Super Mega Baseball 2
- April 29, 2018
- Metalhead Software
- 81h median play time
The improvements over the original make Super Mega Baseball 2 the best on-field baseball sim on PC.
"Super Mega Baseball 2" is a fun and accessible baseball simulation game that's easy to pick up and play, but with depth for experienced players. Choose from a variety of customizable teams and players, and take on the AI or friends in exciting exhibition and season modes. With improved graphics, precise controls, and deep gameplay mechanics, it's a great choice for both solo and multiplayer action.
Reviews
- Super Mega Baseball 2 is a fantastic arcade-style baseball game that combines fun gameplay with solid mechanics.
- The customization options for teams and players are extensive, allowing for a unique experience tailored to individual preferences.
- The Ego system for difficulty adjustment is well-implemented, making the game accessible for players of all skill levels.
- Fielding mechanics can be frustrating, with players sometimes failing to make plays or misjudging ball trajectories.
- The game lacks a franchise mode or player progression system, which can make single-player seasons feel repetitive.
- Online play can suffer from connectivity issues, leading to lag and frustrating gameplay experiences.
- gameplay191 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its fun mechanics, smooth controls, and engaging arcade-style experience, making it accessible for casual players while still offering depth for those seeking a challenge. However, some users have noted issues with bugs, inconsistent fielding mechanics, and a lack of progression systems, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many find the combination of customization options and the balance between arcade and simulation elements to be highly enjoyable.
“The gameplay is smooth and relatively bug-free, there is something missing in my opinion: the ability to trade players.”
“The gameplay is fantastic, pitching and batting both feel like a dream.”
“The mechanics are simple enough to master, and the occasional errors, while annoying, are not too much of a deal-breaker.”
“Actually one of the worst games I've played, constant bugs and inconsistent gameplay.”
“My only real complaint with the game (other than somewhat frustrating fielding controls at higher levels) is the total lack of any kind of progression mechanics.”
“The biggest gameplay problem other than video is the inability to select the base runner when there are multiple runners.”
- graphics93 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant, cartoonish style that enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the improved visuals compared to the previous installment, noting that the graphics are both charming and well-executed, contributing to a fun and engaging atmosphere. While some players initially found the art style off-putting, most have come to enjoy its whimsical nature, which complements the solid baseball simulation underneath.
“I totally fell in love with the graphics and animation, let alone the jolly and amusing gameplay and art style.”
“The graphics are fun, and I find myself playing this game a lot more than other baseball games.”
“The graphics and overall look are very appealing.”
“When I first saw this game, the cartoony graphics made me not take the game seriously.”
“The graphics overall are disappointing.”
“The other thing is that while I like how much cleaner the player models are and the art style, I feel like it lost a bit of its character from the first game, just the little things.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, featuring hilarious player names and amusing gameplay moments that evoke nostalgia for classic arcade baseball games. Players appreciate the blend of zany humor with serious baseball mechanics, making it both entertaining and engaging. While some feel the humor has become less pronounced compared to earlier versions, the overall comedic elements contribute significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The game's tagline was 'hilarious, hardcore, hardball', and it's exactly that.”
“It honors the humor and fun of old arcade baseball games that will thrill your competitiveness.”
“Awesome arcade style game, no bigwig sponsors or licensing, just fictional teams with at times humorous player names.”
- music15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the extensive customization options for walk-up songs and player themes, while others criticize the overall quality and appropriateness of the soundtrack. Some find the ambiance and sound effects to be overwhelming and poorly balanced, describing them as annoying and unfitting for a baseball game. Overall, while the customization aspect is praised, the execution of the music and sound design leaves much to be desired.
“Easy to get into, great action, awesome soundtrack.”
“I love the customization of my players and team... getting the color palette just right for the unis as well as the style, what kind of face and hairstyle, choices for stance, walk-up music, etc.... all the small details for each player on my team... really awesome.”
“You can change player names, pitching angles, batting stances, hairstyles, or even theme music.”
“Ambiance music is meh, the reactions at the plate are ok, but an arcade game can bring so much more to the table (NFL Blitz II: The League, Baseball Stars, Bad News Baseball, etc.) Take more risks with the crowd, make players argue on the field, and bring the tension in other directions than with the pressure meters and skills.”
“I literally hate playing it just because the music and sound effects are so obnoxiously annoying, unfitting for any sport, especially baseball. Many sound effects - especially the iconic crack of the bat - are overwhelmed by stupid clown-type bass noises.”
“Be prepared for bassy, clownish dubstep as walk-up music and between innings.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant lag, stuttering, and performance issues, particularly after a June patch. However, others report a smooth experience and commend the game's optimization on PC, indicating that performance can vary widely among users. Overall, while some aspects are well-optimized, many players still face frustrating technical problems.
“The game runs smooth and feels really well optimized.”
“It seems to be very well optimized for PC machines.”
“Very well optimized and running like a hurricane.”
“You can't hit; the performance is garbage even on the lowest setting.”
“Laggy, glitchy, and poorly optimized.”
“The game worked fine until it was patched in June; then there was this horrible lag and stuttering in franchise mode that was never fixed.”
- stability11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on capable hardware and offers enjoyable gameplay, players frequently encounter glitches and lag that can disrupt the experience. Some users report minor issues, such as freezing when connecting controllers and occasional fielding bugs, but these do not overshadow the game's solid performance and intuitive controls.
“It looks great and runs smoothly with my 1070, 1800x, and 32 GB RAM.”
“Runs great on PC; the controls are perfect, and the gameplay is very addicting.”
“You can have fun with friends sometimes, but most of my experience was dealing with constant in-game glitches that could cost me a few points or even a full game.”
“Every second and a half, the game freezes for a fraction of a second.”
“The big downside is the amount of lag and glitches that I've experienced.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed; while some users highlight the potential for endless replay value and enjoyment, others feel the game lacks sufficient replayability. The controls may require some adjustment, and while the price point of $30 seems high for an arcade sports game, many believe that if players enjoy it, the replay value justifies the cost.
“Practically endless replay value.”
“$30 seems like a lot for an arcade sports game, but if you enjoy it, you'll get infinite replayability out of it!”
“This will allow almost unlimited replayability.”
“I think this reduces the replayability of the game.”
“I don't see the replay value in this game.”
“Seems like a steep price at first, but I promise the replay value is there.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received negative feedback, with users criticizing the intrusive advertisements that overshadow the gameplay experience and detract from ownership visibility. Many feel that the constant promotion of other games and the overall focus on monetization gives the impression of a cash grab rather than a genuine gaming experience.
“Awesome game, but the advertisement is terrible. I can't even see that I own Super Mega Baseball 2 because the Dirt 5 poster takes up all of it.”
“Just stop blasting me with ads and more shopping for once.”
“Complete cash grab.”
- story3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The story mode of the game is highly praised for its immersive experience and the ability to create custom teams and narratives, making it a worthwhile purchase for fans of storytelling in sports games. However, the online play aspect is criticized as lacking quality.
“If you want to play story mode, I give this a thumbs up. However, for online play, it's absolute garbage.”
“I suggest buying the game if you enjoy creating your own teams and storylines in video games, as well as arcade-like gameplay.”
“If you like baseball immersion that includes fictional teams where you create your own story, this is a must-buy, period.”
“If you want to play story mode, I give this a thumbs up, but for online play, it's absolute garbage.”
“If you like baseball immersion that includes fictional teams where you make your own story, this is a must buy, period.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by an intense, almost world cup-like energy, enhanced by vibrant visuals and dynamic gameplay elements. However, some players feel that the shift away from a cartoonish style has negatively impacted the overall ambiance.
“You got crazy ball players, cool baseball bats, shiny effects when you hit the ball, and a pretty intense atmosphere around the field, like every single game is a World Cup match.”
“The game took a less cartoony approach and unfortunately the atmosphere suffered.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of renaming all the players to be tedious, but they enjoy the creative process of designing logos and uniforms, which enhances their overall experience by personalizing the game with familiar team names.
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character designs are praised for their appeal, the reviews do not provide significant insights into character development, focusing instead on the visual aspects and gameplay mechanics.