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Exciting Baseball (Japan)

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What is Exciting Baseball?

Exciting Baseball is a sports title released for the Famicom Disk System exclusively in Japan during the late 1980s. It's a baseball simulation that fits into the broader wave of sports games that appeared on Nintendo's disk-based add-on. The publisher and developer are not widely documented, but the game is an official release rather than a hack or homebrew. As with many FDS titles, Exciting Baseball uses the disk format for its storage, which allowed for larger data capacity than standard cartridges at the time.

The core gameplay involves standard baseball mechanics: you choose a team, then take turns batting and pitching. On offense, you time your swing to make contact with the ball and run the bases. On defense, you control the pitcher to throw strikes and position fielders to catch or throw out runners. The game uses a simplified overhead perspective typical of early console baseball games, with chunky sprites and straightforward controls. Matches are played over nine innings, and the goal is to outscore the opponent.

For modern retro gaming enthusiasts, Exciting Baseball offers a glimpse into how baseball games played on the Famicom Disk System before the NES took over. It's a fairly basic simulation compared to later titles like R.B.I. Baseball, but its status as a Japan-only FDS release makes it a curiosity for collectors and fans of the platform. If you enjoy classic sports games and don't mind working through Japanese menus, it's worth a few innings for historical context. Otherwise, it remains a niche title even among Famicom baseball games.

GAME INFO

Platform: Famicom Disk System
Genre: Sports
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Released: 1987
Region: Japan

How to play Exciting Baseball online

Getting Started

When you boot up Exciting Baseball you're first taken to a title screen with Japanese text. Press Start to move to a menu where you likely select between a single-player game against the CPU or a two-player versus mode. The menus are entirely in Japanese but typically arranged as a vertical list; the top option is usually the single-player mode. After selecting, you'll choose your team - again the names will be in Japanese but you can just confirm the default.

The core loop is simple: on offense you time your swing by pressing the A button (X key) as the pitch arrives. On defense you use the D-Pad to aim pitches and press A to throw to bases. Fielding is automatic in some older games, but you might need to manually move fielders with the D-Pad. The game plays out over nine innings with standard baseball rules. Expect basic AI and simple graphics, but the batting and pitching timing is the main challenge.

If you're new to the Famicom Disk System version, remember that saves are handled via the disk system's battery backup, but in emulation you'll use save states. There are no difficulty options visible, so just jump in and play a full game. The controls respond quickly, so practice your timing against the CPU's varied pitches.

CONTROLS

Controls

Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
X: A button (jump / confirm)
S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
Enter: Start / Pause
V: Select

Exciting Baseball FAQ

Does Exciting Baseball have a multiplayer or co-op mode?

Documentation does not confirm a multiplayer mode directly, but most Famicom Disk System baseball games of this era offer a two-player versus option against another human. If the title screen presents a second player option, you can hook up a second controller. Without a verified manual, the exact mode is uncertain, but the genre standard suggests it is available.

What makes Exciting Baseball stand out among Famicom Disk System titles of its era?

Its main differentiator is simply being a baseball game on the FDS - a platform that hosted far fewer sports titles than the NES. The disk format allowed for slightly more detailed graphics and sound than early cartridge releases, but gameplay is fairly standard. It remains a niche entry for collectors rather than a landmark sports simulation.

Is there anything iconic or memorable about Exciting Baseball?

The game is not particularly iconic; it's a straightforward baseball simulation without standout features like digitized voices or famous players. Its memory lives on mainly as part of the FDS library that never saw a Western release. For die-hard retro collectors, owning the disk and manual is a small piece of Famicom history.

All Famicom Disk System games