I’m not big on sports video games, but am finding myself really liking “The Bigs”. I understand it’s not a true sim, more of an arcade style game, but maybe that’s what drew me to it. I really enjoy the Home Run Derby, and the Home Run Pinball modes.
Home Run Pinball puts you in Times Square. Your mission is to cause as much damage as possible by hitting balls off of the taxi’s, neon signs and those huge ‘jumbotron’ televisions. There are extra bonuses for hitting out all the letters of the ‘Hotel’ sign, and when you are fully powered up, you can take out the new year’s eve ball. This is a challenge, but fun to play, as you only get 3 strikes, and the game is done.
In Home Run Derby, you take on another player in a home run hitting contest. This is a pretty basic game, is played in a stadium setting, with the first to hit 10 out of the park winning the contest. You also have the option to play against someone online.
In the Rookie Challenge, hitting and pitching are pretty straight-forward. Push the button and release, but good timing is essential. Also, running full bore from third to home just to obliterate the catcher is pretty fun and vice a versa.
I do have one big complaint, though, and its the horrendous outfield controls. The defensive AI is so good its ridiculous. They can perform home run robbing wall climbs with ease (like 5 in one 5 inning game), yet damned if I can pull ANY off.
I seem to be having trouble just getting the correct guys to go to the ball. Controlling outfielders just makes you look like the three stooges playing ball. This gets very frustrating, and I often find myself yelling at the players - “Pick up the ball!!” Anyone else playing “The Bigs”, and having the same problems?
All in all this is a pretty fun game, and from a non-sports guy like myself, I was pretty surprised. While there aren’t any true baseball sim sections such as stat tracking and manager type options, this is an arcade style game, even big sim fans should be able to have fun with it.
