Controls
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 which are new for 1992, and one of which is a rehash of the Giants team from the four previous titles, but its lineup has Kanji namings).
Teams
Top row
Seibu Lions (西武ライオンズ, lit. Seibu Raionzu) - 1: Tsuji (辻, 2B, AV. 278, HR 10), 2: Heiya (平野, RF, AV .281, HR 3) 3: Kiyohara (清原, AV .270 and HR 23), 4: Akiyama (秋山, CF, AV .297, HR 35) 5: Desutorāde (デストラーデ, LF, AV .268, HR 39), 6: Ishige (石毛, 3B, AV .269 and HR 13), 7: Itō (伊東, C, AV .212 and HR 8) 8: Tanabe (田辺, SS, AV .267 and HR 11), and 9: Kudō (工藤, L, AV .150, HR 0 and ERA 2.82), Kaku (郭, R, AV .150, HR 0 and ERA 2.59) Watanabe Tomo (渡辺智, R, AV .150, HR 0 and ERA 2.35), Watanabe Hisa (渡辺久, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.39), Shintani (新谷, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.00), Katori (鹿取, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 1.78). Team was founded in 1950 and is managed by Mori (森).
Kintetsu Buffaloes (近鉄バファローズ, lit. Kintetsu Bafarōzu) - 1: Ōishi (大石, 2B, AV .268, HR 6), 2: Arai (新井, CF, AV .309, HR 3) 3: Buraianto (ブライアント, LF, AV .238, HR 22) 4: Rīdo (リード, RF, AV .275, HR 10) 5: Kanemura (金村, 3B, AV .270, HR 16), 6: Ishī (石井, 1B, AV .290 and HR 21), 7: Yoshida (吉田, SS, AV .255, HR 4), 8: Furukubo (古久保, C, AV .226, HR 3) and 9: Nomo (野茂, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.05) Ono (小野, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.86), Iriki (入来, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.44), Takamura (高村, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.00), Awaya (阿波野, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.93) Akahori (赤堀, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.54). The now-defunct team was founded in 1949 and was managed by Ōgi (仰木).
Hiroshima Tōyō Carp (広島東洋カープ, lit. Hiroshima Tōyō Kāpu) - 1: Shōda (正田, 2B, AV .291, HR 8), 2: Maeda (前田, CF, AV .271, HR 4), 3: Nomura (野村, SS, AV .324, HR 10), 4: Buraun (ブラウン, LF, AV .260, HR 30), 5: Kobayakawa (小早川, 1B, AV .259, HR 7), 6: Nishida (西田, RF, AV .289, HR 7) 7: Etō (江藤, 3B, AV .215, HR 11) 8: Tatsukawa (達川, C, AV .237, HR 1) and 9: Sasaoka (佐々岡, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.44), Kawaguchi (川口, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.90), Kitabeppu (北別府, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.38), Nagatomi (長冨, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.82), Kitō (紀藤, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.44), Ōno (大野, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 1.17). Again, founded in 1950, and managed by Yamaki (山木).
Chūnichi Dragons (中日ドラゴンズ, lit. Chūnichi Doragonzu) - 1: Tatsunami (立浪, 2B, AV .290, HR 10), 2: Taneda (種田, SS, AV .272, HR: 5), 3: Kawamata (川又, RF, .331, HR 5), 4: Ochiai (落合, 1B, AV .340, HR 37), 5: Taihō (大豊, LF, AV .283, HR 26), 6: Uno (宇野, 3B, AV .238, HR 26) 7: Nagashima (長嶋, CF, AV .286, HR 4) 8: Nakamura (中村, C, AV .270, HR 20) and 9: Imachū (今中, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.52), Kaku (郭, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.71, shares name with the Seibu Lions' second pitcher), Andāson (アンダーソン, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.09), Yamamoto (山本, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.63) Morita (森田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.03), Yoda (与田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.18). Founded in 1936 and managed by Takagi (高木); their second pitcher shares his name with the Seibu Lions' second pitcher, which could cause some confusion in game.
Centre row
Orix Blue Wave (オリックスブルーウェーブ, lit. Orikkusu Burūwēbu) - 1: Taguchi (田口, SS, AV .246, HR 5) 2: Fukura (福良, 2B, AV .273, HR: 2), 3: Matsunaga (松永, 3B, AV .314, HR 3), 4: Maruchinesu (マルチンネス, 1B, AV .267, HR 20), 5: Ishimine (石嶺, LF, AV .269, HR 21), 6: Fujī (藤井, RF, AV .222, HR 21), 7: Honnishi (本西, CF, AV .264, HR 4), 8: Nakajima (中嶋, C, AV .253, HR 12), 9: Hoshino (星野, L, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 3.53), Shurujī (シュルジー, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.66), Yamaoki (山沖, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.30), Hasegawa (長谷川, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.55), Sakai (酒井, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.15) Satōyoshi (佐藤義, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.22). Founded in 1936 and managed by Doi (土井).
File:SSS Nihon Hamu Fighters Flag.gif File:SSS Nihon Hamu Fighters Logo.gif File:SSS Nihon Hamu Fighter.gif File:SSS Nihon Hamu Fighter 2.gif Nihon Hamu Fighters (日本ハムファイターズ, lit. Nihon Hamu Faitāzu) - 1: Shiraīchi (白井一, 2B, AV .311, HR: 4), 2: Hinakakō (日中幸, SS, AV .241, HR 13), 3: Uintāsu (ウインタース, RF, AV .269, HR 33), 4: Māsharu (マーシャル, LF, AV .255, HR 30), 5: Nakajima (中島, 1B, AV .219, HR 7, shares romanized name with the Blue Wave's No. 8), 6: Kataoka (片岡, 3B, AV .230, HR 5), 7: Tamura (田村, C, AV .246, HR 11), 8: Suzuki (鈴木, CF, AV .264, HR: 4), and 9: Shibata (柴田, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA 2.48), Nishizaki (西崎, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.16), Matsūra (松浦, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA 5.21), Sakai (酒井, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.71, shares name with the Blue Wave's fifth pitcher), Kaneishi (金石, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA: 3.29), Takeda (武田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.04). Founded in 1946, and managed by Dobashi (土橋); two players also share their (romanized, in the case of the former) names with the Blue Wave's No. 8 and their fourth pitcher, which could cause more confusion if that team is chosen to play them.
Yakult Swallows (ヤクルトスワローズ, literally Yakuruto Suwarōzu) - 1: Īda (飯田, CF, AV .242, HR: 4), 2: Shiro (城, LF, AV .242 and HR: 2), 3: Rei (レイ, 2B, AV .299 and HR: 11), 4: Hirosawakatsu (広沢克, 1B, AV .278, HR 27), 5: Ikeyama (池山, SS, AV .269, HR 32), 6: Haueru (ハウエル, 3B, AV .277, HR 25) 7: Hata (秦, RF, AV .292, HR 16), 8: Furuta (古田, C, AV .340, HR 11), 9: Nishimura (西村, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA: 2.80), Kawasaki (川崎, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.91), Okabayashi (岡林, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 3.97), Katō (加藤, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.96), Takano (高野, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA 5.00), Naitō (内藤, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 5.57). Once again, founded in 1950, and managed by Nomura (野村).
Yomiuri Giants (読売ジャイアンツ, literally Yomiuri Jaiantsu) - 1: Ogata (緒方, CF, AV: .277, HR: 2), 2: Kawai (川相, SS, AV .251, HR 2), 3: Shinozuka (篠塚, 2B, AV .266, HR 3), 4: Komada (駒田, RF, AV .324, HR 9), 5: Haratatsu (原辰, 1B, AV .268, HR 29), 6: Mosubī (モスビー, LF, AV .300, HR: 30), 7: Okazaki (岡崎, 3B, AV .258, HR: 5), 8: Yoshihara (吉原, C, AV .155, HR 1), 9: Kuwata (桑田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.16), Makihara (槙原, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA 3.39), Saitō (斎藤, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.38), Miyamoto (宮本, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.37), Kida (木田, R, AV .150, HR: 0, ERA: 6.44), Kearī (ケアリー, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.40). Founded in 1934 and managed by Fujita (藤田); their name also keeps that of the old 1988-1991 Giants team from the four previous titles alive, even though their Katakana name is spelled with ja (ジャ) as opposed to ga (ガ).
Bottom row
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (福岡ダイエイホークス, lit. Fukuoka Daiei Hōkusu) - 1: Ōno (大野, CF, AV .289, HR 1, shares name with the Hiroshima Tōyō Carp's sixth pitcher), 2: Yugamidani (湯上谷, 2B, AV .256, HR 6), 3: Sasaki (佐々木, RF, AV .304, HR 21), 4: Būmā (ブーマー, 1B, AV .300, HR: 20), 5: Kishikawa (岸川, LF, AV .258, HR: 20), 6: Fujimoto (藤本, 3B, AV .266, HR :11), 7: Hamana (浜名, SS, AV .256, HR 2), 8: Yoshinaga (吉永, C, AV .189, HR 6), 9: Murata (村田, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.54) Wakatabe (若田部, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.00) Taneru (タネル, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.19), Sugimoto (杉本, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.25), Honhara (本原, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.78) or Ikeda (池田, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.66). The team was founded in 1938, and is managed by Tabuchi (田淵); as with the Yakult Swallows, they are also named after their corporate owners, Daiei Inc.
Chiba Lotte Marines (千葉ロッテマリーンズ, lit. Chiba Rotte Marīnzu) - 1: Nishimura (西村, CF, AV .275 and HR: 2), 2: Satōken (佐藤兼, SS, AV .236, HR: 4), 3: Makkusu (マックス, RF, AV .270, HR: 25), 4: Diazu (ディアズ, LF, AV .237, HR 10), 5: Hori (堀, 2B, AV .284, HR 20) 6: Aikō (愛甲, 1B, AV .271, HR 8) 7: Hatsushiba (初芝, 3B, AV .254, HR 5), 8: Aoyagi (青柳, C, AV .222, HR 1), 9: Komiyama (小宮山, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.95), Maeda (前田, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.86, shares his name with the Hiroshima Tōyō Carp No. 2), Ushijima (牛島, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.86), Sō (荘, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.24), Shiratake (白武, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.59), Kōmoto (河本, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 6.88). Founded in 1950, and managed by Yagisawa (八木沢); the second pitcher also shares his name with the Hiroshima Tōyō Carp No. 2, which could cause yet more confusion.
Yokohama Taiyo Whales (横浜大洋ホエールズ, lit. Yokohama Taiyo Hoēruzu) - 1: Takagi (高木, 2B, AV .333, HR: 4), 2: Shimizu (清水, 3B, AV .266, HR: 5), 3: Reinoruzu (レイノルズ, RF, AV .316, HR: 15), 4: Shītsu (シーツ, LF, AV .270, HR: 25), 5: Osanai (長内, 1B, AV .233, HR 5) 6: Yamazaki (山崎, CF, AV .272, HR 1), 7: Takahashi (高橋, SS, AV .228, HR 0), 8: Tanishige (谷繁, C, AV .237, HR 5), 9: Nomura (野村, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.16, shares his name with the Hiroshima Tōyō Carp's No. 3), Daimon (大門, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.49), Saitōtakashi (R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.00) Morita (盛田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 5.02) Kakehata (欠端, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 5.60) Sasaki (佐々木, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 2.00, shares name with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks' No. 3). Yet again, founded in 1950 and managed by Ejiri (江尻); two of their players also share their names with the Hiroshima Tōyō Carp and Fukuoka Daiei Hawks' No. 3s, which could cause yet more confusion if those teams are chosen to play.
Hanshin Tigers (阪神タイガース, lit. Hanshin Taigāsu) - 1: Wada (和田, AV: .298, HR: 0), 2: Kameyama (亀山, RF, AV .095, HR: 0), 3: Pachorekku (パチョレック, LF, AV .310, HR: 11), 4: Omarī (オマリー, 3B, AV .307, HR: 21), 5: Okada (岡田, 1B, AV .240, HR: 15), 6: Hachiboku (八木, CF, AV .250, HR 22), 7: Kuji (久慈, SS, AV .221, HR 5), 8: Yamada (山田, C, AV .128, HR 2), 9: Kasai (葛西, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.77), Inomata (猪俣, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.29), Noda (野田, R, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.81), Yubune (湯舟, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.66), Nakata (仲田, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 4.25) Tamura (田村, L, AV .150, HR 0, ERA 3.77, shares name with the Nihon Hamu Fighters' No. 7). Founded in 1935 and managed by Nakamura (中村); their sixth pitcher also shares his name with the Nihon Hamu Fighters' No. 7 which could cause yet more confusion. It's also worth noting that the home stadium of this team is the Kōshien (甲子園) Stadium - which has featured in all four previous titles, as well as this one.