Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2012: Is the Japanese Baseball Sim Right for You?

Feature Article

Submitted on: 07/05/2012 by Caley Roark

Pro Yakyuu Spirits might be the best playing baseball game in the world.

Before delving into Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2012, I’m going to refer you to my impressions of the 2011 version of this annual Japanese baseball franchise.This article details the basics of gameplay, most of which hasn’t changed drastically since last year. Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2012 still represents a stellar baseball game, with tremendous graphics, atmosphere and ball physics.

However, most of the changes offered will probably be of little consequence to casual followers of the series (a group I firmly lump myself into). The graphics look a little better, especially cut-scenes and crowd shots. The ball physics are surprisingly more fluid.

I also find the default settings to present a bit more of a challenge, though I’m still able hack and make contact with ease (that’s not to say I get hits easily). And, apparently, there is a new announcer.

Outside of these changes, most will find a similar experience as last year. Rather than rehashing what makes this game so good -- again -- check the aforementioned article, or this review at Spirits Translations. I’ll break down whether this game might be for you .

Spirits 2012 is definitely worth picking up if you:

1. Are willing to work: This game naturally requires a great deal of effort to enjoy, primarily because most of it isn’t in English. Thankfully, a great deal of resources for the non-Japanese speakers wishing to engage in a different baseball experience is available at http://www.spiritstranslation.com. Still, constantly needing to check a website while playing can be tiring and time consuming.

2. Enjoy interesting modes: There are a number of different modes in this game, including the unique Grand Prix mode. Grand Prix is a card-based game where you build a team and progress through various tournaments. It’s definitely deeper than The Show’s Diamond Dynasty.

3. Possess an interest in Japanese Baseball: A major hurdle for many sports gamers will be a lack of familiarity with teams, players, playoff formats, etc. This shouldn’t necessarily prevent you from jumping in; in fact, it’s a great way to learn about a different culture and its sporting traditions.

4. Are willing to try something new: Again, there’s a lot of very nice things to discover within Spirits 2012, but it functions very differently than your average American baseball game. For instance, not only can you swing for contact or power, there’s a different button for pull and opposite field swings.

5. Are willing to invest more than time: Getting this game will run you a bit more than your average game as well, since it’s being imported from a different part of the world. Shipping can quickly push the cost of this game up to $100. PlayAsia is a popular site and a good place to start.

I’d say if you can identify with at least four of these statements, Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2012 is a worthwhile experience. It is a fantastic looking and smooth playing baseball game, with lots of depth waiting to be explored. If you are a bit leery about diving in, you can get previous versions slightly cheaper on eBay. Still, this is a game, and a series, that true fans of baseball need to play at least once.

If you are a diehard Pro Yakyuu Spirits fan, let us know what you think about this year's version. If you are new to the series, check out our "Other Baseball" forum.

Member Comments

# 1 malky @ 07/05/12 05:20 PM

Ya know back before the show was the show I so wanted this game

# 2 giantsharks @ 07/05/12 06:43 PM

best baseball game hands down. The hitting is the most amazing part of pys, hopefully when mvp baseball makes a return they adopt the pys hitting, or maybe konami should just make an mlb game

# 3 Manny_Shevitz @ 07/05/12 06:52 PM

I've been playing PYS since the 2010 version, and I think 2012 is the most polished and version so far, both in gameplay and graphics. By no means is it a huge jump from last year's game, but if you're thinking about trying this series out for the first time, you can't go wrong with 2012.

In the past I've been an outspoken supporter of the Pro Yakyuu Spirits game on this site -- maybe a little too outspoken at times. In my opinion, I also think it stands far above The Show in terms of gameplay, but it's not for everyone. If you are a die-hard fan of The Show, and love everything about the way that game plays, PYS may not win you over. But as someone who once believed that The Show was the pinnacle of baseball videogames, since I started playing PYS, I've never looked at The Show the same way again. And this is coming from someone who knew absolutely nothing about pro Japanese baseball. If anything, PYS has given me a new found interest in, and appreciation for the NPB.

I'll also say that while there is a bit of a hurdle you need to get over in terms of the language barrier, www.spiritstranslation.com is an amazing resource for getting you over that hurdle. It doesn't take long at all to familiarize yourself with all of the menus and settings, and before you know it, you'll hardly ever feel the need to go back and reference the site for translations.

I would recommend this series to anyone who is a fan of baseball. It is an absolute blast to play. It is challenging, yet deeply rewarding, and every game you play feels different and unpredictable.

# 4 thaSLAB @ 07/05/12 06:59 PM

I haven't played 2012 unfortunately, but I do own PYS 5 [Kanzenban], PYS 6, 2010 and 2011 - so I guess I could fit into the "diehard" category. I just haven't had the free time I used to, so that is the main reason I didn't import 2012. Plus, I figured the upgrades were minimal enough to skip a year, and grab 2013, hopefully with the WBC like PYS 6 had.

I have always enjoyed the hitting and baserunning in this game. The bat on ball physics are top-notch too. I would definitely recommend the series to any baseball fan/gamer. IMO, 2010 gave me the most enjoyment for some reason, going all the way back to PYS 3. Although I still prefer The Show series overall, PYS is definitely a great game and change of pace for a diehard hardball fan. I think it presents Nippon League baseball just as well/accurately as MLBTS does with MLB.

Funny thing is, one of my friends sent me a message today, asking me about PYS - then I log on to OS and see this article. Talk about coincidence... at least, I don't think he's a member of OS.

# 5 jyoung @ 07/05/12 07:22 PM

If only there was a Xbox 360 version of Pro Spirits.

Bobblehead Pros is good, but not nearly as in depth.

Konami definitely makes the best baseball games, though.

I guess because the PS3 is the system of choice in Japan, Pro Spirits remains exclusive to Sony systems.

# 6 anonex @ 07/05/12 07:51 PM

How much of it is actually in english, though? I'm thinking of ordering this.

# 7 Spirits Translation @ 07/05/12 08:15 PM

Thanks for the update, it's always nice to see PYS getting some attention on OS. I just wanted to give a rundown of the previous versions so newcomers can make the right choice on which one to buy.

PYS 6: This has the regular game along with the WBC mode so there's MLB players (team USA) and of course other teams from around the globe. It is the only version where you can play with MLB players (there is no player editing or community DL's which would replicate current MLB team rosters in any version.) The drawback here is that we didn't start posting translations until the 2010 version, so you might get stuck in places - and graphics & cut-scenes are much better in 2011 & 2012.

PYS 2010: This the first year Muka and I created spiritstranslation.com so you should have no problem figuring things out. It's bug free, playing really well out of the box and scores are wide open (you'll have 1-0 days and 12-8 days.) I'd say this is the funnest version I've played, and it has all the top players like Darvish that have moved on to the MLB. Also, it's the last version which has the option to use either the light ball, normal ball or heavy ball (in 2012 the NPB adopted a heavier ball which is similiar to the MLB's. Back in 2010 the ball was lighter so scores were higher.) Anyway, with 2010 you had the option to make hitting more or less of a challenge by changing the weight of the ball.

PYS 2011: Basically the same as 2010 with upgrades to graphics, cut-scenes, and a simpler & refined player progression system. Some experienced players found it too easy to jack homers out of the box, but Konami fixed this with game updates. Basically the NPB moved to the heavy ball in 2011 and scores were way down. Thus, Konami adjusted to this by nerfing the batters ratings in their roster updates. It plays well with the final update but you have to be ok with lower scores.

PYS 2012: Very polished game and like 2010 it plays great out of the box. Smoother graphics and animation along with some refinement to contact hitting (more pop.) Many hardcore Japanese players hail it as the best version ever. But that's the thing, JPN players are hardcore and PYS 2012 is the most challenging of them all so they are happy. Again in 2011 NPB scoring was way down due to the heavy ball being used, and Konami did what it took to keep scoring in line with real life. For example a batter who had "A" power in 2010 is now rated "C", and pitchers sharpness ratings are increased across the board. You have to really work hard to get runs, and you have to be ok with old-school baseball where 2-1 scores are common. If you muff a bunt or get a bad lead on a steal you'll kick yourself because every decision is so important. Also one thing to consider here is that 2012 is available for the Vita and it's really an amazing game. On the downside some top players moved on to the MLB and are gone from the game.

One thing I keep hearing is "PYS is too expensive" so I'd recommend starting with 2010. It will be cheap ($30 or so) and give you a nice intro to the series.

Also if you dont know how the game works here's the link to our introduction video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5rHW...ture=endscreen

While you're there be sure to check out the other vids in our youtube channel. 'Field Play' is another reason to check out PYS. If you have any questions the baseball/other forum on OS is good or you can always find veteran players hanging around in the spiritstranslation.com forum

# 8 kingsofthevalley @ 07/06/12 06:30 AM

I've never played this title but I already know its probably one of the deepest sims ever. Anybody ever actually been to Japan? Their devs DO NOT play around. Another Centuries episode, Scramble Commander, Hajime no Ipp victorious road 2 (Deepest boxing game ever created), just to name a few. They don't make their games for the ADHD crowd like American Devs lol.

# 9 gigadkc @ 07/06/12 06:44 AM

I'm playing both The Show and PYS for years but when it comes to realism PYS just owns The Show imo. The gameplay is more realistic in pretty much any part of the game. The Show has better graphics and of course an MLB-licence, which is pretty much the only reason why I still buy this game.

Once you have worked your way through the translations and found the perfect settings you'll just love PYS. It's pretty much as good as a baseball sim can get right now (aside of the average graphics). Anybody who loves playing baseball games should give PYS a shot, I promise you won't regret it.

# 10 bigdoc85 @ 07/06/12 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spirits Translation


	Thanks for the update, it's always nice to see PYS getting some attention on OS. I just wanted to give a rundown of the previous versions so newcomers can make the right choice on which one to buy. PYS 6: This has the regular game along with the WBC mode so there's MLB players (team USA) and of course other teams from around the globe. It is the only version where you can play with MLB players (there is no player editing or community DL's which would replicate current MLB team rosters in any version.) The drawback here is that we didn't start posting translations until the 2010 version, so you might get stuck in places - and graphics & cut-scenes are much better in 2011 & 2012. PYS 2010: This the first year Muka and I created spiritstranslation.com so you should have no problem figuring things out. It's bug free, playing really well out of the box and scores are wide open (you'll have 1-0 days and 12-8 days.) I'd say this is the funnest version I've played, and it has all the top players like Darvish that have moved on to the MLB. Also, it's the last version which has the option to use either the light ball, normal ball or heavy ball (in 2012 the NPB adopted a heavier ball which is similiar to the MLB's. Back in 2010 the ball was lighter so scores were higher.) Anyway, with 2010 you had the option to make hitting more or less of a challenge by changing the weight of the ball. PYS 2011: Basically the same as 2010 with upgrades to graphics, cut-scenes, and a simpler & refined player progression system. Some experienced players found it too easy to jack homers out of the box, but Konami fixed this with game updates. Basically the NPB moved to the heavy ball in 2011 and scores were way down. Thus, Konami adjusted to this by nerfing the batters ratings in their roster updates. It plays well with the final update but you have to be ok with lower scores. PYS 2012: Very polished game and like 2010 it plays great out of the box. Smoother graphics and animation along with some refinement to contact hitting (more pop.) Many hardcore Japanese players hail it as the best version ever. But that's the thing, JPN players are hardcore and PYS 2012 is the most challenging of them all so they are happy. Again in 2011 NPB scoring was way down due to the heavy ball being used, and Konami did what it took to keep scoring in line with real life. For example a batter who had "A" power in 2010 is now rated "C", and pitchers sharpness ratings are increased across the board. You have to really work hard to get runs, and you have to be ok with old-school baseball where 2-1 scores are common. If you muff a bunt or get a bad lead on a steal you'll kick yourself because every decision is so important. Also one thing to consider here is that 2012 is available for the Vita and it's really an amazing game. On the downside some top players moved on to the MLB and are gone from the game. One thing I keep hearing is "PYS is too expensive" so I'd recommend starting with 2010. It will be cheap ($30 or so) and give you a nice intro to the series. Also if you dont know how the game works here's the link to our introduction video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5rHW...ture=endscreen While you're there be sure to check out the other vids in our youtube channel. 'Field Play' is another reason to check out PYS. If you have any questions the baseball/other forum on OS is good or you can always find veteran players hanging around in the spiritstranslation.com forum

Wow! Thanks for the info! I found 2010 on ebay for under $17 including shipping. Figured I would give it a try and then if I really like it I'll look at getting 2012.

# 11 mpt54 @ 07/07/12 04:09 PM

After reading this I purchased 2012 can't wait to play this game

# 12 Manny_Shevitz @ 07/07/12 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpt54


	After reading this I purchased 2012 can't wait to play this game

Good for you, man. I can almost guarantee you won't regret it.

It was Operation Sports that first pointed me in the direction of this series a few years ago, when they did their first piece on it, and plugged spiritstranslation.com. I went to that site, read their mini review, and watched a few gameplay videos. That's all it took to get me to order 2010 right then and there. And now PYS is pretty much a guaranteed annual purchase for me. It's the most fun I've ever had with a baseball video game.

# 13 mmathaifighter @ 07/09/12 04:52 PM

Getting this title is one of the things I've been blowing off for 2 years now. Everytime I read an article like this or see the youtube videos I get pumped up again. I think I've gotten my "sign" that now is the time to finally pick this up. I have gotten a little bored with The Show(something I thought I would NEVER say). I didnt even pick it up until mid-April this year, when it was always a midnight purchase or Day 1 title for me and Ive played it very little. I think a change of scenery is needed and this seems to it. My main question is I see the WBC was in PYC6 but no mention of it being in 2010. From reading the post from Sprits Translation it seems like thats the best version to start with. Is the WBC mode in 2010? Many thanks in advance...

# 14 killer miller31 @ 07/11/12 08:53 PM

I just ordered 20011 of eBay for $31.99 wanted 2012 but don't have that kind of money right now...so excited can't wait to get it!

# 15 NotoriousReignz @ 07/12/12 10:35 AM

I'm gonna have to show my love for PYS 5 Kanzenban too, but you can't go wrong with any version, I love them all!

# 16 bigdoc85 @ 07/13/12 01:58 PM

Based on this OS thread, I purchased both 2010 and 2012.

2012 clearly is better in terms of features and graphics. However, it does require a lot more work to figure things out. 2010 is much more streamlined and intuitive in terms of the menus. My 7-year old son figured out how to get a game going on 2010 in a matter of minutes and has been having a blast. If 2012 were in English, I'm sure I would prefer that version but given that I have limited time for gaming and already have MLB 12 The Show, I may just stick with 2010. Hopefully Konami can figure out how to make it dual-language compatible for future releases because it definitely is a neat game.

# 17 NotoriousReignz @ 07/13/12 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdoc22


	Based on this OS thread, I purchased both 2010 and 2012. 2012 clearly is better in terms of features and graphics. However, it does require a lot more work to figure things out. 2010 is much more streamlined and intuitive in terms of the menus. My 7-year old son figured out how to get a game going on 2010 in a matter of minutes and has been having a blast. If 2012 were in English, I'm sure I would prefer that version but given that I have limited time for gaming and already have MLB 12 The Show, I may just stick with 2010. Hopefully Konami can figure out how to make it dual-language compatible for future releases because it definitely is a neat game.

Spiritstranslation.com can easily help with that.

# 18 Spirits Translation @ 07/20/12 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmathaifighter


	My question is I see the WBC was in PYS 6 but no mention of it being in 2010. From reading the post from Sprits Translation it seems like thats the best version to start with. Is the WBC mode in 2010? Many thanks in advance...

No, the WBC is like the World Cup of baseball. It's scheduled to come around every 4 years so the next one is 2013.

# 19 Perfect Zero @ 07/20/12 05:36 PM

Well, I went ahead and bit the bullet. I should be getting PYS 2010 though the mail sometime next week. It should be fun to pitch with the real Darvish.

# 20 jvalverde88 @ 07/20/12 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfect Zero


	Well, I went ahead and bit the bullet. I should be getting PYS 2010 though the mail sometime next week. It should be fun to pitch with the real Darvish.

oh its fun alright, all you need to give Darvish is one run and it'll be a almost guaranteed win.

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