Baseball Advance GBA Game Review: Batting A Thousand for Retro Baseball Action

Introduction

In the heyday of the Game Boy Advance, sports games were a dime a dozen. From basketball to football to soccer, every major athletic endeavor got its turn on Nintendo's acclaimed handheld system. But in the lineup of GBA sports titles, few brought the intensity, depth, and pure fun of Baseball Advance. Developed by Smilesoft and released in 2002, this retro baseball gem still ranks among the very best sports games on the Game Boy Advance nearly two decades later.

Whether you're a die-hard baseball fan who geeks out over statistics or someone just looking for an addictive portable gaming experience, Baseball Advance delivers in spades. With tight gameplay mechanics, a wealth of customization options, and AI that will give even seasoned players a run for their money, this retro GBA sports game is an essential addition to any Game Boy Advance collection.

The Story: Homering Into Your Heart

Like most classic baseball games for the GBA, Baseball Advance doesn't pack a narrative punch in the same way that RPGs or story-driven adventures might. That said, the game doesn't entirely ignore context and character. As you start your Baseball Advance journey, you can opt to take control of one of several professional teams or start from humble beginnings as the ragtag group of players on the "My Team" roster.

It's in that "My Team" mode where Baseball Advance starts to build a bit of heart. In addition to naming your upstart squad and selecting the individual players' appearances, you also get to choose their personalities, which impacts things like their hot and cold streaks as well as how well they develop rapport with teammates. Sure, the writing isn't Shakespearean, but these little touches of humanity go a surprisingly long way in making you invested in your Baseball Advance crusade.

Gameplay: Hitting Homers Both On and Off the Field

If there's one area where Baseball Advance truly knocks it out of the park, it's the gameplay. From the moment you step into the batter's box or take the mound on the pitcher's side, you get an immediate sense of depth and strategy. The batting controls are simple - you just need to time your swing correctly as the ball crosses the plate - but the number of possible outcomes adds an incredible degree of nuance and replayability.

With the ability to lay down bunts, take pitches to work the count, or swing for the fences, no two at-bats ever feel exactly the same. Pitching, meanwhile, is like a never-ending dance of cat-and-mouse between you and the hitter. You not only have to pick your pitch and its location carefully, but also keep an eye on things like your batter's strengths, their current hot or cold streak, and even their mood based on recent happenings in the game.

Beyond the action on the field, Baseball Advance impresses with incredible depth. The multiplayer offerings allow you and up to three friends to engage in some seriously cutthroat competition. Whether you opt for a quick pick-up game or delve into the franchise mode that lets you guide your franchise over multiple seasons and through the draft, trades, and free agency, there's always a new way to challenge your baseball skills.

Creating Drama Every Inning with Clutch Performances

Underpinning the Baseball Advance gameplay is a keen sense of drama that makes every pitch delivery or at-bat genuinely suspenseful. Your players won't always perform perfectly, and there's a feeling that any given hit could kickstart a huge rally for you or your opponent. The AI competitors also put up a consistently solid fight, both in terms of their hitting and pitching acumen. You really have to execute sound strategy to hold them off over nine innings, which only amps up the tension in a positive way.

Speaking of sound strategy, Baseball Advance doesn't sacrifice depth for the sake of accessibility. Players who want to can simply plug in different sliders to adjust things like difficulty, realism vs. arcade gameplay feel, and even nuanced factors like error rates. For hardline baseball junkies, it's possible to build out incredibly faithful baseball simulations where one mistake can cost you the game in the same way a playoff run can turn on the outcome of a single at-bat.

Then again, you can also relax the settings for more fast-paced, back-and-forth affairs where the focus is mainly on having fun rather than absolute authenticity. The ability to shape Baseball Advance to your individual tastes prevents the experience from growing stale and, coupled with the clutch performances and unpredictable outcomes, ensures that you'll keep coming back for more.

Customization that Would Make a Fantasy Baseball Whiz Jealous

Baseball Advance hits a high note with its customization options, as well. Players are free to tinker and fine-tune everything from their batting stances, pitching motions, and running styles to uniform colors, hairstyles, and even skin tones. It all adds up to a remarkably personalized gameplay experience, especially for the time.

But the customization doesn't end there. Baseball Advance also lets you dive deep into player ratings, assigning points and allocating attributes to build out dream team rosters perfectly optimized for your strategy. Want to field a murderer's row of sluggers who live and die at the plate? You can do that. Prefer a team of slap-hitting pests who manufacture runs by making solid contact and taking advantage of speed and base running skill? Just craft your roster accordingly.

Graphics and Sound: An Authentic Stadium Ambiance

On the visual front, Baseball Advance delivers one of the stronger sports gaming experiences on the GBA. Player models have expressive animations, and the 3D character designs hold up remarkably well even by today's standards. Stadium environments have plenty of minor details like signage, electronic ribbon boards, and shifting sun positions depending on the time of day for an added sense of immersion.

While the graphics can't hold a candle to what modern sports titles are capable of, there's a simplistic charm to how Baseball Advance renders everything that fits the retro spirit. No, you're not going to see photorealistic players covered in sweat and glistening outfield grass, but what you do get is smooth, appealing representation of the sights of a typical ballpark.

Sound also feels authentic, with pitch types, bat cracks, and cheering crowds all recreated respectfully. There is no iconic musical score or anything quite so memorable in the same way that sports movie soundtracks stick with you. But the real selling point with Baseball Advance's audio is how well it nails the ambiance of being at an actual baseball game. The noises of cleats digging into dirt, umpires barking calls, and fans going wild for a deep fly ball fill in just enough atmosphere to make the action feel alive.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Baseball Advance proves to be an absolute grand slam for the Game Boy Advance and one of the best retro GBA sports games you'll find. It's so much more than just another classic baseball game for the system, though. Baseball Advance is a prime example of how to construct a layered, engrossing gameplay experience without sacrificing pick-up-and-play appeal.

The controls are easy to learn, but delivering the perfect game takes genuine skill. Customization options let you shape the experience to your liking, be it a grounded baseball sim or a more approachable arcade-style slugfest. And the drama and tension on display always keep you invested in the outcome, whether you're staring down the imposing Baseball Advance AI or taking on friends via multiplayer.

While Baseball Advance can't match the visual fidelity or breadth of modern sports titles on more powerful platforms, it makes the most of the Game Boy Advance hardware in a way that few sports games could. It's a captivating, refined, and endlessly replayable experience that captures the magic of hardball action in your hands. For GBA owners and retro sports gaming enthusiasts alike, Baseball Advance deserves a spot in the Cooperstown of handheld sports games.