Play Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu - Basic Ban '98 (Japan) Online

Game Overview

Man, Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu - Basic Ban '98 is one of those SNES games that just feels right. The first time I booted it up, I wasn’t expecting much—just another old baseball game, right? But there’s something about the way the pitches zip across the plate and the fielders scramble after line drives that makes it weirdly intense. The players all have these exaggerated, cartoony faces that somehow make striking out even more humiliating.

It’s stripped down compared to later entries—no crazy power-ups or season modes—but that’s kind of the charm. You pick a team, adjust your lineup (good luck figuring out who’s who if you don’t read Japanese), and just play. The pitching meter’s simple but brutal if you mistime it, and hitting a no-doubter homerun feels like pure luck every single time. Also, the crowd noise is hilariously over-the-top when someone makes a diving catch.

If you’ve ever wondered why people still obsess over this series, this ‘98 version is a great place to start. Just don’t blame me when you lose three hours to extra innings.