Opening Day For Pro Yakyū Spirits 2013 - jyoung's Blog

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Opening Day For Pro Yakyū Spirits 2013 Stuck

Posted on March 20, 2013 at 11:53 PM.

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Pro Yakyū Spirits 2013, the latest outing in Konami's long-running Professional Baseball Spirits series, had its opening day today for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita.

Despite being a Japan-only release, Konami has not included any region protection, so American baseball fans can freely import the game and play it on North American PlayStation systems without any issues.

Import shops like Play-Asia and NCSX are currently shipping all versions of the game to the United States for around $80-$90. Vita owners can also download a digital copy from Japan's PlayStation Network, though Americans will first need to purchase Japanese PlayStation Network yen to actually buy the game.

95% of Pro Yakyū Spirits 2013's text is written in Japanese, so navigating through the menus and changing gameplay settings will require a translation guide for gamers unfamiliar with the language. Thankfully, the generous souls at Spirits Translation have already started several threads in their forums that can help beginners orient themselves to the foreign text.

While no American publications have currently reviewed the game, veteran Japanese magazine, Famitsu, which uses a four-person review panel, has awarded the following scores to this year's Pro Spirits titles:

PlayStation 3 -- 9/9/9/9 (36/40 overall)
PlayStation Vita -- 9/9/9/8 (35/40 overall)
PlayStation Portable -- 8/8/7/7 (30/40 overall)

Gameplay footage remains sparse, with the Vita version sporting only one unofficial YouTube video:

PlayStation 3 videos have been even tougher to locate, with the best source thus far being a random Japanese site that requires email registration before watching the 28-minute gameplay movie:

http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/1363757007

If this year's version seems too pricey to try out, baseball fans should consider picking up a used copy of Pro Yakyū Spirits 2012 or Pro Yakyū Spirits 2011, both of which cost considerably less ($20-$40) and can be conveniently ordered from Amazon.com.

Comments

# 1 HiTEqMETHOD @ Mar 21

In a perfect world 2K still makes an NFL game, Konami makes a baseball game that features the MLB, NPB & WBC and Pro Evo is fully licensed (although I do enjoy editing the teams/players and creating my own fantasy club).

*I would cry, literally cry.

# 2 GlennN @ Mar 21

I just wish there was a Western edition, written in English.

# 3 WaddupCouzin @ Mar 21

I bought one of the games back in 2008 and had a blast with it!

# 4 WaddupCouzin @ Mar 21

Yu Darvish was in my game

# 5 jyoung @ Mar 21

Quote:


	I just wish there was a Western edition, written in English.

The only English baseball games you can currently buy from Konami are:

MLB Power Pros (PS2/Wii)
MLB Power Pros 2008 (PS2/Wii)

Those games feature most of the same gameplay as the Pro Spirits series, but the visuals are cartoony. I still recommend giving them a try since they are so cheap ($5 or less).

Quote:


	I may try it out depending of the cost. Where do we buy it at? How much does it cost?"

If cost is your main concern, I would pick up either the 2012 or 2011 edition from Amazon since those are much cheaper ($20-$40):

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...=operasport-20

# 6 bigbuckeyeboi @ Mar 22

It looks like a really cool baseball game. Although they have some kinda weird fielding camera angle. I wish they televised the Japanese baseball league here just with American announcers.

# 7 kingsofthevalley @ Mar 23

Damn, I bet this game is VERY in depth. From my experience with the Japanese side of gaming, they pull no punches when it comes to numbers crunching. They couldn't care less about your ADHD, or your online "right now" communities, those devs get leagues deep. Like I say, thats just from my personal experience. Titles like Hajime no Ippo boxers road 2, Another Centuries episode, I could go on and on. They are very detail specific.

# 8 kingsofthevalley @ Mar 23

They need to make a new Hajime no Ippo boxing title.

# 9 ManiacMatt1782 @ Mar 23

I just bought 12 off of amazon for 40.

# 10 jyoung @ Mar 23

Quote:


	It looks like a really cool baseball game. Although they have some kinda weird fielding camera angle. I wish they televised the Japanese baseball league here just with American announcers.

There is a new fielding camera this year called "broadcast camera." The old classic camera is still in the game if you prefer a more traditional fielding view.

# 11 Spirits Translation @ Mar 23

@bigbuckeyebol: They added new fielding cameras this year, that may be what you're seeing. You can go back to the standard cam from years past.

The game is expensive but I've found it has actually saved me money. Instead of buying every over-hyped new release (that quickly turns into a coaster) I've found it better to focus on playing a few select top quality games.

# 12 bighou @ Mar 25

This is by far, the best Baseball gameplay EVER!!!! I am a Baseball and Baseball game enthusiest. I've played organized Baseball most of my life and have played Baseball video games since the Commodore 64. Yes, I am one of those people who believe MVP 05 was the greatest thing since slice bread. MLB the Show 13 is good, but it's not this. MLB the Show games are MISSING one VERY important aspect of Baseball and that's what this game delievers. The Show is missing true simulation. As an actual player of the game, that knows the game, all players in the field react to where the ball is hit. In order to react, you MUST SEE THE BALL OFF THE BAT!!!!!!! You see how, you can see where the ball is going in the same Pitcher Vs Batter screen. THAT'S REAL BASEBALL. None of this cut-screen, I hear a sound and don't know where the ball is crap that has been input in American Baseball games after MVP 05. That's what made MVP 05 so good, because it was true, real life, simulation. I'd pay $200 for an American version of this game with fake players because the Gameplay is %100 authentic.

# 13 Ikki @ Mar 25

You don't need to register to watch the vid on niconico, just use this : http://www.mmcafe.com/nico.html

# 14 GlennN @ Mar 28

I recall hearing that 12 has a very low scoring slant, which is not what I would prefer. Can someone who has played 13 give any info on whether there is any more offense in 13? Also, is there a career/franchise mode in the Pro Yakyū Spirits series? Thanks for the info!!