Super Mega Baseball is a baseball video game series developed by the independent studio Metalhead Software in Victoria, BC, Canada and published by EA Sports.[1]

Super Mega Baseball

Super Mega Baseball
Developer(s)Metalhead Software[a]
Publisher(s)Metalhead Software
Engine
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Shield Android TV
ReleasePlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
  • NA: December 16, 2014
  • EU: April 1, 2015
Xbox One
  • WW: August 14, 2015
Steam
  • WW: August 21, 2015
Shield Android TV
  • WW: March 24, 2016
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

History

The first game, Super Mega Baseball, was released on December 16, 2014 as a PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 cross-buy title on the U.S. PlayStation Store.[2] It was released on the European PlayStation Store on April 1, 2015.[3]

An updated version called Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings was released on Xbox One on August 14, 2015 and it was released on Steam for PC on August 21, 2015.[4] The extra features from this version were released as free DLC for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in 2016. Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings was released on Shield Android TV on March 24, 2016.[5]

Super Mega Baseball was a critical success, earning an average score of 85/100 on Metacritic, based on 14 reviews.[6] Gaming-Age gave the game a grade of "A," saying that "Because really, Super Mega Baseball is the sort of fun, easy to pick up diversion that video game baseball was at the very beginning of its lifespan — and if it's as great as it is here, there's every reason to believe it can still fulfill that function."[7] IGN, meanwhile, gave the game an 8.1 "Great" rating, praising the game's sense of humor and easy pick-up-and-play gameplay, but criticising its presentation.[8] It was named "Sports Game of the Year" by Polygon.[9]

Features

Super Mega Baseball supports 1 – 4 players in local competitive or co-operative play. Primary game modes include Exhibition and Season.[10] The game has 216 customizable players and 24 umpires, as well as four different ballparks (6 in the Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings version).[11]

Super Mega Baseball 2

Super Mega Baseball 2
Developer(s)Metalhead Software
Publisher(s)Metalhead Software
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Nintendo Switch
ReleaseWindows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
May 1, 2018
Nintendo Switch
July 25, 2019[12]
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

History

Developer Metalhead Software announced the second installment in the series, Super Mega Baseball 2, on September 28, 2016. Super Mega Baseball 2 was released in 2018 as it had been delayed, and includes updated art, online multiplayer, and full customization.[13] On April 20, 2018, Metalhead Software announced that the game would be released on May 1, 2018.[14] It released into Xbox One's Games with Gold for the month of May 2018.[15]

Super Mega Baseball 2: Ultimate Edition was then announced to be released on July 25, 2019 on Nintendo Switch. "Metalhead Software is bringing the critically acclaimed baseball game Super Mega Baseball 2 to the Nintendo Switch for the first time as Super Mega Baseball 2: Ultimate Edition, which includes the complete set of Super Mega Baseball 2 content (game, DLC), fully featured online play, and runs at 60 fps in both docked and handheld modes" - Operation Sports.[16]

Super Mega Baseball 2 earned an 81 Metacritic score for Xbox One based on 21 reviews.[17] Forbes gave it an 8.6/10 saying "While it's not a full-fledged AAA title, SMB 2 blurs the lines with its fantastic gameplay and mode depth."[18] Gaming Age gave it an A−, saying "There’s a good argument to be made that it’s the best baseball game of 2018."[19]

Features

Super Mega Baseball 2 supports 1 - 4 players in local co-op or online multiplayer. Primary game modes include Exhibition, Season, Elimination, and Pennant Race. Pennant Race is the 1v1 online matchmaking mode, while the remaining modes can be played locally or online in arranged games.[20] Super Mega Baseball 2 also has three DLC packs containing additional customization content: Wild Team Customization Pack, Wicked Team Customization Pack, Bold Player Customization Pack.[21] In season mode, it has deep, multi-season tracking of stats.

All console versions of the game can be matched with one another in the online multiplayer (Pennant Race) mode.

Awards

The game won the award for "Game, Franchise Sports" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.[22]

Super Mega Baseball 3

Super Mega Baseball 3
Developer(s)Metalhead Software
Publisher(s)Metalhead Software
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Amazon Luna
ReleaseWindows, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
May 13, 2020
Amazon Luna
January 11, 2021
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

History

Metalhead Software announced the launch of their latest game in the baseball series, Super Mega Baseball 3, on March 11, 2020. The game was set for release in April 2020, but Metalhead announced on April 23, 2020 that due to industry-wide delays from COVID-19, the release date was revised to May 13, 2020.[23] New features include an all-new Franchise mode, and importation of custom teams from Super Mega Baseball 2.[24]

Super Mega Baseball 3 was released on May 13, 2020 on Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, and on January 11, 2021 for Amazon Luna.[25][26] It earned an 83 Metacritc score for Xbox One based on 12 critic reviews [27] with one critic saying “The SMB series has become one of the most consistent, and well-developed sports gaming franchises available.”[28] Super Mega Baseball 3 also earned an 87 score on Metacritic for Switch based on 8 critic reviews [29] with another critic saying “Super Mega Baseball 3 is our new all-time leader for the title of the greatest baseball video game I have ever played.”[30]

Features

Super Mega Baseball 3 features Exhibition, Pennant Race, Season and Elimination modes, as well as a brand-new Franchise mode.[31] The Franchise mode includes such features as signing free agents and Player Development.[32] In a post-launch update, Metalhead also released a brand-new cross-platform online mode for Super Mega Baseball 3 called Online Leagues.[33] The mode was released on September 29 and allows users to create and join custom leagues online with friends. Leagues can range from casual to competitive play and each league can have up to 32 players.

Super Mega Baseball 4

Super Mega Baseball 4 was announced on May 2, 2023 for release on June 2, 2023. Its pre-orders released on May 30, 2023.[34] Super Mega Baseball 4 is the first entry in the series published by EA Sports and the first baseball game since MVP 07: NCAA Baseball.[35]

Notes

  1. ^ Nvidia Lightspeed Studios developed the Nvidia Shield version.

References

  1. ^ "Super Mega Baseball Coming to PS4, PS3 this Fall". September 17, 2014. Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  2. ^ "Arcade-style indie sports game Super Mega Baseball launches Dec. 16". Polygon. December 3, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  3. ^ "Breakout indie sports hit Super Mega Baseball goes to Europe this week". Polygon. March 30, 2015. Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  4. ^ "Extra Innings release dates set". Archived from the original on 2019-03-16. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  5. ^ "Play Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings on SHIELD | SHIELD Blog". NVIDIA SHIELD. Archived from the original on 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  6. ^ "Super Mega Baseball". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2020-03-16. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  7. ^ Pollesel, Matthew (December 16, 2014). "Super Mega Baseball review for PS4, PS3". Gaming Age. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  8. ^ "Super Mega Baseball Review - IGN". 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2020-05-24. Retrieved 2019-11-25 – via www.ign.com.
  9. ^ Good, Owen S. (December 17, 2014). "2014 in review: The sports video game of the year". Polygon. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  10. ^ "Super Mega Baseball Coming to PS4, PS3 this Fall". September 17, 2014. Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "Learn about SMB". Super Mega Baseball. Metalhead Software. Archived from the original on 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  12. ^ Synchronize (2019-07-18). "Super Mega Baseball 2: Ultimate Edition Swings Onto Switch July 25th". NintendoSoup. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  13. ^ Sarkar, Samit (September 28, 2016). "Super Mega Baseball 2 coming in 2017, adds online play and more". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  14. ^ Makuch, Eddie (April 20, 2018). "PS4/Xbox One/PC's Super Mega Baseball 2 Gets Release Date". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  15. ^ Nelson, Mike (April 3, 2018). "New Games with Gold for May 2018". Xbox Wire. Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  16. ^ Noah, Steve (July 18, 2019). "Super Mega Baseball 2: Ultimate Edition Coming to Nintendo Switch on July 25 - New Bundle Also Coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 & Steam". Operation Sports. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  17. ^ "Super Mega Baseball 2 for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 31, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  18. ^ Mazique, Brian (May 10, 2018). "'Super Mega Baseball 2' Review: The Good, The Bad, The Bottom Line". Forbes. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  19. ^ Pollesel, Matthew (May 9, 2018). "Super Mega Baseball 2 review for Xbox One, PS4". Gaming-Age. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  20. ^ Maciejewski, A.J. (May 3, 2018). "Super Mega Baseball 2 Review". Video Chums. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  21. ^ James (May 1, 2018). "Super Mega Baseball 2 swings onto Xbox One for free with GWG; Paid DLC pieces also available". The Xbox Hub. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  22. ^ "Winner List for 2018: God of War Breaks Record". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. March 13, 2019. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  23. ^ Super Mega Baseball [@SupMegBaseball] (April 23, 2020). "We have a launch date! The dingerfest begins May 13, 2020: https://bit.ly/2KrkIqb #SuperMegaBaseball3" (Tweet). Retrieved May 14, 2020 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Young, Rory (April 10, 2020). "Super Mega Baseball 3 New Features and Delay Warning". GameRant. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  25. ^ Sarkar, Samit (May 13, 2020). "Super Mega Baseball 3 is another unparalleled triumph". Polygon. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  26. ^ New on Luna+: Super Mega Baseball 3, retrieved 2022-12-18
  27. ^ "Super Mega Baseball 3". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  28. ^ Mazique, Brian. "Super Mega Baseball 3 Review: The Good, The Bad, And The Bottom Line". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  29. ^ "Super Mega Baseball 3". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  30. ^ "Super Mega Baseball 3 Review - Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  31. ^ "Super Mega Baseball 3 Review · Yet another home run". videochums.com. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  32. ^ Livingston, Christopher (2020-04-10). "Super Mega Baseball 3 shows off the depth of its new franchise mode". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  33. ^ R. Craddock, NintendoLife, 23 September 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/09/super_mega_baseball_3_is_getting_custom_cross-platform_online_leagues Archived 2020-10-21 at the Wayback Machine. [Accessed 5 November 2020].
  34. ^ Romano, Sal (2 May 2023). "Super Mega Baseball 4 announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Super Mega Baseball 4 on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
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