REVIEW:MLB Slammin' Sluggers Baseball Game

As I think you know, I am a bit old fashioned. Don't get me wrong, I use my phone and and I play video games, but I still prefer things the way they were in the 90's before all of the electronics. Some of my best memories were made playing outside with my friends, playing Monopoly with my grandmother or sitting with my dad on the floor playing Top Corner hockey nightly.

So when I discovered MLB Slammin' Sluggers Baseball Game, I had to give it a go.

ASSEMBLY

The game is officially licensed by the MLB and has all 30 teams. Here is the punch-out sheet of players.

The game mostly came together, but there were some pieces to add on as well. I am not very good about assembling things,just ask my wife, but this literally was a ten minute assembly process and one I handled with ease. Even without the instructions.

Here is what the game will look like when you pull it out of the box, minus the baseball piece above I attached on. The baseball piece is how you control the players on the field. Next to it you will see another white button that controls the pitching. More on the pitching aspect in a second.

The players, once punched out,, easily slide into slots. There are seven players per team. Whoever is up to bat keeps their players off the field. You know, like real baseball.

As I began to assemble to give it a go, I assembled the scoreboard that features moving numbers for innings and score along with the match up of the day, Yankees at home of course. The pitching piece and bat easily pushed into place.

I inserted the rest of the pieces including the foul poles and the outfield pieces to keep the baseballs in line. Now it was time to play!

This game does require two people, ages 6+ of course. You cannot play alone so I invited my wife for a friendly game ;)

GAME PLAY

The game is pretty simple to play, you fill the pitching machine up with the 5 provided metal marble balls, you pull back on the pitching mechanic I showed you above that's located next to the baseball piece, and it will pitch the ball.

 

The bat, well there's a button off to the side you pull to swing. You can be either a left handed batter or right handed batter depending on your preference. But, as pitcher, you can change the velocity on how fast you pitch and the infield has a magnetic pull to it to trick the batter. You sometimes must have really good hand-eye coordination depending on what kind of master of the game you play.

 

If you are fortunate to hit the ball, the outfield is marked with sections you can hit the ball into such as a Double, Out and Home Run. There is also a foul section. You then take one of the three players, three small pieces that are included, and move them around the bases as you hit. You score and play the 9 inning game just like real baseball.

You will also notice that the players have sections in front of them. If the ball lands in one of those slots, well, great play by the fielder and you are out. You can move the players as I said above by moving the baseball piece back and forth.

 

Off to the right of the field, you can keep track of outs, balls and strikes. 

Overall, I found the game to be easy to assemble, easy to play and very addictive. I still haven't quite figured out all of the pitching moves yet, but I am sure overtime I will get it all together and be unstoppable.

You can pick up one of these games for yourself at Toys R Us, Amazon or Walmart.