R.B.I. Baseball 19 Review (NSW)

Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong

Title: R.B.I. Baseball 19
Developer: MLB
Publisher: MLB Advanced Media
Genre: Sports
Price: $29.99
Also Available On: PS4, XB1

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First things first: R.B.I. Baseball 19 is the best licensed Major League Baseball product on the Nintendo Switch, but by default. There’s simply no competition on the console — which can be, and is, both good and bad. The biggest plus: As its developer and publisher, the league allotted significant resources to its conception, progress, and release. The biggest minus: It remains lacking vis-a-vis MLB The Show 19, the gold standard of baseball videogames and available only on the PlayStation 4.

That said, R.B.I. Baseball 19 offers incremental but no less significant improvements over its predecessor. Weekly roster updates and the presence of the league’s all-time greats serve to add value to the series’ latest iteration, but vastly upgraded game physics proves to be its biggest come-on. Even as it promises to provide an arcade-like experience, it has clearly taken pains to make subject and object actions and reactions more realistic and, therefore, appealing. And, for good measure, the much-smoother flow of visuals augments its superior feel.

R.B.I. Baseball 19 isn’t perfect by any means. Hitting and pitching options remain limited, and fielding continues to be iffy even with practice. Frame drops are evident with the Switch undocked, and, perhaps concomitantly, those angling for online multiplayer matches will find themselves disappointed. On the whole, though, it’s a step in the right direction, and one that fans of the sport cannot but welcome with open arms.

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THE GOOD

• Improved visuals
• Upgraded game physics
• MLB license and involvement

THE BAD

• Limited hitting and pitching options
• Fielding remains iffy
• Frame drops
• No online multiplayer option

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RATING: 7/10

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