Dusty Diamond's All-Star Softball Explained

Dusty Diamond's All-Star Softball
Developer:	Tose
Publisher:	Tonkin House Brøderbund
Composer:	Yuko Sano
Genre:	Sports (softball)
Modes:	Single-player Multiplayer (up to 2 players)
Platforms:	NES

Dusty Diamond's All-Star Softball (released in Japan as Softball Tengoku) is a one- or two-player NES video game where players can select various fictional softball players and customize their own team to take to the championship.^[1]

Gameplay

In 1-player mode, the player attempts to win one game on each available field. Upon doing so, the player then faces a difficult all-female team called "The Amazons" on the professional field. Defeating the Amazons beats the game. In 2-player mode, players play an "exhibition game."

Players choose either fast-pitch or slow-pitch mode, the playing field, a team of ten players from the 60 available characters, and a team name from a list of 26 names, one for each letter of the alphabet.

Despite the game being a softball game, the rules are more reminiscent of baseball, with the exception that each game is played to a maximum of seven innings (unless extra innings are needed to break a tie). The game also features a mercy rule, with the game ending if someone leads by 10 or more runs after an entire inning is played.

Characters

Players assemble their teams from 60 characters, some of whom have noticeable trademarks. For instance:

• Diablo looks like an ogre. He bats with a club, and runs very slowly.
• Zelda looks like a witch, and bats with a broom.
• Froggy skips as he runs.
• Casey has the ability to float in the air while playing defense.^[2]

Fields

The game features six different playing fields, each with its own features and ground rules.

• Sandlot: Based on a traditional sandlot, the field has areas with high grass and rocks that can interfere with a live play. To hit a home run, the player only has to hit a ball over the "home run line," not beyond the fence.
• Park: There is a pond in foul territory. The area beyond the home run line has trees, park benches, and a mud puddle that can interfere with the play.
• Cliff: Any hit that rolls under the picket fence in right field is a ground-rule double.
• School: Based on a schoolyard. A fly ball that lands beyond the home run line is a home run, but if it breaks a window on the school building then it's an automatic out instead.
• Island: Similar to a professional field, with an outfield fence.
• Professional: Standard field. Only available in 1-player mode after defeating the computer on the other five fields.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Basic information. https://archive.today/20060327145201/http://www.nesplayer.com/features/famicom/7.htm. dead. 2006-03-27. NES Player. 2008-08-12.
2. Web site: Dusty Diamond's All-Star Softball / Softball Tengoku. 30-30.club. 2023-12-03.