All-Star Baseball 2001

Developer: High Voltage Software Publisher: Acclaim

Released: March 31, 2000 Rated: E 7/10

While still far from the likes of future titles like MLB Slugfest and The Bigs, new developer High Voltage Software was handed the keys for All-Star Baseball’s third and final iteration on the N64 and manages to offer a slightly flashier and looser game of baseball on top of the existing engine from Iguana. I think with the proven success of the franchise and its ability to hang as the baseball market on the N64 got even more crowded in spring of 1999, Acclaim felt comfortable handing off this release while the newly renamed Acclaim Studios Austin (nee Iguana Entertainment) focused on the Turok franchise.

High Voltage’s previous experience was often in porting some of Midway/Williams’ popular arcade sports titles to less-valued platforms like Windows and Atari Jaguar, while also putting in work for Atari on Jaguar titles like Ruiner Pinball and Fight For Life. I think this experience just handling ports of titles like NBA Hangtime and NHL Open Ice alongside a later propensity for stylish arcade-y titles like Hunter: The Reckoning and The Conduit rubbed off somewhat on All-Star Baseball 2001 where it could. There’s a bit more dedication to fleshing out a pick-up-and-play option for more casual players who wouldn’t be getting another effort from Nintendo for the coming season. Arcade-style quickplay with simpler, timing-based controls and less focus on roster management is more heavily featured this time around, and the addition of a Legends team highlights the small additions being made to have a little fun with the project. Even without any major leaps, though, I think 2001 is the most polished and most robust iteration of the franchise the N64 has to offer, and can largely stand up to any other baseball title on the system.