responsive controls, but the actual speed of the ball is much slower than real-time. Speaking of real, you get to control the tag on close plays, although the computer usually wins that contest.

Pitchin' Poop

The game's pitching is a sore spot. The proof is in the pudding, and the pitcher just ain't "pudding" it where you're pitching it. There's very little control of the ball once it leaves the pitcher's hand.

Most Valuable Game

Overall, Roger Clemens is one of the most valuable baseball games available for the SNES. The pitchin' isn't bitching but the look and feel of baseball are all here. Let Roger Clemens warm your bench.

Reviewing can be tricky sometimes. (No, really.) You don't want to judge a game simply by comparing it to others and saying, "It's better than this, but worse than this." At the same time, you have to compare it to similar games that set the standard for graphics and game play. Such is my dilemma with Roger Clemens' MVP Baseball. It's a decent game on its own merits (with one big flaw, but more on that later), but, compared to other Genesis baseball games, it simply doesn't make the grade.

MVP Baseball supplies you with 26 fictional teams (with typically goofy names like the Oakland Cobras and Houston Mustangs) in two divisions and four subdivisions. The National Division has 12 teams, while the American Division has 14, and the American Division teams use the designated hitter rule. There are two modes of play: exhibition game (for one or two players) and regular season (for one player only). The regular season is 33 games long in the National Division, 39 games in the American. Win your division, and you make the playoffs; win the playoffs, and you're the world champion.

MVP Baseball looks and plays like just about every other baseball game—with one big difference: When the ball is hit, the game switches to a "camera angle" behind the fielder nearest the ball. Various buttons make the fielder run, jump, dive and throw, and the game continually changes "camera angles" to follow the ball around the field. It's a very impressive effect.

Too bad the keen camera angles don't make up for the bungled pitcher/batter sequence (which is the most important part of any baseball game). With most baseball games, you have a high degree of pitch control; in MVP Baseball, curves are very hard to throw for strikes, making it almost impossible to keep the batter guessing. Instead, he can simply wait on the fastball, which you'll throw right down the middle, because that's the only way you'll get a strike. But wait, it gets worse. In a one-player game, the computer pitcher almost invariably throws change-ups, straight across the plate, like he's pitching batting practice instead of an actual game. This completely ruins the regular-season mode, since the games become little more than home run derbies.

Other problems include the shadow of the ball during the pitcher/batter sequence (which is, I kid you not, a small black X); the useless "Rocket Talk" advice option (most of Roger Clemens' advice is, to quote Ross Perot [anybody remember him?], "obvious to the brain dead"); and the lack of managerial options (no outfield or infield shifts, no pinch-runners and so on). MVP Baseball gets points for its unique graphic presentation, but not for much else. Tengen's RBI Baseball 4 and Sega's SportsTalk Baseball both have real major league rosters and superior game play. MVP Baseball is worth a look if you plan to play with a friend, but as a solo game, I don't recommended it.

Spring is in the air... and so is baseball fever! Acclaim warms you up for the season with Roger Clemens' MVP Baseball! Select your team from two conferences and let your players perform before you make final selections. Play in exhibition games or jump right into a full schedule. The unique perspectives, cinema displays and instant replays add to the fun. This cart has got all the bases covered!

Strike out!

With Roger Clemens' MVP Baseball, you're in control of every part of the game, from pitching to hitting to fielding! Using a revolutionary new graphics technique, Roger Clemens' MVP Baseball uses individual "over the shoulder fielding" and close-up plays instead of the handful of angles used by other so-called baseball simulations to provide the most realistic looking and playing sports game available on your NES! In fact, enjoy actual pointers from Roger Clemens himself! Plus, with all the subtle features of baseball intact - from bunting to stealing base - as well as one or two player options, LJN's latest addition to the line-up is a grand slam home run!

Master tip #801

Fielding takes practice, but if you can learn to jump and slide, you'll be making the plays like the pros!

Home plate

The catcher must always be aware of the base runner in case of a steal or tag situation.

First base

The first baseman generally sticks to the bag to retrieve the force out or line drives.

Second base

Since the second baseman floats between first and second, his position is important.

Close up plays at the base

Control the slide and tag as you try to make that winning play.

Choose your line up

You have 26 excellent teams to choose from, each with a complete roster of players!

Batter up! Get ready for some of the most realistic baseball action ever to come to the NES. Great graphics, good player control and a realistic simulation of the sport!

3-2-1! Ignition! We have lift-off. Get ready to blast off with "The Rocket" Roger Clemens. Flying Edge's Roger Clemens' MVP Baseball is the latest version of America's favorite pastime for the Sega Genesis.

If you're a big-league fan. the one drawback to MVP Baseball is that this game isn't licensed by the Major League Baseball Players' Association. The only Major League star you'll see in this game is "The Rocket". The other players and teams are about as real as the Chicago Swords, one of the teams on the game. Don't let that stop you from checking this game out. It has enough features and options to keep any prospect entertained for hours.

Pennant Fever

This one or two player game has your two standard lineups: Exhibition and Regular Season. In Exhibition, you take on the computer or a friend in a one-game showdown. In Regular Season, you choose a team to play a full schedule against the other 25 computer teams. This realistic option gives you the opportunity to lead your team to the "Championship Series" and a possible world title against the computer teams.

You start out the regular season two games behind the divisional leaders. However, "The Rocket" hasn't left the cupboard totally bare. You've got a dominant bullpen (four batters averaging better than .300) and a Golden Glove outfield. You play three games against each team in your division (for a total of 33 games in the National League and 39 for the American League). If your team qualifies, there will also be a best-of-seven game play-off and a championship series. The standings are updated after each day's play.

A Pitcher's Dream

Since Clemens is one of the top pitchers in baseball, you would expect this game to be geared toward pitchers, and it is. As the manager of your team, you earn your pay trying to establish the best starting rotation. Just like in "The Show", the starting pitchers can't take the mound each game and that's where the calendar schedule comes in. The pitchers need at least three days rest between starts. Also, during the game, a comer screen box gives you the pitch count for your man on the mound -- a key stat for any big-league manager. In the field, your players can dive for those hot smashes or leap for a high fly. Unfortunately, your defense is set, so you can't make any adjustments to your field.

Going, Going, Gone

The graphics for Roger Clemens' MVP Baseball are pretty cool. Flying Edge, which also published NBA All-Star Challenge and Super High Impact Football, added some nice details to MVP Baseball, such as the batter blowing a bubble while waiting on the pitch. The pitchers' windup and the movement of the players are as lifelike as any game on the market. The perspectives in this game (behind-the-plate, behind-the-field-player, the tag screen, etc.) change faster than Clemens' pitch.

Diamond Dance Hall

OK, so the music is dugout dull and it's pretty lame that they've only got one stadium in MVP Baseball. The graphics and the Regular Season mode alone, however, are worth the price of admission. Roger Clemens' MVP Baseball deserves at least a few first-place votes this year.

If you're looking for a new thrill in Nintendo baseball games, check out LJN's Roger Clemens MVP Baseball. Choose your division and team, then check out the pitching roster and starting line-up. When the ball is hit into the field, the view changes so it looks like your in center field. A truly cool effect! Roger Clemens even has a voice to call out the plays. Roger Clemens MVP Baseball will be here soon!

The baseball season may be ending, but you can have sportstime excitement all year with Acclaim's Roger Clemens MVP Baseball. Originally released on the NES, this new super version contains all the features of the first MVP title. One of the most notable additions is the unique playing perspective. When you smack a ball into the outfield, the game changes to the outfielders vantage point. This is a feature you just have to see!

Of course, what would a baseball game be without plenty of tough teams to choose from. You can choose from exhibition games or even go all-out for a full season of games. If you select the season option, you'll be treated to a full schedule!

Once play begins, you can modify your starting line-up and pitching roster. Once that is set, it's time to head to the diamond. The batting session is viewed in the traditional behind-the-batter view, but that in no way detracts from the overall fun. Fielding may seem difficult at first, but once you get acquainted to the perspective, everything becomes second nature.

For really spectacular plays, get set for a cinema display and an instant replay showing your awesome move! For the true feeling of our great national pastime, look no further than MVP Baseball.