What Super Mega Baseball 4 is
Super Mega Baseball 4 is an arcade-style baseball game with real simulation depth behind it. You hit, pitch, throw and slide your way through games that look and sound more polished than earlier entries in the series, with updated animations, characters, stadiums and audio from the dugout to the bleachers. The roster mixes the series' own Super Mega League All-Stars with more than 200 larger-than-life versions of former pros, including Vladimir Guerrero, Johnny Damon, Ozzie Smith and Jason Giambi. Familiar modes like Franchise and Pennant Race return, and the game adds an expanded trait system with Team Chemistry, a Shuffle Draft, and six new stadiums in the base game. The Ballpark Edition adds three more: Peril Point Stadium, Ciudad de Colores Stadium and Castillo Arena Stadium.
Playing together with your group
Online Co-op lets you team up with friends over the internet, while Online PvP puts you against them for head-to-head games. Cross-platform multiplayer is expanded to include cross-generation matchmaking in Pennant Race and Online Leagues, so your group can play together even when people are on different game systems. Remote Play Together is also supported, which is handy when someone wants to join in from your session. Pennant Race is a competitive online mode that only works with a controller, so keyboard and mouse cannot be used there.
Before you start
Pennant Race requires a controller, which is worth sorting out ahead of time if your group plans to play it. Pennant Race and Online Leagues are the modes where cross-platform and cross-generation matchmaking applies, so check that your group is covered before you commit to a season. The game also carries a Singleplayer option and family-friendly framing, so a group can split between those who want to grind Franchise mode alone and those who want quick online matches. The Ballpark Edition content is separate from the base game's six new stadiums, so confirm which stadiums your group actually has access to before picking a home field.