Released: April 9, 2014
ESRB – E
Reviewed on PS3
Overall Review:
I was jumping out of my seat when I first saw that RBI baseball was being released to help provide an alternative to MLB 2014 : The Show . I knew there was a place in the market for a less complex baseball game that focused on entertainment value and pure “fun” as opposed to being a simulation. In short, I wanted Ken Griffey Jr Baseball for the SNES with a modern aesthetic.
As it turns out, I got excited too fast. I am sad to report that RBI Baseball 2014 misses the mark in a few very big ways.
I will freely admit that a lot of my disappointment is built on expectations. The (relatively) low budget and the cartoonish art style led me to believe that this would be a casual baseball game.
But, instead I found that big data like the MLB PITCHf/x influencing the outcomes. This should seem like a small gripe, but the end result was a stale experience that lacked the grandeur of the full simulation we find in The Show OR the casual appeal of the classic baseball games of previous generations.
Family Gaming Assessment:
The one bright side to this title is that it is family appropriate. There is nothing to be concerned with here.
Playability Assessment:
RBI Baseball 2014 is not difficult to control. I would hesitate in encouraging younger children who have no experience with baseball to play. But, players should be able to “make the game work” just fine.
Conclusion:
It pains me to say it (considering my initial excitement), but this game isn’t worth it unless you are desperate for a baseball fix and simply can’t buy MLB: The Show 2014.
