Backyard Baseball ’97 is the culmination of every nostalgic 90s kid’s dreams. After almost 20 years and to everyone’s surprise, another entry in this beloved children’s sports video game franchise exists. This is a special case, because the series goes back to the very first game, Baseball in the yard. The game that captured the hearts of every baseball fan all those years ago has been remastered for young and old. How the remaster itself came to be is an exciting story.

The original source code has been lost since the game’s release in 1997. Despite this, publisher Playground Productions teamed up with Mega Cat Studios to bring Baseball in the yard back. Mega Cat Studios later pirated and repurposed the original CD-ROM for a modern audience. With this remaster, it’s the perfect time to come back for the Garden sports franchise, especially with the MLB playoffs currently in full swing. Backyard Baseball ’97 is a fun, nostalgic throwback for old fans that might also appeal to new fans of this generation.

Backyard Baseball ’97 players are the real MVPs

The remaster brings back the franchise’s beloved playable characters

Every time people think about Garden sports franchise, it’s the game’s playable baseball team that first comes to mind. Think about Baseball in the yard as a video game adaptation of The sandy ground, but expanded to 30 children to choose from. Even if the players are the same as in 1997, they still remain timeless today. The roster is diverse and multicultural, with girls and boys from different backgrounds playing together. There’s even Kenny Kawaguchi, a wheelchair baseball player. This sends a powerful message that anyone can play as long as they love baseball.

One of the most exciting things about 97s Backyard Baseball roster is that it also brings back franchise favorites. The secret weapon himself, Pablo Sanchez, makes his return, and the impact he has on real athletes is incredible to see. Real athletes pay tribute to this video game player, because he truly is the perfect weapon. A player like Pablo who hits with great power, has incredible speed and fantastic fielding is the pinnacle of athletic perfection.

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What is also remarkable 97s Backyard Baseball the list is that each child stands out from each other. Each player has a unique personality, voice, and stats that are ideal for different positions. They will tell the player up front that a certain kid would be great for the infield, but not so much for the outfield. Or that even if they are fast, they might run in the opposite direction because of their eyesight. This diversity in both personality and gameplay adds a bit of strategy when putting together a winning roster. That’s not to say that not picking an athletic kid like Pablo would instantly result in a loss, but it’s an interesting note to observe.

Backyard Baseball ’97 barely updated or remastered the original game

The remaster’s graphics and gameplay are indistinguishable from the original

While Backyard Baseball ’97 is technically a remaster, there is no massive overhaul of any aspect of the original game. It looks exactly like the original game, but without the need to load the game CD-ROM into the disc drive before starting it on the computer. In terms of gameplay and aesthetics, the remaster captures that feeling of the PC’s early days and is a charming throwback. The thing is that almost nothing about Backyard Baseball ’97 – especially its artistic style – has changed or improved.

On the one hand, it’s understandable that the remaster wouldn’t change anything drastically, as that would detract from the nostalgic appeal. But looking at the official trailer, there’s an updated art style that looks crisp and clean. If this artistic style was used in Backyard Baseball ’97that would be another story. Instead, the game itself recycles the original artwork and graphics from 1997 – for better and for worse. While this is perfect for nostalgic adult gamers, it raises concerns that the target audience of 5-10 year olds might not be interested in something they would visually consider old-school.

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It’s not fair 97s Backyard Baseball artistic style, but its controls which also show their age. Brief, The remaster’s controls and gameplay are too slow by modern standards. The player can swing across a field, but the controls are a bit wonky and imprecise, which is odd since this is a fairly simple point-and-click game that uses a mouse. It becomes even more frustrating when a ball is about to land in the outfield and the character misses it because of a sudden movement that the player didn’t even make. Then, trying to dismiss another character could knock them out of the game, allowing the opposing team to advance two bases. Hopefully the younger players won’t get too frustrated by this and give up in anger. This, however, is unlikely given that there are smoother modern games currently available.

Backyard Baseball ’97’s Game Modes Offer Plenty of Replay Value

The Remaster’s gameplay variety is enticing

Backyard Baseball ’97 offers two main modes: Pick-Up Game or League Play. Pick-Up Game is the standard baseball game that players can play and enjoy. There are other options for practicing or observing simulated play. It’s good for anyone who doesn’t have much time and wants to play a casual game without spending too much time on it. It includes the standard nine rounds, as athletes are given equal time to test their skills. Meanwhile, League Play mode is for someone who wants to spend a lot of time Backyard Baseball ’97.

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Here, players can build their team as they select nine kids and create the franchise of their dreams. League Play is where every child’s quirks and skills shine. Some children are siblings and will work well together, but this takes up two spots on the list. The amount of creativity and choice that the variety of kids offers the player is why this franchise has lasted as long as it has. It’s not just the regular season, but also the playoffs and potential championships that will take many hours. Backyard Baseball ’97.

Backyard Baseball ’97 is a fun, nostalgic blast from the past

The Remaster still has something for newcomers

Backyard Baseball ’97 is a fun game that will appeal to any baseball fan, especially if they’ve played the original. The characters are the real MVP of the remaster, as each child is memorable and leaves an impact. Although the mechanics are fairly simple, there’s a bit more depth to it than players might think. It may take some time for newcomers to adjust to the pace and speed of old-school gaming, but it works wonderfully for those who grew up in that era. Backyard Baseball ’97 is a fun, casual game that will scratch that baseball itch.

This review was written with a Backyard Baseball ’97 for PC review code provided by Playground Productions.