All-Star Baseball '97 featuring Frank Thomas, sometimes mislabeled as All Star Baseball '98,[1] is a video game developed by Iguana and published by Acclaim for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1997. It is both the successor to Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball and the first game in the All-Star Baseball series.
| All-Star Baseball '97 | |
|---|---|
 PlayStation cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Iguana Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Acclaim Entertainment |
| Series | All-Star Baseball |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Sega Saturn |
| Release | Saturn
|
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Reception
edit| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame |    [2] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 5.75/10[3][a] |
| Game Informer | 5.5/10[4] |
| GameFan | 89%[1] |
| GameSpot | 6.5/10[5] |
| IGN | 5/10[6] |
| Next Generation | [7] |
| San Francisco Examiner | B−[8] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly's Kraig Kujawa said that the PlayStation version still plays the same as Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball, and called the title "mediocre".[3] Next Generation similarly commented that All-Star Baseball '97 is not groundbreaking title in gameplay and graphics, but considered it decent.[7] GamePro's The Rookie was more critical to the graphics, controls and bad camera. While the Saturn version was largely ignored by reviewers, The Rookie found it more enjoyable than the PlayStation version, citing better control, though he still advised gamers to hold out for World Series Baseball '98 instead. He scored it higher than the PlayStation version in control and fun factor, and equal in graphics and sound.[9][b][c]
Notes
edit- ^ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 5.5/10 and 6/10.
- ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 2.5/5 scores for graphics and control, 4/5 for sound, and 1.5/5 for overall fun factor.
- ^ GamePro gave the Saturn version 2.5/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, and two 3/5 scores for control and overall fun factor.
References
edit- ^ a b Joe Kidd (June 1997). "All Star Baseball '98 [sic]". GameFan. Vol. 5, no. 6. Metropolis Media. p. 80. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "All-Star Baseball '97 Featuring Frank Thomas (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean (July 1997). "All-Star Baseball '97 (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 96. Ziff Davis. p. 114. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ "All-Star Baseball '97 Featuring Frank Thomas (PS)". Game Informer. No. 51. FuncoLand. July 1997. Archived from the original on October 21, 1997. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ Rubenstein, Glenn (July 25, 1997). "All-Star 1997 [sic] Featuring Frank Thomas Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 4, 2005. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ IGN staff (June 2, 1997). "All-Star Baseball '97 (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ a b "All Star Baseball '97 featuring Frank Thomas (PS)". Next Generation. No. 32. Imagine Media. August 1997. p. 115. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ Rubenstein, Glenn (September 13, 1997). "At The Controls". San Francisco Examiner. p. 27. Retrieved May 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ The Rookie (August 1997). "All-Star Baseball '97 Featuring Frank Thomas". GamePro. No. 107. IDG. p. 79. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
