Bad News Baseball - for NES

Bad News Baseball brings a cartoon sense of humour to the ballpark. Tecmo developed and published it for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989, and made no attempt to treat the sport solemnly. Where most baseball games of the era chased realism, Bad News Baseball went the other way, filling the diamond with players with oversized heads, exaggerated reactions and animated cinema displays that cut in whenever something dramatic happens. It moves quickly, it looks lively, and it was one of the few baseball cartridges of its day to put boys teams and girls teams on the same selection screen.

There are 12 boys teams and 12 girls teams to choose from, and pitchers have 11 different pitches to work with, so there is more thinking on the mound than the comic presentation lets on. Tecmo's famous instant close ups zoom in on the big moments: a strikeout, a diving catch, a play at the plate. You can take on the computer, hand the second controller to a friend, or use the spectator mode and let two computer teams settle it themselves. Much of the charm lives in the animation, since every out and every home run gets its own small piece of theatre.

Players still love Bad News Baseball because it is funny without being only a joke. The game underneath rewards a good eye at the plate and some cunning in pitch selection, and the humour makes a blowout as entertaining as a tight finish. It is an easy cartridge to put in front of someone who says they do not like sports games. For collectors, Bad News Baseball represents Tecmo at its most playful on the NES, from a time when a sports title could have a personality all its own. On a shelf of serious baseball games, this is the one that makes visitors laugh.

• Genre: Arcade Baseball
• Players: 1-2
• Region: NTSC
• Release Year: 1989
• Developer: Tecmo

Cartridge Only: No Box or Manual
Please note that this listing is for the game cartridge only. The original box, instruction manual, and any other accessories are not included with this purchase unless explicitly stated in the listing. What you receive is exactly what you need to play: the cartridge itself, tested and confirmed working.

Condition & Authenticity
This game has been tested and is fully functional. We do not authenticate or certify originality, and listings are intended for players and everyday collectors rather than professional grading or authentication purposes.

Images & Regional Differences
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