Stop talking to me, I'm trying to concentrate!
...
Here we go. It's the bottom of the ninth with two outs. We're down by one run but have a man on third. The count is two balls and two strikes. I've got Bunt Shokunin, so do I lay down the suicide squeeze and play for the tie, or do I activate my power circle with my 178 for power and...
Hey look it's a Fluffy! My favorite late night snack!
How can you eat those things? I prefer Cup O' Zilla, but...Strike three...NOOOOOOOOOOOOO...No...No...No...pink...pink...mother pinkin'...pink, pink, pink...
Jumpman, calm down. You'll get 'em next time.
Next time?!?!?! There won't be a next time. I needed to win that game to make a Tensai player; instead I've made a worthless nobody, a wannabe, a...
...A loser like the real Jumpman? So in a way, I guess you succeeded.
Wow, you're hysterical; so pinkin' funny I forgot to laugh. You'll see, I'm gonna make me into a star. Jumpman will have "Power Hitting" and "Laser Beam" and "Chance" and "Base Stealing" and "Shubi-shokunin" and...
Make me first! And name my player Pinky G!
No!
Make me...make me...make me...make me...make me...please, please, please, please, please, please...
Okay fine, Pinky G. After we're done, though, you have to promise to leave me alone. First, we have to pick your player's skin tone. I'm going with...hmmm...pink, maybe...and you bat and throw right-handed... or right flippered, I should say. Now what position do you want to play?
Goalie!
Catcher, it is. And, what team do you want to be drafted by?
The Mariners. Then I can play catch with Ichiro, and eat garlic fries, and hang out at Maekawa Bar after the game.
Now then when you are making a player, there are two modes to select from: American Mode and Samurai Mode.
What's the difference?
Samurai Mode is a little more advanced in that you have to select your daily meal menu to maximize your energy, learning ability and heart.
Yeah, Samurai Mode! For breakfast, I'll have garlic fries, and for lunch I'll have garlic fries, and for dinner I'll have garlic fries with a bubble tea and a Fluffy for desert.
Now within each mode, you are asked to try-out for one of five teams: Powerful, Golems, Snakes, Knights and Black Jacks. The special events, your teammates and the method used to level-up your training equipment all vary depending on the team. For example, If you choose the Wild Golems, you start off as the Captain's little bitch running errand's for him and giving him massages until you make the team, and then you have to pass a batting test once every two months in order to level up your practice equipment.
Hmmm...when do I get to sign a multi-million dollar endorsement deal? I can see it now - people lining up to buy my Nike Air Pinky's.
You gotta make a player first. The key to making a good player is to fill up your "Guts" meter and then do a practice with teammates who also have a full "Guts" meter. The "Guts" meter sort of works like a points multiplier. The more "Guts," or spirit, you put into a practice, the more points you'll receive in return.
What do you do with the points?
You can power up your player's attributes such as arm strength, fielding, power, speed and hitting abilities, or cash them in for an assortment of special abilities like "Average Hitter," "Nagashi-uchi" and "Chance," an ability that automatically increases the batter's hitting attributes any time a runner is in scoring position. There are even position specific special abilities like "Release" for pitchers, "Laser Beam" for outfielders and "Catcher" for...
For Goalies, right!
Wow, you're the total package: brains and braun. Anyway, you can also power up your character by going to the store and purchasing equipment upgrades such as customized bats, gloves, cleats and jewelery. Don't spend all of your money shopping, though, because you'll need it to pay for all your meals and to take the ladies out on dates.
Dates?!?!? Is this a dating sim or a baseball game? I'm confused.
The Power Pro "Success" mode is a little bit of everything. So what kind of player do you want to make: a Babe Ruth-ian power hitter or an Ichiro-type lead-off hitter or a Keith Hernandez-esque perennial gold glove candidate?
I want to make a power hitter, so that I can just bounce around the bases after I hit a homerun. Everything else sounds like it requires too much energy.
Well, if all you want to do is hit homeruns, why don't we just play the "Home Run Derby" mode, instead.
Oooh, that sounds like fun. What else can you do in this game?
Power Pro Major League is packed with features. In addition to the standard issue, you can create your own team of your favorite MLB players or players that you've created in the "Success" mode, complete with a customized logo and uniform; or you can become the General Manager and try to win a championship, or you can use the points you accumulated during gameplay to purchase baseball cards of your favorite MLB players.
...
Why did you ask me if you're not even gonna listen to the answer? Oh forget it. I'll just go back to makin' me. Jumpman creates Jumpman, take 82, and.............action!
Closing Comments.
Any installment of Power Pro is always by far and away the best baseball game available on any system. The fact that this latest version focuses on MLB instead of the Japan League makes it that much more special. If you're sick and tired of the boring and bland, ultra-realistic baseball games that have become the standard in America, or if you were just a Baseball Stars junkie back in the day, then Powerful Pro Major League is for you. The only question remaining is do you buy it for your Gamecube or for your PS2?
System: Gamecube, PS2
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Sports
Release Date: May 20, 2006
# of Players: 1-2
Online Play: No
IMPORT FRIENDLY – ▲
LOAD TIME – ▲
ORIGINALITY – ▲
GRAPHICS – O
MUSIC – ▲
LONGEVITY - O
OVERALL - O
CURRENT FAV IN GENRE: Power Pro Major League
It's everyone's favorite bobble-head baseball game from Konami featuring the players and teams from MLB. Don't let the cartoonish graphical presentation fool you. The Power Pro series has the most in-depth gameplay, accurate physics models and intuitive yet challenging hitting interface for any baseball game on the market. The single greatest reason to purchase Powerful Pro Major League, however, is its unique RPG-driven player creation system called the "Success Mode." 
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Comments
Great review. I played the N64 version and I loved it. I always wondered why they never brought this game stateside cause it truly puts the traditional crappy slow-ass baseball games here to shame. Baseball stars (for NES) excluded of course.
Posted by: schadarapa![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.pinkgodzillagames.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 18, 2006 10:41 PM
Does this game have a steroids mode?
Will you be able to inject bovine growth hormones into your created player's ass and turn him into a surly giant with horrible bacne who punches fans that ask for his autograph?
And while it's nice to make a standard Babe Ruth or Ichiro player, I'd like to see a few other specialty players available. Just think of the excitement you could have with "Journeyman Left Handed Reliever" who only pitches to one batter every third game. Or "Third-String Backup Catcher" in case you've ever dreamed of playing as Ben Davis. Or maybe even "Late Inning Pinch Runner"
Also, does this game have a GM or team owner mode? I've always wanted to play a game where you can threaten to move your team to Las Vegas if you don't get a new stadium with gold-plated luxery boxes.
Posted by: Number Johnny Five![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.pinkgodzillagames.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 19, 2006 08:09 AM
NJF - I think you must be confusing with the Supersonics. Baseball owners are good peoples, man.
Posted by: schadarapa![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.pinkgodzillagames.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 19, 2006 09:38 AM
You're right, baseball peoples are the best peoples. Except for George Steinbrenner, he's a jerk. And Marge Schott.
Posted by: Number Johnny Five![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.pinkgodzillagames.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 19, 2006 05:55 PM
Why port it over when we've got such great BB games like slugfest and 2k6(barf)..
I've been playing these games since forever and despite the look it's physics and play is better than ANYTHING stateside!
Posted by: Blaze | July 19, 2006 09:58 PM
Yes, the gameplay rocks in the Powerpro series. It's frickin' dope. Best baseball game ever. No surprise it's the top seller in Japan right now.
Posted by: schadarapa![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.pinkgodzillagames.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 20, 2006 12:50 AM