Bottom of the 9th

Lore & Background

Bottom of the 9th was released by Konami for the PlayStation in 1996, with a Sega Saturn port later that year and a Nintendo 64 port in 1999. It is part of Konami's XXL Sports brand and features 300 actual MLB players, though it does not include MLB-licensed teams. Players can compete in Exhibition, Season, or Playoffs modes, and the game emphasizes simulation-style gameplay where player stats determine hitting, pitching, and fielding performance.

Reader's Guide

Bottom of the 9th is significant as one of the earliest baseball games in Konami's XXL Sports franchise and as the first baseball game released in North America to feature a batting cursor. Its gameplay is geared toward simulation, with a steep learning curve due to unusual controls and a cluttered screen. Critics gave the game mixed reviews: some praised its realistic challenge and depth, while others found the controls difficult and the graphics below average. The Saturn version was noted as an exact port with unchanged rosters from the 1996 season. The game's legacy lies in its attempt to offer a deeper, more authentic baseball experience, though its accessibility was questioned by some reviewers.

Did You Know?

• Bottom of the 9th was released for the PlayStation in 1996, then ported to the Sega Saturn later that year and to the Nintendo 64 in 1999.
• It was the first baseball game released in North America to utilize a batting cursor.
• The game features 300 actual MLB players but does not include MLB-licensed teams.
• The Saturn version was described as an exact port but did not update rosters for the 1996 baseball season.