Blaine
CAGiversary!
This thread started in the DC homebrew thread and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted a nice DDAS thread to discuss this unique gem of a game. There's not a ton of info on the internet about it, as well the FAQs that exist are less then accurate in my opinion (specifically with regards to the character Zelda). So if anyone has an information, tips or even just comments about this game. I'd love to hear them!
So some very quick background before I get going:
DDAS is an NES game with wacky characters and fields to play in. Every character has their own quirks and skills (some are great batters/slow runners, others are excellent pitchers, some can even FLY) so half the challenge is building a balanced team.
The other point that makes the game so different is there are no set teams. Instead players pick individual characters to make up their team from a common pool. So only one person can pick any particular character. And in a stroke of genius that I've never seen reproduced - You do NOT have to wait for your opponant to pick a player before you make your next selection. You don't take turns picking players, you can pick as fast as you'd like! So that becomes an added strategic element. A game between two seasoned vets starts with a frantic tit-for-tat selection process, where you need to be aware of what kind of team the other player is building so you'll have a solution.
It's an absolutely awesome game! There is no other sports game like it, really, and it's one of those games that you can get lost in for hours with a group of friends. I can't reccomend it enough.
Okay so...on with the thread:
[quote name='repetske']You rule. I've been trying to remember the name of that game for the longest time. I remember renting it as a kid and thinking it was so cool. I really liked how you could knock out windows of the school with homeruns and that the caveman looking kid used a club to bat. I'm sure if I play it now, I'll be like wtf, but at least I know the name again. Thanks for mentioning that game.[/quote]
No problem. Glad I could help. It is a fantastic game, isn't it?
The character you're talking about is Diablo. He's a great batter, but not too hot as far as fielding is concerned. Other notable big sticks are Fuji (the sumo) and Zelda (the witch) - although, I've read most people have trouble with Zelda and think she's a waste of a character. Personally, I always pick her, I have no problems going yard using her. So YMMV.
Like I mentioned in my post, I reccomend you check out the JPN version of it called Softball Tengoku. There's a translated version of it floating around on the internet (and if you want to make sure you're on the up and up, you can buy the famicom cart for chump change). Notable differences are:
1) It is only slow pitch. In the US version you can choose fast pitch as well, with slightly different rules such as stealing and what not. The JPN version is only slow pitch softball.
2) More interestingly, in the US version 98% of the characters look like normal people. You have Diablo (the demon), Zelda (the witch) and you'll also have people who bat with wierd stuff like Artie (the miner). But pretty much everyone looks the same. In the JPN version all the characters are animals and monsters and what not. It is MUCH easier to play in my opinion.
The trick with DDAS is that all characters have their own individual stats. Some of them are blazingly fast, others are very slow. So you have to be smart and know that Diablo (Oni in the JPN version) is a good hitter but not much of an outfielder and it'd be best to play him at 1B or C.
But what about Dizzy? Mikey? Biff? It's a trial and error/memory thing to remember who can pitch, who can field and who can bat.
In the JPN version you have clues by the character themselves. Ninja, for example, is the fastest character in the game (and can EASILY stretch a triple out of most outfield fly balls). Chimpy (a small monkey) is very quick, Kanga (kangaroo) hops around and Tengoku (with the Noh mask) can fly.
There's a sorta rationale to why each character is a certain way in the JPN version. The elephant is clearly a big hitter but not fast. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out.
However in the US version, it's so much harder to remember who is good at what. I still have difficulty to this day and tend to get characters confused.
In my opinion, neither game is really complete. The ability to switch between fast and slow pitch is pretty striking in the US version and the characters of the JPN version add charm are are much easier to identify and process in heated, fast-past team selections.
So I tend to switch between versions.
If you have working NES/Famicom hardware, neither game is rare or expensive. If you don't, emulated versions are of course near-perfect (and, personally, it works very very well with the Dreamcast controller using NesterDC).
So if you like the video games, check it out. It's one of the best games you've never played.
So some very quick background before I get going:
DDAS is an NES game with wacky characters and fields to play in. Every character has their own quirks and skills (some are great batters/slow runners, others are excellent pitchers, some can even FLY) so half the challenge is building a balanced team.
The other point that makes the game so different is there are no set teams. Instead players pick individual characters to make up their team from a common pool. So only one person can pick any particular character. And in a stroke of genius that I've never seen reproduced - You do NOT have to wait for your opponant to pick a player before you make your next selection. You don't take turns picking players, you can pick as fast as you'd like! So that becomes an added strategic element. A game between two seasoned vets starts with a frantic tit-for-tat selection process, where you need to be aware of what kind of team the other player is building so you'll have a solution.
It's an absolutely awesome game! There is no other sports game like it, really, and it's one of those games that you can get lost in for hours with a group of friends. I can't reccomend it enough.
Okay so...on with the thread:
[quote name='repetske']You rule. I've been trying to remember the name of that game for the longest time. I remember renting it as a kid and thinking it was so cool. I really liked how you could knock out windows of the school with homeruns and that the caveman looking kid used a club to bat. I'm sure if I play it now, I'll be like wtf, but at least I know the name again. Thanks for mentioning that game.[/quote]
No problem. Glad I could help. It is a fantastic game, isn't it?
The character you're talking about is Diablo. He's a great batter, but not too hot as far as fielding is concerned. Other notable big sticks are Fuji (the sumo) and Zelda (the witch) - although, I've read most people have trouble with Zelda and think she's a waste of a character. Personally, I always pick her, I have no problems going yard using her. So YMMV.
Like I mentioned in my post, I reccomend you check out the JPN version of it called Softball Tengoku. There's a translated version of it floating around on the internet (and if you want to make sure you're on the up and up, you can buy the famicom cart for chump change). Notable differences are:
1) It is only slow pitch. In the US version you can choose fast pitch as well, with slightly different rules such as stealing and what not. The JPN version is only slow pitch softball.
2) More interestingly, in the US version 98% of the characters look like normal people. You have Diablo (the demon), Zelda (the witch) and you'll also have people who bat with wierd stuff like Artie (the miner). But pretty much everyone looks the same. In the JPN version all the characters are animals and monsters and what not. It is MUCH easier to play in my opinion.
The trick with DDAS is that all characters have their own individual stats. Some of them are blazingly fast, others are very slow. So you have to be smart and know that Diablo (Oni in the JPN version) is a good hitter but not much of an outfielder and it'd be best to play him at 1B or C.
But what about Dizzy? Mikey? Biff? It's a trial and error/memory thing to remember who can pitch, who can field and who can bat.
In the JPN version you have clues by the character themselves. Ninja, for example, is the fastest character in the game (and can EASILY stretch a triple out of most outfield fly balls). Chimpy (a small monkey) is very quick, Kanga (kangaroo) hops around and Tengoku (with the Noh mask) can fly.
There's a sorta rationale to why each character is a certain way in the JPN version. The elephant is clearly a big hitter but not fast. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out.
However in the US version, it's so much harder to remember who is good at what. I still have difficulty to this day and tend to get characters confused.
In my opinion, neither game is really complete. The ability to switch between fast and slow pitch is pretty striking in the US version and the characters of the JPN version add charm are are much easier to identify and process in heated, fast-past team selections.
So I tend to switch between versions.
If you have working NES/Famicom hardware, neither game is rare or expensive. If you don't, emulated versions are of course near-perfect (and, personally, it works very very well with the Dreamcast controller using NesterDC).
So if you like the video games, check it out. It's one of the best games you've never played.
