All-Star Baseball '97 featuring Frank Thomas

All-Star Baseball '97 featuring Frank Thomas, sometimes mislabeled as All Star Baseball '98,^[1] is a video game developed by Iguana and published by Acclaim for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1997. It is both the successor to Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball and the first game in the All-Star Baseball series.

All-Star Baseball '97
PlayStation cover art
Developer(s)	Iguana Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Acclaim Entertainment
Series	All-Star Baseball
Platform(s)	PlayStation Sega Saturn
Release	Saturn NA: May 24, 1997 PlayStation NA: June 30, 1997
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
AllGame	[2]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	5.75/10[3][a]
Game Informer	5.5/10[4]
GameFan	89%[1]
GameSpot	6.5/10[5]
IGN	5/10[6]
Next Generation	[7]
San Francisco Examiner	B−[8]

Reception

Electronic Gaming Monthly's Kraig Kujawa said that the PlayStation version still plays the same as Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball, and called the title "mediocre".^[3] Next Generation similarly commented that All-Star Baseball '97 is not groundbreaking title in gameplay and graphics, but considered it decent.^[7] GamePro's The Rookie was more critical to the graphics, controls and bad camera. While the Saturn version was largely ignored by reviewers, The Rookie found it more enjoyable than the PlayStation version, citing better control, though he still advised gamers to hold out for World Series Baseball '98 instead. He scored it higher than the PlayStation version in control and fun factor, and equal in graphics and sound.^[9][b][c]

Notes

1. Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 5.5/10 and 6/10.
2. GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 2.5/5 scores for graphics and control, 4/5 for sound, and 1.5/5 for overall fun factor.
3. GamePro gave the Saturn version 2.5/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, and two 3/5 scores for control and overall fun factor.