Off the Shelf Media

Backyard Baseball ‘97 brought me back to my youth. It’s one of the first games I ever played and it’s a good blast of nostalgia. However, after playing through an entire season, I wanted more and am now rethinking the good old days as childhood ignorance.  

It’s a cut, copy, and paste job. The good is there, the bad is there, and the mistakes were left unfixed, which is a problem. 

Gameplay: 1

When I say this is the exact same game, I mean it. The intro video is the same, the menus are the same, the gameplay is the same, the settings are the same, the players and their stats are all the same, the team mascots are the same, the fields are the same, the announcers are the same, and anything you’re thinking of is the same. 

In some ways, that is good. Don’t fix what ain’t broke. Unfortunately, there were some mechanics in 1997 that could have easily been fixed. A big one is the statistics. They are inaccurate, to say the least. I had the legendary Pablo Sanchez up at bat in the first inning and he struck out (shocking I know). The next time he came up to bat in the third inning the scoreboard said he was 0-2. 

The game also categorizes errors as hits and errors. In baseball, if you reach base on an error, you don’t get credited with a hit, lowering your average. As a baseball nerd, I had to point that out and call out the inaccuracy of the game. Hey, at least there isn’t a runner on second base if the game goes into extra innings. 

The statistical woes continue, unfortunately. At the end of the game, you can look at season statistics and it said Kiesha Phillips had more at-bats than Pete Wheeler. That’s not possible since Pete Wheeler bats in front of Kiesha and I never draw any walks. 

Another bug the developers didn’t fix is the home run trot. When you hit a home run the blimp flies over the field. When the player rounds second base they run under the shadow of the blimp. Some of the players turn green when they hit the shadow. It happened in 1997 and it happened again here in 2024. Not the end of the world and it doesn’t take away from the experience but it’s a detail that could have easily been fixed. 

The rest of the gameplay is just as fun as you remember. Launching a home run with Pablo is just as satisfying and hits all the right emotions. Striking out your opponent with Kenny Kawaguchi and keeping your fingers crossed for the right power-up is as satisfying as you want it to be. 

There are two different game modes in Backyard Baseball ‘97: season mode and quickplay. In season mode, you draft your team and play through a season to win the championship. In quickplay mode, you alternate picks like you used to in gym class and play a pickup game at your favorite ballpark. Shoutout to the Dirt Yards for being the most underrated. 

Season mode should be the superior mode, but honestly, it’s disappointing. Every single game is at the Parks Department No. 2 and you always face a team of generated players. I wanted to play against the other backyard kids like Ernie Steel or Tony Delveccio. Instead, I was left with Isiah Sampson and Tommy Davies. Literal nobodies. I believe this mechanic is fixed in Backyard Baseball 2001 but Mega Cat Studios could have fixed this and the fact that they chose not to is a shame. 

I’ve been playing this game on my Steam Deck and I have to say it runs way better on the deck than it does on my PC. The graphics are crisper and I like using the joysticks and mouse pads as opposed to my mouse and keyboard. 

The bottom line, all the good things about the original are there and make the game worth playing. As a fan of the franchise, I wanted Mega Cat Studios to fix the mistakes of the past. They chose not to and it leaves the taste of a cash grab left in my mouth. 

Story: 1

No surprise here. There is no story. The story is told through your own eyes in your head. As for me, I’m the coach of the Humongous Melonheads and I’m here to whip these kids into shape and turn them into champions. I drafted the best team imaginable and we are going to take the league by storm. 

There isn’t much more to say beyond that. You have to write your own story. I managed to pitch a perfect game for the first time ever. It’s almost impossible to go through a 9 inning game with 0 errors but I finally did it. 

Atmosphere: 2

The look and feel of the ‘97 classic is still there. The player models are the same, the music is the same, Vinnie the Gooch is still doing color commentary, and the ballparks are just as iconic. The game feels like Backyard Baseball and creates a fun and comfortable environment for the player. One of the most satisfying sounds in gaming is knocking a 400-foot home run with the Aluminum Power power-up. Then you get to hear the magic of Pablo Sanchez’s theme song as he slowly rounds the bases. 

Value: 1

This game is currently $9.99 on Steam. That’s worth the price in my opinion. 

Backyard Baseball ‘97 is a game where Mega Cat Studios needs funding to make the game they want to make. That’s why I bought the game. I want them to succeed and bring the Backyard franchise back from the dead. I don’t need updated character models or new music but I expect the outdated mechanics to be fixed. I expect new stadiums, new teams, and more customization. 

On the flip side, since this is a glorified emulation of Backyard Baseball, it’s hard to fight the argument that it should be free. The internet is a big place and if you know where to look, you can find an emulator and play the game for free and that defeats the purpose of buying this game at all. 

I do not condone any illegal activity with emulators but if you still have the disc from 1997 and know how to convert it into a ROM then save yourself the $10 and do that instead. 

Duration: 2

I will be playing this game forever. Every now and then I’ll replay a season with a new team and a new cast of characters. Maybe I’ll draft the worst players on the roster and see how far I’ll go. Steam also has some ridiculous achievements like hitting 50 grand slams so if you’re an achievement hunter, you’ll be playing this one for a while. 

Total Score: 7/10

This game isn’t a failure but it left a lot of room for improvement. I do not regret spending $10 but I have to give the game a fair review based on the criteria and a carbon copy of a game from 25 years ago is not a 10/10 game. I, for one, am willing to give Mega Cat Studios a chance and see what they can do with the franchise moving forward. 

Speaking of second chances, my last review was for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix from the PlayStation 3. It’s the first Potter game brought to the PS3, and I have to say I was impressed. 

I’ll see ya there, but until then, y’all take care.