Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu - Basic Ban '98 is one of those classic SNES baseball games that just feels right. The controls are simple—swing, pitch, run—but there’s a surprising amount of depth once you get into it. The players have these exaggerated, cartoony faces that somehow make every home run feel even more satisfying.

First thing you’ll notice? The announcer’s voice clips are ridiculously energetic, even if you don’t understand Japanese. And the fielding actually takes some skill—none of that automatic magnet-to-the-ball nonsense. Miss a catch, and you’ll hear the crowd groan at you. Brutal.

It’s not the fanciest baseball sim out there, but there’s something about the way it plays that keeps me coming back. Maybe it’s the quick matches, or maybe it’s just the sheer joy of nailing a perfect curveball. Either way, it’s a solid pick if you’re into retro sports games.