Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2011 News Post

Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2011 Impressions

04:10 PM - May 20, 2011 by ChaseB

I’ve been aware of Pro Yakyuu Spirits for a while, mostly through random YouTube videos and forum chatter. It wasn’t until this year that, given a chance to play this Japanese import, I realized how differently this game plays in comparison to American hardball titles.

However, to make it clear from the start, I can’t quite review this game because the vast majority of the game’s text is incomprehensible to me. However, I can share with you why I think PYS’ gameplay is unique, thanks largely to www.spiritstranslation.com. If you decide to purchase this game (and aren’t fluent in Japanese), this site will be a huge help.

Anyway, PYS tweaks the standard American baseball formula in some meaningful (and mostly good) ways. In some cases, these modifications actually make reference to things we have seen in past American games but were later lost in modern incarnations.

Read More - Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2011 Impressions

Game: Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2011Reader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3Votes for game: 2 - View All

Member Comments

# 21 cheechoo98 @ 05/25/11 03:48 PM

The only problem i see w the hitting, is, that cursor hitting ( which this is ) makes you look at the spot hilighted in the strike zone, instead of the actual ball/pitch in play. Kind of unrealistic IMO...

Is there a Hitting Mode in PYS that lets you watch the pitch from the pitcher's hand instead? ( instead of looking into your strike zone and trying to align the cursor?)

The game does look AMAZING though!!!! I've longingly watch Youtube videos of this game for years...!

# 22 swaldo @ 05/25/11 05:30 PM

Batting animations are more advanced than anything out there. Shoot, I think some batters have something like 20 different animations depending on how they swing or hit the ball. I cant wait to face Tracy from the Carp because his swing animations are a thing of beauty, and every time they look different to me.

And Cheech, there is "timing" based hitting and you can turn off the spot in the strike zone (Batting Point.) I dont like timing based because it takes some of the hit variety away (which is what this game does great.) Hitting without the Batting Point on would be difficult though; you'd almost need to have a zone based system for that to work. I like the Batting Point because it shows you the strength of the pitch and spin of the ball. And some people do watch the pitch out of the pitchers hand with the BP in the periphral. Others watch the BP all the way, it's a personal thing.

Every game has something technically unrealistic: The Show has no spin and results at times dont match up with how you swing the bat. 2K replicates spin by flashing "breaking ball" and you have limited control where you hit the ball. You might be able to control left/right/grounder/flyball but again overall results are dictated for you. And I'm not slamming those games, I enjoy all the baseball games this year but I think they are more geared towards the casual user.

In PYS it actually shows you the spin, and if you hit the ball the same way you will get the same result every single time. You're totally in control so to me it has the most realistic batting mechanic. Even if you stare at the BP it's still very challenging. You have to guage speed in your periphral, pick up spin and determine where the balls ending point will be. If the pitcher had a good release you may not see spin and have to take an educated guess where to swing. I dont know anyone who can play this game on max settings.

# 23 falcons2003 @ 05/25/11 09:21 PM

The game play reminds me of High Heat which is a good thing.

The animations are very subtle and not overdone, that's what makes the game so good, very fluid.

# 24 tvman @ 05/25/11 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheechoo98


	The only problem i see w the hitting, is, that cursor hitting ( which this is ) makes you look at the spot hilighted in the strike zone, instead of the actual ball/pitch in play. Kind of unrealistic IMO... Is there a Hitting Mode in PYS that lets you watch the pitch from the pitcher's hand instead? ( instead of looking into your strike zone and trying to align the cursor?) The game does look AMAZING though!!!! I've longingly watch Youtube videos of this game for years...!

I can't really just watch for the cursor to appear in the K zone because i find i'm always late on the pitch then. What i like to do is watch the pitcher throw and then i will see the cursor appear in my peripheral vision and move my cursor to that area before i swing. That helps my timing. I'd have to reduce pitch speed in order to just watch the K zone for the cursor.

Like Swaldo said it's whatever works for you and i'm still trying to figure that part out, lol.

# 25 tvman @ 05/25/11 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReetCestin


	I'm getting this game soon. How long is season mode?

Pennant mode is 20 years.

# 26 Cyphre @ 05/25/11 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheechoo98


	The only problem i see w the hitting, is, that cursor hitting ( which this is ) makes you look at the spot hilighted in the strike zone, instead of the actual ball/pitch in play. Kind of unrealistic IMO... Is there a Hitting Mode in PYS that lets you watch the pitch from the pitcher's hand instead? ( instead of looking into your strike zone and trying to align the cursor?) The game does look AMAZING though!!!! I've longingly watch Youtube videos of this game for years...!

I don't know if you have played the game yet, but when it comes to hitting, you cannot be affix to looking at the "spot" in the zone if you want to get good at hitting. There are several elements that come in play which is what makes this game feel more realistic than ANY other game....YES, INCLUDING THE SHOW!

The "spot" is just an indicator that actually helps you get to know opposing pitchers as you play.....it shows you how their "stuff" rotates, how much it breaks and to what direction. It also serves as a tool to get a feel for the speed difference in each pitchers arsenal which varies greatly from one pitcher to another....you know late movement, tailing fastball, bottom falls off, high heat, etc.

The other component to successful hitting is knowing your batters, and what they are and are not capable of......if you have a "pull" hitter at the plate don't try to "slap" the ball the other way.....but at the same time be patient and learn how to take a pitch...... you will learn names of pitchers like Iwakuma, Wakui, Suguichi, Maeda and other great pitchers in the game very quickly.... they have some stuff that's more electifying than the Rock.

Take for example Yu Darvish.....considered to be the best pitcher in NPB...and scouted by basically every MLB team.....when you play against him come with a game plan on how to attack him and don't expect alot of HR's ....as the game portrays him as his real counterpart....he has a fastball mid to upper 90's, a cutter/slider that is 85-90 but has so much late movement and a breaking ball that is more like a 12-4 than a 12-6 and has tons of down and out movement......think of him as a King Felix

As opposed to Daisuke Miura.....who can eat up some innings but his prime days are way past him.....think of him as the Greg Maddux that returned to the Cubs after giving his best years to Atlanta.

With Miura you might have a field day and think hitting in this game is very good but maybe a bit easy....then you face Darvish and you get fooled at the plate (and I do mean FOOLED), trying to figure out if the AI changed your settings randomly and your ego might get bruised.....then your thinking....MAN, THIS GAME DOES FEEL VERY REALISTIC....

That's why I recommend to friends that ask me for tips....to stick with one team and play with them...online, exhibition, season mode....whatever, until you get to know every player and what they can do....then move on to use other teams....it helped me.

So go ahead and look at the "spot" if you want to...you will have a hard time hitting as you will find yourself hitting alot of pop-ups and/or grounders.....or just looking

# 27 falcons2003 @ 05/26/11 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyphre


	Take for example Yu Darvish.....considered to be the best pitcher in NPB...and scouted by basically every MLB team.....when you play against him come with a game plan on how to attack him and don't expect alot of HR's

I was playing against him for the first time last night. 1st inning, I hit a MONSTER HR probably the biggest blast I've hit in the game. It did one of those cut scenes were the batter flips the bat up and watches, never saw it before ( I have no replays and all the cut scenes off or whatever) I was like damn! I was like this guy isn't so bad. Didn't get another hit until the 8th inning...lol.

Also does it have HR distances anywhere in the game? I haven't seen it anywhere, just curious.

Also didn't know you could install this game, saw it was posted in this thread, looked up directions and installed it. Wow, what a big difference. The game was great before, but now it looks and feels even better if you can imagine.

# 28 SqueakyD @ 05/26/11 11:37 AM

The distance should appear at the bottom of the screen when your guy circles the bases. In meters, of course.

# 29 falcons2003 @ 05/26/11 03:21 PM

Ok, thanks. I have the cut scenes or replays set on few, so maybe that's why I haven't seen it? I don't recall watching a player circle the bases. Just the replay of the HR and thats it.

# 30 Bat @ 05/26/11 09:12 PM

If it was in English I would buy for sure! I bought one a few years ago, and just couldn't get into it.. not knowing what the hell was written.

# 31 bizarro @ 05/27/11 09:46 AM

I'm playing the PSP version, which is excellent. Full presentation, great player faces, fully realized home plate umpire and base coaches. Makes you wonder what they know about the PSP that SCEA does not.

# 32 Doormat @ 05/27/11 09:22 PM

Amazing looking game

# 33 kingdevin @ 05/27/11 10:28 PM

can someone direct me as to how to install this game into my harddrive.

# 34 SqueakyD @ 05/27/11 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingdevin


	can someone direct me as to how to install this game into my harddrive.

http://youtu.be/3gzSP07TNag

# 35 ELDoro @ 05/30/11 03:57 PM

wow I stink. Through 3 online games I'm 0-3 and have yet to score a run.

# 36 tvman @ 05/30/11 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELDoro


	wow I stink. Through 3 online games I'm 0-3 and have yet to score a run.

Yeah online games are hard, mainly because real batting point is the default setting. Practice with real batting point and middle pitching speed to help improve your online play. I suck with real batting point by the way.

If you check people online by pressing the square button you'll that most have poor batting avgs. and low era's.

# 37 Cyphre @ 05/30/11 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELDoro


	wow I stink. Through 3 online games I'm 0-3 and have yet to score a run.

Man, you'll get the hang of it....my first year playing (PYS 4) I started off really bad....I actually won my first game.......but when I started playing the experienced guys I realized I stunk....but I just kept playing.....at one point my record was 57W-129L-27D.....I could've given up ...but I just love the way the game plays....and I started to implement some strategy and only played with the BayStars....and it actually worked .....I got better at the game because I adjusted to what my team had to offer and used them the best I could.....My final record after Konami shut down PYS 4 server was 423W-302L-103D..

You do know they have practice rooms online too....right?....I personally don't care for them but if you wish to play in one of those rooms....or just play online....send me an invite when you see me online...

# 38 ELDoro @ 05/30/11 04:30 PM

Also can you not use the same starting pitcher in back to back games? Does stanima carry on from game to game? I played one game using Darvish then the next another guy was starting.

# 39 Cyphre @ 05/30/11 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELDoro


	Also can you not use the same starting pitcher in back to back games? Does stanima carry on from game to game? I played one game using Darvish then the next another guy was starting.

If your playing ranked matches....yes......you have to use your rotation....that's just to keep things kinda fair and realistic.....I actually love that part....but if you play non-ranked matches you can use the same pitcher....but games don't count towards your record.

# 40 tvman @ 05/30/11 04:43 PM

So what if you pick a different team in ranked online games, don't you just get assigned a random pitcher for each game?

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