Backyard Baseball 2005 (Windows)

BACKYARD BASEBALL 2005 can be played on the PC (Backyard Baseball 2005) or PlayStation 2 (Backyard Baseball). It is not your traditional baseball simulation. The players are kids, and some are even kid-versions of baseball stars including Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Delgado, and Sammy Sosa.

The pitching and hitting do not always follow your baseball expectations. While you can choose to deliver traditional pitches, you can also throw wacky ones, including the "Splitball," which sends two curveballs at the batter -- one of which is fake. Fielders will go crazy when batters use the "Pinata Bat" that turns the hit into dozens of bouncing baseballs.

The players are all kids who are as diverse as the American youths who will control them. When little Vicki Kawaguchi comes up to bat, she pirouettes her way to the plate. Marky Dubois plays with a pet frog in his overalls. Kenny Kawaguchi is in a wheelchair.

New to these editions are 3-D graphics and more challenging gameplay. Hardcore baseball fans might find the game too whimsical, but younger kids and the average sports fan will find Backyard Baseball to be a hoot.