Hardball III on the Genesis is one of those old-school baseball games that just feels right. The pitching mechanics are simple but satisfying—you pick your spot, wind up, and hope your fastball doesn’t get crushed into the stands. Batting’s a little trickier; timing matters way more than you’d think at first, and I swear the AI pitchers love throwing junk right when you’re expecting heat.

What I really dig is how it nails that arcade-y baseball vibe without being too cartoony. The fielding’s responsive, diving for catches actually works (most of the time), and there’s something weirdly addictive about stealing bases even when you know you’ll probably get tagged out. Two-player mode’s where it shines, though—nothing like trash-talking your friend after a walk-off homer.

It’s not the deepest sim out there, but for a quick, no-fuss game of baseball with just enough strategy to keep you paying attention, it holds up way better than it should. The crowd noise alone is pure nostalgia.