HardBall II
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Products | HardBall II |
HardBall II is a baseball video game created by Distinctive Software and released by Accolade for IBM PC compatibles in 1989, followed by Macintosh and Amiga editions in 1990. This title serves as the follow-up to the 1985 game HardBall!.
Gameplay
Building upon the foundation of HardBall!, HardBall II introduces several enhancements, including:
- Detailed statistical tracking that updates after each at-bat and throughout the season
- Inclusion of pickoff moves and league competition modes
- A team editor enabling player customization
- Improved animation frames for players
- Defensive shifts in both infield and outfield designed according to hitter tendencies
- Seven different stadiums available with five distinct camera perspectives
- A TV-style Instant Replay function
- Pull-down menus designed to simplify game navigation and management
Package contents
The game package contains:
- A pair of floppy disks
- A comprehensive 60-page instruction manual
- A quick reference sheet for batting controls
- A chart outlining fielding commands
- A code wheel featuring baseball player names and statistics required for copy protection and program access
Reception
Sales of HardBall II reached around 100,000 units.
In the June 1990 edition of Games International, Brian Walker commended the game’s customization capabilities and high-quality graphics, emphasizing their contribution to popularizing baseball in the United Kingdom. He awarded a score of 9 out of 10 for gameplay and 8 out of 10 for graphics, underscoring the title's strong appeal and production values.