Take me out to the ballgame

It is hard to believe it has been ten years since the Super Mega Baseball series debuted. It hopped onto the scene and garnered a lot of attention with its focus on fun and wacky designs of the characters. It reminded me of classic sports games during the NES and SNES eras. Developer Metalhead Software was recently acquired by EA allowing them to focus solely on creating the game, but the question was always would the game slowly move away from its roots in lieu of a more traditional experience with less of what made it special. I can safely say that Super Mega Baseball 4 is by far the best entry in the series to date, with only a few setbacks it keeps the spirit of the franchise alive and kicking.

For those unfamiliar with the series Super Mega Baseball is a lighthearted take on the sport. The characters carry over-the-top design and it feels more akin to the retro baseball games I grew up playing. I used to sit for hours in front of my TV playing RBI Baseball with my brother and this series takes me back to those simpler times. While it might appear simple though the game packs plenty of depth for those that want it. The fourth entry has refined a lot of those mechanics making this the best playing and most accessible version yet.

MSRP: $49.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $49.99

The biggest change coming from the EA acquisition though has to be the inclusion of over 200 MLB legends into the game. While most of the roster still consists of fabricated players, they have added a plethora of familiar faces. These are a separate set of teams that have their own league and can be played right from start. It is cool to see players like David Ortiz and Willie Mays in this style. There are a total of eight teams in the legends roster and you can even play your own season consisting of only the legends. It is a nice touch, but it won’t be replacing The Show as my go-to simulation experience anytime soon.

The rest of the roster is filled out with the standard SMB teams. There are 20 teams here and returning players from past games in the series are here. There is also a collection of content creator teams that I simply couldn’t care less for. Yes I know the appeal, but for me it was something I had zero interest in. Maybe the old man in me, but I honestly have no idea who half of these people are. What is nice is that the entire roster can be mixed and matched as customization is a huge part of Super Mega Baseball.

Speaking of customization there is a new mode in the game called Super Shuffle. This is similar to a fantasy draft in games like Madden. Basically each team takes a turn drafting a player from a pool which includes all the characters in the game. This is more streamlined than a fantasy draft though as the game keeps track of each position filled. So for example if you don’t choose a short stop early, the later picks will consist of ONLY shortstops. This keeps the rosters organized. This mode is great as I love building my own teams in these games.

All past modes also return and the amount of content in this game cannot be understated. There are typical season modes, online leagues, standard matches, and so much more. The online community for these games is outstanding and players keep the content fresh. I loved checking out every single mode and the game is just so much fun to play it is hard not to have a good time. The inclusion of MLB legends only furthers the appeal and I cannot recommend this entry enough. It is nice to see the team have more resources to create the game they wanted to make without compromise.

Visually the game looks and runs great on Series X. The player animations have been slightly improved and the stadiums look outstanding. I really enjoy the look of these games. The unique art style lends itself well to the game. The sound is also excellent with plenty of stadium ambiance and the subtle music fits the mood.

Super Mega Baseball 4 is an outstanding entry in the series and the best to date. I have enjoyed each entry and spend more time playing these than the licensed Show games. I really love customizing my team and taking them through a franchise season. The updates and additions here really flesh out the series and I am excited for the future. I wonder if they will ever tackle another sport. Would love to see some Super Mega Football in the future.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.