Great Sluggers/Gameplay

At bat

 * Joystick: While waiting for the pitch, use the 8-way joystick to position your batter inside the batting box. (All twelve teams have a different batter).
 * First Button: Press and hold this button to swing your bat. If you do not hold this down long enough you may bunt the ball instead of swinging at it.
 * Second Button: Press this button to initiate stealing a base. You must first push the joystick in the direction of the base you would like to steal. For example, if you have a runner upon the first base and would like to steal the second, first push the joystick to the left, then press the second button.

Pitching

 * Joystick: Before the pitch is thrown, you must push the joystick to the left or right, to move the pitcher from one side of the pitch mound to the other.
 * First Button: Before you press this button, you must push the joystick, to determine the speed of the ball. Push it up to throw a slow ball, or down to throw a fast ball. Pushing it in any other direction or not pushing it at all will result in a normal speed pitch. Throwing many fast balls or slow balls will wear a pitcher out faster. Once the ball is thrown, you must push the joystick to the left or right to control the path of the ball on the way to the batter.
 * Second Button: Once a runner is on a base, press this button to switch from the batter/mound view to the infield view where you can attempt to tag out runners who are stealing bases. Pressing it again will switch from the aforementioned infield view back to the aforementioned batter/mound view.

Running bases

 * First Button: Runners will automatically move to the next base, once a ball lands on the ground. Press this button to request that a runner continues running, or that he run before the ball has landed. You must first push the joystick in the direction of the base you would like to reach. For example, if you have a runner headed on to the first base and would like to run all the way on to the second, first push the joystick up, then press the first button.
 * Second Button: As mentioned above, runners automatically move to the next base, unless it is a fly ball, in which case they wait to see if it is safe to run. You may decide that you do not want to wait and send a player ahead. But if it turns out that the ball was caught, you'll need to send him back to the base before he is tagged out. If you were heading on to second base when the ball was caught you will have to send the runner back to first base by pushing the joystick to the right, and then pressing the second button. (If he does not manage to make it back there in time, he will be tagged out).

In the field

 * Joystick: Before the ball is caught by any player you must use the joystick to determine the general directions that the players are running in. Given that is no one outfielder that you will be in control of at any time in this game, all of them will move in the direction that you are holding the joystick in.
 * First Button: Once the ball is in one of your players' hands, push the joystick in the direction that corresponds to the base you would like to throw to, and press the button. If you do not push the joystick in any direction, the ball will automatically be thrown to first base (like you meant to throw there).
 * Second Button: Once the ball is in one of your players' hands, you can run on to any base, by pushing the joystick in the direction that corresponds to the base you would like to run to, and pressing the button. Now that you've learned these important playing techniques it's time to meet the teams (all twelve of them are returning favourites from the last three titles, and their lineups are the same as those of the last one: SWS93).

Central League (セントラルリーグ)
Yakult Swallows (ヤクルトスワローズ, lit. Yakuruto Suwarōzu) - 1: Īda (飯田, CF, AV: .294, HR: 7), 2: Arai (荒井, LF, AV .252 and HR: 5), 3: Furuta (古田, C, AV .316, HR 30), 4: Hirosawakatsu (広沢克, 1B, AV .276, HR 25), 5: Haueru (ハウエル, 3B, AV .331, HR 38), 6: Ikeyama (池山, SS, AV .279, HR 30), 7: Hata (秦, RF, AV .251, HR 15), 8: Hadorā (ハドラー, 2B, AV .278, HR 10), 9: Okabayashi (岡林, R, AV .150, HR 0 and ERA 2.97), Nishimura (西村, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.95), Kawasaki (川崎, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.90), Itō (伊藤, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.88, shares his romanized name with the Seibu Lions' No. 7) Araki (荒木, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 0.69), Yamada (山田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.00). Again, founded in 1950, and managed by Nomura (野村); their new 4th pitcher also shares his name with the Seibu Lions' No. 7, which could cause confusion.

Chūnichi Dragons (中日ドラゴンズ, lit. Chūnichi Doragonzu) - 1: Tatsunami (立浪, 2B, AV: .301, HR: 5), 2: Taneda (種田, SS, AV .246, HR: 3), 3: Paueru (パウエル, CF, AV .308, HR: 13), 4: Ochiaihiroshi (落合博, 1B, AV .292, HR: 22), 5: Taihō (大豊, LF, AV .267, HR 11) 6: Yamazaki (山崎, RF, AV .236, HR 4, shares name with the Kintetsu Buffaloes' third pitcher), 7: Maehara (前原, 3B, AV .269, HR 9), 8: Nakamura (中村, C, AV .245, HR 6), 9: Imachū (今中, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 1.77), Tsuruta (鶴田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.70), Yamamoto (山本, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.43), Kaku (郭, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.00, shares naming with the Seibu Lions' second pitcher), Kojima (小島, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.81), Yoda (与田, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 3.48). Much like the Orix Blue Wave, this team was founded in 1936 and is still managed by Takagi (高木); two of their new players also share their names with pitchers for the Kintetsu Buffaloes and Seibu Lions, which could for a second time cause more confusion.

Yomiuri Giants (読売ジャイアンツ, lit. Yomiuri Jaiantsu) - 1: Ogata (緒方, 2B, AV .286, HR: 6), 2: Kawai (川相, SS, AV .258 and HR 5), 3: Mosubī (モスビー, CF, AV: .306, HR: 25), 4: Hara (原, 3B, AV .272, HR 28), 5: Bāfīrudo (バーフィールド, RF, AV .250, HR 20), 6: Yoshimura (吉村, LF, AV .317, HR 6) 7: Komada (駒田, 1B, AV .307, HR 27), 8: Ōkubo (大久保, C, AV .277, HR 15), 9: Saitō (斎藤, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.59), Miyamoto (宮本, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.21), Kuwata (桑田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.41), Makihara (槙原, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.58), Kida (木田, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA 4.53), Ishige (石毛, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 1.32, shares name with the Seibu Lions' No. 5). Founded in 1934, and now managed by Nagashima (長嶋); their new sixth pitcher also shares his name with the Seibu Lions' No. 5 which could cause more confusion. They are also still keeping the name of the old 1988-1991 Giants team alive, even if they still spell their Katakana name with ja (ジャ), as opposed to ga (ガ).

Hanshin Tigers (阪神タイガース, literally: Hanshin Taigāsu) - 1: Wada (和田, 2B, AV .278, HR 0), 2: Kuji (久慈, SS, AV .245, HR 0), 3: Matsunaga (松永, 3B, AV .298, HR 3), 4: Omarī (オマリー, 1B, AV .325, HR 15), 5: Pachorekku (パチョレック, LF, AV .311, HR 22), 6: Kameyama (亀山, RF, AV .287, HR 4), 7: Hachiboku (八木, CF, AV .267, HR 21), 8: Yamada (山田, C, AV .204, HR 4), 9: Nakata (仲田, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA: 2.53), Yubune (湯舟, L, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA 2.82), Kasai (葛西, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.83), Nakagome (中込, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.42), Nakanishi (中西, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.76), Yuminaga (弓長, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 1.35). Founded in 1935 and still managed by Nakamura (中村).

Yokohama Baystars (横浜ベイスターズ, lit. Yokohama Beisutāzu) - 1: Takahashi (高橋, CF, AV .136, HR 0), 2: Ishī (石井, 3B, AV .269, HR 3), shares name with the Kintetsu Buffaloes' No. 4), 3: Takagi (高木, 1B, AV .300, HR 5), 4: Buraggusu (ブラッグス, RF, AV .266, HR 25) 5: Rōzu (ローズ, 2B, AV .289, HR 15) 6: Miyazato (宮里, LF, AV .254, HR 1) 7: Shindō (進藤, SS, AV .246, HR 11) 8: Akimoto (秋元, C, AV .213, HR 2), 9: Udō (有働, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.99), Nomura (野村, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 5.48, shares his name with the Hiroshima Tōyō Carp's No. 1), Tanabe (田辺,  L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.84, shares name with the Seibu Lions' No. 8), Okamototōru (岡本透, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.23), Morita (盛田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.05), Sasaki (佐々木, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.46). Formerly known as the Yokohama Taiyo Whales from 1978-92, founded in 1950 and now managed by Kondō (近藤); three of their new players are also sharing their names with the Kintetsu Buffaloes' No. 4, the Hiroshima Tōyō Carp's No. 1, and the Seibu Lions' No. 8, which could cause yet more confusion if any of those three teams are picked to play against this renamed one.

Hiroshima Tōyō Carp (広島東洋カープ, literally Hiroshima Tōyō Kāpu) - 1: Nomura (野村, SS, AV .288, HR 14), 2: Masada (正田, 2B, AV .301, HR 4), 3: Maedatomo (前田智, CF, AV .308, HR 19), 4: Etō (江藤, 3B, AV .289, HR 16), 5: Machida (町田, LF, AV .268, HR 6), 6: Medīna (メディーナ, 1B, AV .278, HR: 10), 7: Buraun (ブラウン, RF, AV .233, HR 19), 8: Nishiyama (西山, C, AV .224, HR 4), 9: Kitabeppu (北別府, R, AV .150, HR: 0 and ERA: 2.58), Kawaguchi (川口, L, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA 3.34), Sasaoka (佐々岡, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.38), Nagatomi (長冨, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA 4.56), Mochitsuki (望月, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.72), Ōno (大野, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 1.98). As with the Seibu Lions, this team was founded in 1950, and is still managed by Yamamoto (山本); now that you have refamiliarized yourself with the top row, it is time for the bottom one.

Pacific League (パシフィックリーグ)
Seibu Lions (西武ライオンズ lit. Seibu Raionzu) - 1: Tsuji (辻, 2B, AV .285, HR 6) 2: Heiya (平野, RF, AV .280, HR 4) 3: Akiyama (秋山, CF, AV .296, HR: 31), 4: Kiyohara (清原, 1B, AV .289, HR: 36), 5: Ishige (石毛, 3B, AV .297, HR: 8), 6: Tomashino (笘篠, LF, AV .295, HR: 3), 7: Itō (伊東, C, AV .263, HR 4), 8: Tanabe (田辺, SS, AV .302, HR 13), 9: Ishījō (石井丈, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 1.94), Kaku (郭, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA: 2.41), Kudō (工藤, L, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 3.52), Sugiyama (杉山, L, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 3.50), Shiozaki (潮崎, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.94), Katori (鹿取, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 2.47). For those who have not yet played SWS '92, the team was founded in 1950, and still managed by Mori (森).

Nihon Hamu Fighters (日本ハムファイターズ, literally Nihon Hamu Faitāzu) - 1: Suzuki (鈴木, CF, AV .284, HR 6), 2: Shiraīchi (白井一, 2B, AV .215, HR: 4), 3: Tanakasachi (田中幸, SS, AV .302, HR: 15), 4: Uintāsu (ウインタース, LF, AV .282, HR 25), 5: Shū (シュー, 1B, AV .299, HR 25), 6: Kataoka (片岡, 3B, AV .290, HR 10), 7: Igarishi (五十嵐, RF, AV .292, HR 2), 8: Tamura (田村, C, AV .243, HR 9), 9: Nishizaki (西崎, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 4.08), Shibata (柴田, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 3.16), Takeda (武田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.87), Shiraikō (白井康, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.49), Kaneishi (金石, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.77), Yamahara (山原, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.00). Founded in 1946, and now managed by Ōsawa (大沢); there's only four teams left to go now, and one has a mascot that originally wore a hat and shirt, but lost them for his second appearance.

Orix Blue Wave (オリックスブルーウェーブ, lit. Orikkusu Burūwēbu) - 1: Fukura (福良, 2B, AV .284, HR 3), 2: Ogawa (小川, SS, AV .291, HR 3), 3: Fujī (藤井, RF, AV .269, HR 0), 4: Takahashisatoshi (高橋智, CF, AV .297, HR 29), 5: Ishimine (石嶺, LF, AV .267, HR 18), 6: Tōbe (トーベ, 1B, AV .305, HR: 11), 7: Yamakoshi (山越, 3B, AV .250, HR: 0), 8: Nakajima (中嶋, C, AV .249, HR 6), 9: Hoshino (星野, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA: 3.62), Noda (野田, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 2.98), Itōatsushi (伊藤敦, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.80), Hasegawa (長谷川, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.27), Satōyoshi (佐藤義, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 3.21), Sakai (酒井, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 3.29). Founded in 1936, and still managed by Doi (土井).

Kintetsu Buffaloes (近鉄バファローズ, lit. Kintetsu Bafarōzu) - 1: Ōishi (大石, 2B, AV .269, HR: 6), 2: Yoshidagō (吉田剛, SS, AV .257, HR 3), 3: Buraianto (ブライアント, LF, AV .243, HR 38), 4: Ishī (石井, 1B, AV .290, HR 29), 5: Reinoruzu (レイノルズ, RF, AV .248, HR 19), 6: Kanemura (金村, 3B, AV .260, HR 13), 7: Murakami (村上, CF, AV .250, HR 20), 8: Furukobo (古久保, C, AV .207, HR 4), and 9: Nomo (野茂, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA 2.66), Takamura (高村, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.15), Yamazaki (山崎, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.50), Koike (小池, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA: 3.30), Awaya (阿波野, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.36), Akahori (赤堀, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 1.80). This now-defunct team was founded in 1949, and are now managed by Suzuki (鈴木); their new No. 5 also used to play for the Yokohama Taiyo Whales (who have been renamed to the "Baystars").

Chiba Lotte Marines (千葉ロッテマリーンズ, lit. Chiba Rotte Marīnzu) - 1: Hori (堀, 2B, AV .281, HR: 8), 2: Nishimura (西村, CF, AV: .216, HR: 1, shares his name with that of the Yakult Swallows' second pitcher), 3: Makkusu (マックス, RF, AV: .268, HR 13), 4: Hōru (ホール, LF, AV .276, HR: 30), 5: Uno (宇野, SS, AV .239, HR: 11), 6: Aikō (愛甲, 1B, AV .274, HR 8), 7: Hatsushiba (初芝, 3B, AV .249, HR 10), 8: Aoyagi (青柳, C, AV .245, HR 9), 9: Komiyama (小宮山, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.96), Maeda (前田, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.95), Sonokawa (園川, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.96), Yoshida (吉田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.07, shares his name with that of Fukuoka Daiei Hawks' third pitcher), Narimoto (成本, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.00), Kōmoto (河本, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.58). As with the Seibu Lions and Hiroshima Tōyō Carp, this team was founded in 1950, and is still managed by Yagisawa (八木沢); two of its new players are also sharing their names with pitchers for the Yakult Swallows and Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, which could cause even more confusion, if either of those teams are chosen to play against them. There is just one more team left to be introduced now.

Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (福岡ダイエイホークス, literally: Fukuoka Daiei Hōkusu) - 1: Yamaguchihiroshi (山口裕, CF, AV .298, HR 0), 2: Yugamidani (湯上谷, 2B, AV .286, HR 6), 3: Sasakimakoto (佐々木誠, RF, AV .322, HR 21), 4: Raito (ライト, LF, AV .276, HR 10), 5: Yoshinaga (吉永, C, AV .290, HR: 11), 6: Fujimoto (藤本, 1B, AV .253, HR: 20), 7: Moriwaki (森脇, 3B, AV .206, HR: 1), 8: Hamana (浜名, SS, AV .239, HR: 5), 9: Murata (村田, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 3.67), Wakatabe (若田部, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.00), Yoshida (吉田, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.64), Ashikaga (足利, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.22), Inoue (井上, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 6.47), Ikeda (池田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.10). Founded in 1938, and now managed by Konpon (根本); as with those aforementioned Yakult Swallows, they are named after their corporate owners - Daiei Incorporated.

Mascots (マスコットス)
All twelve teams now have a unique mascot; some of them had previously appeared between innings for SWS '92 and '93, but here they appear on the "FAVOR" screens which come up during the game's attract sequence (and depend on what the arcade operator has set the option to), as well as in the background when their team hits the ball so hard it flies out of the stadium for a home run, and at the start and end of all "Namco Sports News" reports.

The mascot of the Yokohama Baystars (formerly Taiyo Whales) is also named after that invincibility powerup from Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. series.