engen/Domark
£10.99/£14.99

Tengen's latest offering is RBI 2, a sports game that takes you to the baseball field to indulge in the great summery pastime that gets American's very excited.

If the finer points of baseball are as totally incomprehensible to you as they are to me, fear not, 'cos there's a guide entitled Baseball For Idiots And Englishmen included in the package (along with a smart RBI 2 baseball cap, would you believe). The computer version is a one-or-two player game and teams are selected from a list of 26 before the game begins.

The field is split into two parts, the outfield and the infield - otherwise known as the diamond, where most of the action takes place. At each corner of the diamond is a base - Home, First, Second and Third - and it's each batter's task to run between the four bases and so score a run.

The game is viewed from behind the batter, facing the pitcher. The pitcher stand on a mound of earth in the centre of the infield and tries to strike the batter out (ie, force him to miss the ball). To this end the player controlling the pitcher can choose the speed and curve of the ball as he winds up the shot.

If the batter hits the ball, the outfielders come into play. It's their job to catch the ball and, as the batter runs around the infield, throw it back to a base and attempt to intercept him.

So there you have it, basically, each player batting and fielding in turn and scoring as many runs as possible. The winning team's success is splashed across the front page of the Baseball News and the losers are laughed off the pitch.

After a spell of okay-ish games, Tengen finally appear to have a hit on their hands - RBI 2 is great! Although I know as much about baseball as I do quantum physics, I picked the game up pretty easily.

The angst felt when my batter whacked the ball outfield and legged it for the next base kept me playing for ages, and the game is particularly good when playing against a chum. Graphically, RBI 2 is excellent, all the character sprites, although tiny, are brilliantly animated, especially the pitcher and batter. The only thing lacking is a decent league system.

Overall, it's pretty fab: playable, entertaining and pleasantly competitive. RBI 2 definitely scores a home run (see how quickly one picks up the terminology)!

MARK [88%]

It's not very often you see a baseball game on the Spectrum. The last one I can remember was, erm, (think, think) World Series Baseball about six years ago and its gameplay wasn't too dissimilar to this (not surprisingly; it's all baseball, isn't it?). What first impressed me about RBI 2 was the slick presentation and excellent music. I don't usually get my toes tapping to Spectrum music but I must admit this was very good, complementing the logo scrolling around the screen perfectly. So, it's all very flashy up front but what about the game? Well, the smallish sprites do the job well and you really get into the swing of things, the close-up display giving a detailed look at the batting and showing where the ball is at all times. There isn't that much you can control in the game, though: other than pitching and batting, you can only control the direction the fielders throw the ball, and that isn't very taxing. But I'm not going to end on a moan, 'cos I really enjoyed playing RBI 2 and reckon all sports action fans will too!
NICK [84%]

Domark (Tengen)
£10.99 cass/£14.99 disk
Reviewer: James Leach

What's all this 'baseball' malarkey about then, eh? I mean, people wear 'baseball' boots, and put 'baseball' caps on their heads - but everybody knows the game they're really talking about is rounders.

Of course, that doesn't sound half as street-cool and hip - which is probably why the Americans changed the name. Anyway, whatever you call it, it's a damn simple game to understand so without further ado let's get out there and have a bit of a bat, shall we?

MINE!

RBI 2 is a 3D simulation, in which you get to become your very own baseball team. You start off by selecting the American city you want to represent, then you pick a pitcher (the blokie who chucks the ball, not a jug with handles) and finally an opening batter (the blokie who hits the ball, not a pancake mix).

Still with me? Good. Then the scene shifts to the ballpark. If you're fielding, your 5 blokes automatically take up sensible positions, so there's no faffing around. The pitcher stands on his mound, and then it's all up to you.

When batting is in progress, a blown-up view of the pitcher and batter is shown (so you can see what you're doing presumably). If you're pitching, you can move from side to side choosing the best angle, and also set the joystick to do fast or slow deliveries and curve balls. And it actually works! With a bit of practice you get to know which balls certain players have trouble hitting and which they like. The batter is finally out if you throw 3 balls which he misses (And that's the origin of the "Strike1, Strike 2" saying, fact fans.)

But if the batter hits then you've got to run your men, footy sim like, until they 'field' the ball (which basically means 'going and fetching it'). They've got to throw the ball to any base with an opponent running to it. The joystick controls takes some getting used to (it's a case of getting your stick in the right position and pressing Fire), but it works brilliantly when you do. (You've no idea how satisfying it is to whip the ball from the outfield straight into a base's hands just before the computer's little man wheezes up to it!)

UP, UP, AND AWAY!

Batting is an altogether easier option. You see the same close-up view of the batter and pitcher, but this time you must move the batter into the best position. It's trial and error, but after a couple of games you'll have the measure of it. But here's the dodgy bit. Once he hits, your batter automatically runs to first base. Any other men you have on other bases also run automatically. The only control you have is to prompt a man to keep running when he would normally have stopped. It would have been nice to have control of at least one of the runners - but no, you have to just bite yer nails as the bods paddle round slowly to the next base.

Although this can seem like an eternity (like the speed your men run at when they're fielding), the game is pretty quick, and the scrolling as the ball is followed around is nice and neat. A little screen below the main display tells you exactly where the ball is and who's nearest to it, while another displays a radar-type view of all the action. It plots the positions of the ball and all the players, so for the most part your eyes will be glued to it when you're into bat.

The aim is to get your men round all 4 bases safely. Once 3 blokes are out, the other team has a go. There are 10 rounds of this to-ing and fro-ing and each one lasts a couple of minutes (or less if you're completely atrocious at it). This quickfire approach is completely different to, say, cricket, and it's certainly a lot more exciting, that's for sure.

Baseball is hardly the most obvious thing to do on the Spec (you might fall off, hur hur). but Domark have managed a pretty spiffy job here. The only niggle, as I've said, is that you do a lot when you're fielding, but you tend to sit back and watch your guys struggling when it comes to the batting bits. Oh well. Variety is, as they say, the spice of life.

REPLAY

And a personal hello to carpet-fitter Bernard Opportunity of Dalton! (He's the only one who ever reads this box, you know.)

The Hit Squad
£3.99
061 832 6633
Reviewer: Rich Pelley

Sports sims always tend to turn out quite well on the old Spec - until the advent of Sensible Soccer on the Amiga, Match Day on the Speccy was still the ultimate footy game, and has a multi eventer anywhere ever surpassed Daley's (original) Decathlon?

So what of RBI 2? I like it, because it captures the feel of the sport in that perfectly Spectrummy way which actually makes you glad that you are playing it on computer you could pick up at a car boot sale for the price of a packet of tea bags (as opposed to a £45 import cart on a Super Nintendo which you got in exchange for your granny).

My only niggle is that there's not quite enough to do. Batting is a simple case of waiting for the ball to be pitched, then moving your batter accordingly and swiping at the ball. The ball is larger than your head (!) but still quite difficult (at first) to hit. and impossible to direct. Your men run and stop around the our bases automatically - you can prompt men to run when the computer has decided that they shouldn't, but this is seldom so you tend to have to sit back and watch.

There's a bit more to do whilst fielding - you take control of the man nearest to the ball with a chance to dive for, or run after and return, each hit. You also have to take care of the pitching with a selection of slow, fast or curve balls at a touch of a key. And, well, that's it, really. Baseball on the Speccy for four quid. File under 'If you like.'

Label: Hit Squad
Memory: 48K/128K
Tape: £3.99
Reviewer: Big Al Dykes

Originally released by Domark two years ago RBI is, without a shadow of doubt, the best baseball sim available. Ok, maybe baseball isn't as popular over here as it is in America but then they don't understand cricket, do they?

RBI is beautiful to look at and just as beautiful to play. Baseball can be confusing so it's a good idea to have a rule book to hand but the concept of the game is relatively simple and once you get the hang of all the statistics and the jargon you'll really start to enjoy this game.

You can select any baseball team from across the USA and compete in single games or a world series against the computer or a human opponent. Two player mode is actually great fun. Once you've chosen your team you must then select your pitchers and the line up of the rest. The game is really simple enough, someone pitches the ball and another guy hits it, but as you scramble about for outfield balls and try to knock out the batsmen with expert throws this game becomes very absorbing.

Excellent graphics excellent gameplay mark RBI as a very worthy sports simulation. Well worth pitching for at this stingy Hit Squad price.

STEVE:
I remember RBI when Domark first launched it two years ago. It really impressed me then but at this price it simply has to be bought, especially if you're a fan of baseball. Remember to get a rule book if you're not though.

Label: Domark
Memory: 128K
Price: £10.99 Tape, £14.99 Disk
Reviewer: Alan Dykes

Strike One! Another two of those missed balls and you're out, and believe me this game is so realistic you'll feel the disappointment.

Domark have packed a lot of graphic action into R.B.I Baseball, with up to four separate views running simultaneously on screen (on a Spectrum!) so it could have ended up looking like gremlin in a food mixer. Instead it looks like a live game in a stadium which is of course what was planned.

Those familiar with baseball will love this, those not may struggle at first. There's a complete list of Major League baseball teams from Seattle to Miami to choose from. There are team statistics, starting and reserve player line ups and of course you must decide on the correct pitching or batting order for your players.

R.B.I has two difficulty levels. The easy mode slows down the action and when you re batting, it delays the pitching team's return of outfield balls thus allowing your team to get in a few runs. However on the difficult level, they'll run you down if they can and the familiar cry (or bleep in this case), of "all out", will send you back to the "pit" with the imprint of first base on your forehead.

When pitching, (known as bowling here in blighty, I believe), there is full control of the player on the mound, he can move left or right and throw a fast or a slow ball. Once he has thrown, control is switched to the fielding player nearest to the ball, who must retrieve it and throw it at one of the four bases to put the opposing players out.

If you're batting then you only retain control long enough to whack the ball, hopefully into oblivion, after that the computer takes over and co-ordinates your players as they run between the bases. This means that you must practise hitting the ball properly before you start getting home runs. It also helps to look at your current player statistics before you start showing off, as some are better than others!

Intro screens are wonderfully colourful and there is a Baseball newspaper at the end to announce the winners. The theme music is smashin' and the sound during the game isn't half bad either, as long as the volume is kept at a respectable level. Overall R.B.I. 2 Baseball has good graphics, sound and gameplay shows a lot of respect for the real game and is a spiffing example of a sports simulation.

STEVE:
Prior knowledge of baseball would be a big plus as without it RBI might drive you batty at first. But persevere and you will be rewarded with a lasting gem of a sports sim.