| World Series Baseball '98 | |
| Developer: | Sega BlueSky Software (Genesis) |
| Publisher: | Sega |
| Producer: | David Perkinson Scott Rohde |
| Series: | World Series Baseball |
| Platforms: | Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn |
| Released: | Saturn Genesis |
| Genre: | Sports |
| Modes: | Single-player, multiplayer |
World Series Baseball '98 is a traditional baseball simulation video game by Sega, released in North America and South Korea for the Sega Saturn and Sega Genesis as a sequel to World Series Baseball II.
The game was first released in Japan under the title which used the Nippon Professional Baseball license.
The Saturn version of World Series Baseball '98 received mostly positive reviews. The series' transition to polygonal graphics was generally approved of, particularly since the game still runs as fast as its predecessors, though multiple reviewers criticized that the bats are grossly out-of-proportion, saying they look like two-by-four lumber planks. Most also commented on the inability to trade players. However, the batting/pitching quadrant system was highly praised. Next Generation, in particular, argued that in conjunction with the deep fielding controls and management strategies, the quadrant system makes World Series Baseball '98 a genre-redefining game comparable to the likes of Doom and NFL GameDay 97. The reviewer stated, "Clearly, this is the new standard for baseball games, and there are no current games that even come close. Saturn may not have much, but it's got baseball." Other critics were more moderate, though still positive. GamePro concluded that the fast, fun nature of the game overrides its issues with graphics and sounds, and compared it favorably to contemporary baseball games on the Saturn such as Grand Slam.[1] Kraig Kujawa and Dean Hager both said that it is inferior to MLB '98, but still very good, and Hager added, "I'll say for sure it's the best baseball game for the Saturn."
The Genesis version was released at the end of the console's lifespan and was largely ignored by the press. A brief review in GamePro criticized that the only improvements over World Series Baseball '96 are updated rosters and interleague play, making it only worth buying for those who do not yet have a baseball game for the Genesis.[2]
During the inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated the Saturn version for "Console Sports Game of the Year",[3] which was ultimately awarded to International Superstar Soccer 64.[4]