World Series Baseball II

From Sega Retro

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WorldSeriesBaseballII title.png

World Series Baseball II
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Distributor: Sega-Ozisoft (AU)
Licensor: Major League Baseball Properties, Major League Baseball Players Association
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (1 track)
Peripherals supported: Saturn Backup Memory
Genre: Sports[1][2] (baseball)

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 GS-9120
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Saturn
US
$59.9959.99[6] 81113
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Saturn
EU
MK81113-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
DE
DM 99.9599.95[10] MK81113-50
USK: 0
Sega Saturn
UK
£39.9939.99[9] MK81113-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
PL
Sega Saturn
AU
OFLC: G

World Series Baseball II (ワールドシリーズベースボールⅡ) is a Sega Saturn baseball game developed and published by Sega. An entry in the World Series Baseball series of baseball titles, it is a version of Greatest Nine '96 with Major League Baseball players, teams, and ballparks. The game was first released in the United States in August 1996, and was later brought to Japan, Europe, and Australia in the following months.

The game is a sequel to the 1995 Sega Saturn baseball title World Series Baseball, and it was followed by World Series Baseball 98 in 1997.

Gameplay

The game plays identically to its predecessor but with several additions. Players can choose from any of the 28 teams from the 1996 MLB season. All 28 team stadiums have been recreated for the game. The 1998 expansion teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, are also present. However, since they had not yet played a game at the time of the release, they have not been assigned divisions or rosters and do not have ballparks. Instead, for each expansion team, the player must create a custom roster and replace an existing team in a division (adopting that team's ballpark). The game also adds new music, sound effects, and commentary, more player animations, and additional camera angles (including angles from the point of view of the outfielders). The angle for the pitching and batting view is now slightly off-center (pivoting depending on whether the batter is left- or right-handed).

The game retains the modes from its predecessor:

  • Exhibition Mode: An exhibition mode, for playing a single game against a human or computer player. The player can also watch two computer-controlled teams play. The player chooses the team and the batting line-up for computer players.
  • Pennant Race: Plays a season of 13, 26, or a full 162 games, culminating in the World Series. The game uses the Saturn's internal memory or a backup cartridge to save the player's progress.
  • Playoffs: A truncated season with only the play-offs. Up to four players can participate, with two players playing at a time.
  • All-Star Game: An exhibition mode against a human or computer player but featuring teams consisting of the best players from the American and National Leagues.
  • Home Run Derby: A competition where players can choose any player in the league and compete to get the most home runs. There are no balls, strikes, or outs and no baserunning or fielding. This mode can be played with up to four players taking turns (with the computer pitching for every player), with each player batting for 5, 10, 15, or 20 balls.
  • Data Base: View the statistics for any of the 700 players in the game.

Before each game, players choose a team and a batting line-up. Players can choose from any of the 28 major league ballparks, set the number of innings, toggle designated hitters (whether the pitcher bats or a designated hitter replaces him in the batting line-up), toggle errors (whether fielders occasionally drop fly balls or miss grounders), and toggle wind and weather (whether wind conditions affect the ball physics). When playing against a computer-controlled opponent, the player also sets the difficulty level (Rookie, Veteran, All-Star, or Legend).

World Series Baseball II, Defense, Pitching.png

World Series Baseball II, Defense, Fielding.png

  • World Series Baseball II, Defense, Pitching.png

  • World Series Baseball II, Defense, Fielding.png

Defense
When pitching, position the pitcher on the mound with L and R and throw the ball with C. While throwing, hold Left and Right for a breaking ball, Up for a change-up (slow pitch), or Down for a fastball. Faster pitches are harder for the batter to hit but more likely to travel farther or potentially result in a home run. The batter is eliminated when three strikes are thrown; the batter gets a free base if the pitcher throws four balls or hits the batter.

An indicator in the corner of the screen shows the wind speed and direction, which can affect the trajectory of the pitch. Wind can be disabled in the options before starting the game.

When fielding, the D-Pad controls all of the fielders simultaneously (with the camera focused on the one closest to the ball). The player can move the fielders while pitching by holding X while moving the D-Pad. The player can have the nearest fielder jump by pressing C or dive by pressing C while holding a direction. Once the ball is in possession, throw it to base by pressing C while holding a direction corresponding to the base (Right for first, Up for second, Left for third, or Down for home) or press C by itself to throw to first base.

The player can pause the game with  START  to substitute a relief pitcher or change the positions of fielders. This menu also has options for toggling the radar (which shows the speed of the pitch), toggling auto-fielding (allowing fielders to move into position automatically), and toggling the ball mark (a ring on the ground that indicates where the ball will land).

World Series Baseball II, Offense, Hitting.png

World Series Baseball II, Offense, Running.png

  • World Series Baseball II, Offense, Hitting.png

  • World Series Baseball II, Offense, Running.png

Offense
When hitting, the D-Pad positions the batter in the batter's box. Swing with C or bunt with Z. The batter stops the swinging motion when the button is released.

The player can instruct all baserunners to lead-off with L or have them return to base with R. While holding a direction corresponding to the destination base (Right for first, Up for second, Left for third, or Down for home), the player can instruct an individual baserunner to steal a base with B or return to his previous base with A. The player can instruct all baserunners to steal a base with Y or instruct them to return to their previous bases with X.

The player can pause the game with  START  to substitute a pinch hitter or swap out runners.

Teams

League Division Team Stadium
American Western California Angels Anaheim Stadium
Oakland Athletics Oakland Coliseum
Seattle Mariners Kingdome
Texas Rangers The Ballpark
Central Chicago White Sox Comiskey Park
Cleveland Indians Jacobs Field
Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium
Milwaukee Brewers County Stadium
Minnesota Twins Metrodome
Eastern Baltimore Orioles Camden Yards
Boston Red Sox Fenway Park
Detroit Tigers Tiger Stadium
New York Yankees Yankee Stadium
Toronto Blue Jays SkyDome
National Western Colorado Rockies Coors Field
Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium
San Diego Padres Jack Murphy Stadium
San Francisco Giants 3Com Park
Central Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium
Houston Astros Astrodome
Pittsburgh Pirates Three Rivers Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
Eastern Atlanta Braves Fulton County Stadium
Florida Marlins Joe Robbie Stadium
Montreal Expos Olympic Stadium
New York Mets Shea Stadium
Philadelphia Phillies Veterans Stadium
Expansion Unassigned Arizona Diamondbacks
Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Production credits

Main article: World Series Baseball II/Production credits.

Magazine articles

Main article: World Series Baseball II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

WSBII Saturn US PrintAdvert 2.jpg
US print advert
WSBII Saturn US PrintAdvert 2.jpg
DailyMirror UK 1996-10-10 45.png
UK newspaper print advert
DailyMirror UK 1996-10-10 45.png
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #86: "September 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-18: "1996-18 (1996-10-25)" (1996-10-11)
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Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-19: "1996-19 (1996-11-08)" (1996-10-25)
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Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
CD Consoles (FR) PAL
80
[13]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
75
[9]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[14]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
60
[15]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
70
[16]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
90
[17]
Joypad (FR) PAL
90
[18]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
85
[19]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
88
[20]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
73
[21]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
83
[22]
Next Generation (US)
100
[23]
Player One (FR)
70
[24]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
56
[25]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
67
[26]
Saturn+ (UK) NTSC-U
88
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
81
[28]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
87
[29]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
57
[30]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
82
[31]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
86
[32]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
86
[33]
Ultra Game Players (US) NTSC-U
92
[34]
Sega Saturn
78
Based on
23 reviews

World Series Baseball II

Saturn, JP
WSBII Saturn JP Box Back.jpgWSBII Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
WorldSeriesBaseball2 Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
WSBII Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, US
WSBII Saturn US Box Back.jpgWSBII Saturn US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Wsbii sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
WSBII Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, AU
WSBII Saturn AU cover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

Main article: World Series Baseball II/Technical information.

External links

  • Sega of America webpage: Saturn

References

  1. File:WSBII Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-30 22:53)
  3. http://www.sega-saturn.com/saturn/other/august-n.htm (Wayback Machine: 2016-05-12 16:03)
  4. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/dGxs59GNrlw/m/ODQe_TSeHU0J
  5. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/crUnq9iyLzg/m/hkwwPRs3CBsJ
  6. Press release: 1996-05-16: ALL-STAR LINE-UP OF SEGA SPORTS VIDEOGAMES EXPANDS THE PROVEN TOP-SELLING FRANCHISE
  7. File:DailyMirror UK 1996-10-10 45.png
  8. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1996-10-07), page 24
  9. 9.0 9.1 Computer & Video Games, "December 1996" (UK; 1996-11-xx), page 90
  10. Sega Magazin, "November 1996" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 71
  11. Next Generation, "October 1996" (US; 1996-09-17), page 115
  12. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 167
  13. CD Consoles, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 116
  14. Famitsu, "1996-11-01" (JP; 1996-10-18), page 1
  15. Fun Generation, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-13), page 99
  16. GamePro, "November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 145
  17. Game Informer, "October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 47
  18. Joypad, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 80
  19. MAN!AC, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 85
  20. Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 70
  21. Mega Fun, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-18), page 66
  22. Mean Machines Sega, "November 1996" (UK; 1996-10-04), page 72
  23. Next Generation, "December 1996" (US; 1996-11-19), page 266
  24. Player One, "Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 136
  25. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 22" (JP; 1996-10-18), page 192
  26. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 25" (JP; 1996-11-29), page 70
  27. Saturn+, "Issue 4" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 31
  28. Sega Power, "December 1996" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 58
  29. Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1996" (UK; 1996-10-17), page 68
  30. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-18 (1996-10-25)" (JP; 1996-10-11), page 225
  31. Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 12
  32. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Two" (UK; 1996-09-30), page 60
  33. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 67
  34. Ultra Game Players, "November 1996" (US; 1996-10-08), page 129


World Series Baseball II

WorldSeriesBaseballII title.png

Main page | Credits | Hidden content | Development | Magazine articles | Reception | Technical information


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Games in the World Series Baseball Series
Sega Mega Drive
World Series Baseball (1994) | World Series Baseball '95 (1995) | World Series Baseball '96 (1996) | World Series Baseball 98 (1997)
Sega Game Gear
World Series Baseball (1993) | World Series Baseball '95 (1994) | Nomo's World Series Baseball (1995)
Sega 32X
World Series Baseball Starring Deion Sanders (1995)
Sega Saturn
World Series Baseball (1995) | World Series Baseball II (1996) | World Series Baseball 98 (1997)
Windows PC
World Series Baseball '96 (1996)
Arcade
World Series 99 (1999) | World Series Baseball (2001)
Sega Dreamcast
World Series Baseball 2K1 (2000) | World Series Baseball 2K2 (2001)
Xbox
World Series Baseball (2002) | World Series Baseball 2K3 (2003)
World Series Baseball related media
Book
Prima's Official Strategy Guide: World Series Baseball 2K1 (2000)