R.B.I. Baseball 18 Reviews
R.B.I. Baseball 18 tries to be a fun arcade-style sports video game with some big features expected of so-called sim titles. And it winds up struggling with both goals.
R.B.I. Baseball 18 is another disappointing baseball 'simulation' on Switch. If you want a solid baseball experience on the Switch, you could do worse than Super Baseball 2020. Failing that, go buy a PS4 and MLB The Show 18 and be happy the rest of your life. On today's platforms, Sony San Diego has it sewn up and this is not going to change any time soon.
This is simply not a very good baseball game and the higher price point makes it even easier to accept this year. The improved graphics don't do enough to save this from another sub-standard effort.
Despite a nice variety of game modes, decent graphics, and a clever roster system, R.B.I. Baseball 18 continues the franchise's tradition of not making the cut.
R.B.I. Baseball 18 doesn't really need to exist on the PS4, which is an issue. While it's competent enough to register a clean hit, The Show runs laps around the title in virtually every department. Yes, it's cheaper and more accessible than Sony's vastly superior alternative – but we still wouldn't recommend pinch hitting San Diego's effort for this.
While the game does feature a full 10-Season Franchise mode, Postseason, Home Run Derby, and more, it just felt like the core foundation (gameplay) of the game was neglected. Development for the game was handled by MLBAM (Major League Baseball Advanced Media) which produces the amazing MLB At-Bat app so hopefully, they'll be able to improve the series with each new iteration. With RBI Baseball 19, I really hope they focus on the quality of the gameplay and making sure it's fun to play. They've got the modes and the visuals are pretty solid–now it's time to refine it. I honestly don't think I would recommend this game unless there's a steep discount or improvements are made.
Sadly, RBI Baseball 18, while ahead of last year's edition, is still obviously hampered by porting the mobile version to consoles and charging 300% more. It's not worth your time or your money, unless you're really hard up for a Switch baseball game. If you have access to any other console, play something there instead. Keep an eye on RBI Baseball as a series though, as they're making strides. It's got a long way to go, but they're clearly trying to make a great game.
RBI Baseball 18 adds significant new content to what was a fairly shallow game in the form of that franchise mode as well as a home run derby, but it still remains a simple game, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. If it were a more polished experience it would be easy to recommend to Switch-owning baseball fans, but as it is it doesn't really feel finished. If you can get past the mostly minor issues, though, it's an enjoyable arcade baseball game.
If you're a fan of simulation baseball and or looking for a cheap alternative to MLB The Show 18, I would pass on this. RBI Baseball has an opportunity to fill the void left by MLB 2K for Xbox users and with this installment they still have a long way to go.
After five iterations in the modern era, R.B.I. Baseball 18 remains a terrible series for any type of baseball fan. The modes may be serviceable, but everything from the AI to the presentation and the overall performance is severely lacking in quality. PS4 owners have a choice, so if you need your baseball fix, opt for Sony's offering once more with a tiny bit of hope that MLBAM will finally get something going next year.
If you're in the mood for a more arcade-like release, then you should definitely look into giving R.B.I. Baseball 18 a go. The game has been considerably revamped from its 2017 version, with a new franchise mode that will keep you busy for a ton of time.
This is a step in the right direction and after playing all the revival titles across multiple generations this is the first one I'd say is something I could suggest to fill that Baseball itch.