DOS

HardBall 5

I couldn't quite smell the hot dogs or enjoy the sight of fans throwing a home run ball back onto the field, but whiny criticisms aside, I would recommend Hardball 5 to most players. The only people who shouldn't shell out their $39.95 -- a great price, by the way -- are serious sports-game players who might be put off by some of the game's unrealistic tendencies. But Hardball 5 is definitely one of the more addictive and visually stunning of the sports games I've played. What it loses in realism, it makes up for in action.

Excellent arcade play; improved league play and modem options make this the best HardBall yet. Unrealistic replay statistics. It's still weak on realism, but HardBall 5's the best action baseball game available.

The on-field graphics in Hardball 5 are nothing to write home about. In fact, fielding in the outfield can get a little tricky from time to time in large part because of them. It's the actual pitcher/batter interface screen, though, that is this title's crown jewel. Great perspective, huge players and, most importantly, a huge strike zone make the process of hitting the ball a terrific blend of challenge and viewpoint. Once you get used to having the pitch coming right at you (not as difficult as many people think), you're prepared to tackle the most playable baseball sim on the shelves today.

Hardball 5 is strong on action, deep in stats, and lots of fun - a very good game. With the arrival of the 5.1 patch, it could be an outstanding game.

Another Hardball game: you know what to expect. Although I, myself, don't particularly like sports games on the PC (it's an RPG world), I can't find much fault with this title. Cool graphics, 3 different commentators, solid playability and a butt-load of stats make this a top contender in the world of baseball sims. My only beef is that the field looks flat, but that's because I'm spoiled by 3-D platform games.