Mario and Sonic Baseball

Mario and Sonic Baseball is a Mario and Sonic sport title for the Nintendo Switch and is the first installment of the Mario and Sonic Baseball series, being the first dedicated baseball game in the Mario and Sonic franchise. As with most Mario and Sonic Sports titles, it has traditional rules of the sport, but with special, Mario and Sonic-themed quirks and mechanics to differentiate itself from the real sport. This includes characters using Star Skill abilities to cause the ball behavior to behave differently; team captain's Star Skill abilities are unique and cause a wide variety of special effects such as attacking outfielders if batting and causing the pitched ball to behave erratically. Characters also have field abilities to differentiate themselves from other teammates. Chemistry is a feature unique to the Mario and Sonic Baseball games where players perform differently whether they are neutral, like, or dislike another character they are cooperating with. Additionally, most fields in the game have stage hazards that can affect outfielders such as the Piranha Plants serving as obstacles in Yoshi Park.
Aside from the main Exhibition mode, where players can play baseball freely with up to two players, players can participate in a single-player oriented Challenge mode that has them playing as a designated team captain and their preset team and recruiting other captains and team players to face off against Bowser and Dr. Eggman. This game also introduces the Toy Field mode where individual characters play on an interactive baseball field and get coins based on where the ball lands. Finally, players can play in Mario and Sonic-themed minigames that have baseball mechanics, such as hitting Bob-ombs to create fireworks or collecting gems in the baseball diamond while avoiding a Chain Chomp. Toy Field and Minigames mode are the only modes that can support up to four players.
== Cutscenes ==
=== Game's Opening ===
The game's opening begins with Mario, Sonic, Luigi and Tails playing catch. The four then see a wanted poster featuring Bowser and Dr. Eggman on it float from the sky. Elsewhere, Princess Peach, Amy Rose, Yoshi, Silver, Donkey Kong, Vector, Wario and Knuckles all receive the same posters, and decide to get to playing baseball.
In the match between Amy and Silver's teams, Amy gets a good swing on a pitch, and as Silver runs to make the catch, it bounces off a Heart Block and becomes a home run, much to Silver's disappointment. Next, in the game between Vector and Donkey Kong's teams, Donkey Kong uses his climbing abilities to catch the ball, but is bitten by a Chain Chomp and forced to drop it. Shortly after, Marine successfully bunts, and Vector makes it to third base while Wario desperately tries to blow the ball into foul range, but to no avail—Lakitu calls a fair ball, leaving Wario to slam his fist into the ground in frustration.
Finally, in the big game between Sonic and Metal Sonic's teams, Sonic is running for home base, but Donkey Kong is on the verge of catching the ball as Peach, Amy, Blaze, Knuckles, Daisy and Toad look away. Mario then bounds over Donkey Kong and reaches home base safely as Donkey Kong is hit in the face with the ball. Later on, after the teams have changed sides, Wario slams Mario's pitch into the stands for an easy home run; as he and Waluigi celebrate to the visible dismay of Mario's, Donkey Kong becomes excited and accidentally pounds Wario into the ground, causing Waluigi to laugh.
Still later in the game, Knuckles is seen throwing the ball to Amy, who then throws to Blaze as Waluigi slides hard towards the base—only to discover Blaze already has the ball, causing him to fall short as Lakitu declares him out. During Donkey Kong's at-bat, he punches the ball, and Shadow watched as Luigi runs after it as it makes a beeline for the bleachers; he manages to jump off the top of the wall and catch it for a second out. Wario is the next batter up, and points his bat at Mario. Mario winds up and throws a fastball that catches fire and passes Wario before he can swing, striking him out; its speed overloads a radar gun in the process. With all three outs, the teams change sides.
With two outs and the game on the line, Sonic is up to bat; as he faces down Wario, he points his bat at the stands in an homage to Babe Ruth's called shot. Wario then lets loose a pitch that Sonic manages to hit as everyone watches in awe—the ball sails directly into the stands where Sonic pointed, scoring a game-winning home run for him and his team. Peach, Amy, Daisy, Blaze, Luigi, Tails and the others celebrate their victory with Mario and Sonic as they reaches home base; as they do, Bowser and Dr. Eggman are shown in the audience, chuckling to themselves.
=== Challenge Mode ending ===
The game's ending plays when Bowser and Eggman's teams is finally beaten in Challenge Mode. It begins with Mario and Sonic entering a park at night, with Luigi, Tails, Princess Peach, Amy Rose, Red Toad, Blue Neutral Chao, Diddy Kong, and Marine excited over their arrival. Then Bowser confidently arrives for a rematch, with characters such as Wario, Bowser Jr, Metal Sonic and Waluigi as his teammates. After everyone gets to their positions, all prepared for the re-match, Sonic makes the pitch. As the ball is thrown, the camera zooms in the ball, revealing the hidden words on it, "WE LOVE BASEBALL!", then the credits roll.
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==Gameplay==
Mario and Sonic Baseball plays similarly to actual baseball; teams take turn batting to run on the bases and fielding. The team who bats hits the ball to the field while the fielders attempt to make the batters out. Once a runner touches the home base, their team earns a point. There are three outs on an inning for the batting team. Once a team gets three outs, they switch sides. Whichever team obtains the most points wins. Teams, led by specific team captains, can have up to nine members.
===Controls===
==== JoyCon Grip/Pro Controller ====
====Menu controls====
*A: Confirm
*B: Cancel
*Joy Stick: Select menu items
*L/R: Switch between positions and line-ups
*Y: Changes color of certain characters
*ZL/ZR: Deselect all members
*R: Change hand type of a character
*X: View profile of a character selected
====In-game controls (batter)====
*A: Normal Swing (holding A causes the swing to charge)
*B: Bunt
*L: Reset batter to default position
*/: Reset batter to default position or aim the hit
*A + ZR: Use Star Swing
====In-game controls (runner)====
*A: Choose a base when stealing a base
*Y: Steal a base/Advance a base
*R: Return to base/Dash
*B: Tapping it makes characters dash
====In-game controls (pitcher)====
*/: Change pitcher's position on mound/control the ball
*A: Normal Pitch (holding A causes the pitch to charge)
*A + ZR: Throw a Star Pitch
* + B: Check a runner
*L: Reset pitcher to default position
====In-game controls (fielder)====
*/: Move
* + A: Choose a base and throw
* + A: Diving Catch
*A: Jump
*A: Use unique talent (if any)
*B: Tapping it makes characters dash
==== Joy Con Vertical ====
==== Menu controls ====
*A: Confirm
*B: Cancel
*Joy Stick: Select menu items
*L/R: Switch between positions and line-ups
*Y: Changes color of certain characters
*ZL/ZR: Deselect all members
*R: Change hand type of a character
*X: View profile of a character selected
====In-game controls (batter)====
*Swing JoyCon: Normal Swing (holding A causes the swing to charge)
*L + A or R + A: Bunt
*L or R: Reset batter to default position
*R or L: Reset batter to default position or aim the hit
*Swing JoyCon + ZR: Use Star Swing
====In-game controls (runner)====
*Shake while holding A: Choose a base when stealing a base
*Shake while holding Y: Steal a base/Advance a base
*Shake JoyCon: Return to base/Dash
*Shake JoyCon: Shaking it makes characters dash
====In-game controls (pitcher)====
*L or R: Change pitcher's position on mound/control the ball
*Swing down JoyCon + A: Normal Pitch (holding A causes the pitch to charge)
*A + ZR or A + ZL: Throw a Star Pitch
* + B: Check a runner
*L: Reset pitcher to default position
====In-game controls (fielder)====
*Shake JoyCon: Move
* Shake JoyCon + A: Choose a base and throw
* Swing JoyCon down + A: Diving Catch
*A: Jump
*Y: Use unique talent (if any)
*Shake JoyCon: Shaking it makes characters dash
===Exhibition mode===
Selecting characters for Exhibition Mode.
The start of a game in Exhibition Mode.
Exhibition mode is a standard one or two player game of baseball. Players fill out a roster and play a game. There are six different, unique stadiums in which players can choose to play in. The player, before playing in a stadium, can adjust options such as number of innings, mercy, which player bats first, and turning Star Skills on and off. Players can also adjust field settings, running, drop spots, and batting cursors.
===Star skill===
Mario, using his Fireball as a Star Skill.
A new feature in this game is the ability to use a Star Skill. Star Skills can be activated either while pitching or while batting. Anyone in this game can use a Star Skill, but a team captain's Star Skill is superior to a sub-character's Star Skill. Team Captains have mostly different Star Skills, however, captains that usually pair with each other (Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Tails, Peach, Amy, Daisy and Blaze) have similar Star Skills. The amount of Star Skills that can be used is represented by 5 Team Stars in a meter. The amount of starting Team Stars depend on the sub-characters' chemistry with the team captain.
Star Skills can be replenished by hitting ball park features. They can also be replenished by striking a player out or making a batter reach a base safely when the words, "Star Chance!" appear. Team captains and sub-characters use up one Team Star while captains as members use up two Team Stars.
===Challenge mode===
Wario in Challenge Mode.
Challenge mode (the main game mode of Mario and Sonic Baseball) is a game mode where one player selects one of ten Team Captains (Mario, Sonic Peach, Amy, Donkey Kong, Vector, Wario, Knuckles, Yoshi, and Silver) and plays with a pre-made team. The player wanders a map of the Mushroom Kingdom and can play minigames to earn rings and coins and spend at a Shop, where power-ups can be bought. The player's objective is to beat the other four captains in a game of baseball, on their own course. In order to get the others, the player should see the scout flags for the match. Scout flags are earned by completing scout missions, such as getting a hit, or scoring a run. If the scout mission is not completed, you will not earn the scout flag(s). There are scout flags next to the characters' faces. These flags serve as a purpose for recruiting other characters to the player's team. Each character has a set number of Scout Flags (up to five flags), with team captains requiring more Scout Flags (3 on the Mushroom/Chao level, 4 on the Flower/Spring level and Star/Emerald level, and 5 on the Special/Big Bang level) and sub-captains and characters of race (excluding the characters with color changes) needing the median number (2 on Mushroom/Chao and on Flower/Spring, 3 on Star/Emerald, and 4 on Special/Big Bang) and minor characters needing the least (1 on Mushroom/Chao, 2 on Flower/Spring and Star/Emerald, and 3 on Special/Big Bang).
The only exception is Donkey Kong's and Vector's teams, with all their teammates needing only one scout flag on the Mushroom Level/Chao Level. Bowser's and Eggman's teams cannot be recruited due to no scout flags; the only way to do so is when Bowser and Eggman's are selected as challenge mode captains. When Bowser or Eggman is chosen, the team players require the same number of flags as the captain when they are not chosen. Before the match, the opposing team's has the message "Round up Players" on their batting order screen. The order of the opposing team is random as well as the fielding position, with the exception of Bowser's and Eggman's teams, whose batting order and fielding positions remain the same. Players from other teams can be recruited after clearing certain missions. When the player recruits the captain they are not able to recruit other characters on their team unless the player faces Bowser Jr or Metal Sonic.
After beating all eight opponents, the path to Bowser Castle and Eggman's Lair opens, where the player is able to challenge Bowser's and Eggman's teams. Once Bowser's and Eggman's teams are defeated, Challenge Mode is cleared. Additionally, Bowser Jr and Metal Sonic. wanders the map. Coming in contact with him starts a short, one inning game where the player is put in various situations. If the player has had a captain join their team, they can unlock characters on their team from Bowser Jr. and Metal Sonic sometimes, they are ahead by a point and must defend their position. Other times, they are behind and must make a comeback. Challenge Mode is the only way to unlock characters.
There are eight difficulties to Challenge Mode: Mushroom, Chao, Flower, Spring, Star, Emerald, Special, and Big Bang. Once Special/Big Bang mode is cleared, Bowser and Eggman become playable captains. In Bowser/Eggman mode, Bowser and Eggman must beat the other five captains, and then play a team of nine of the ten captains and sub-captains, led by Mario or Sonic (the excluded character is random). Bowser and Eggman can recruit other characters, excluding the captains and sub-captains, and in Bowser/Eggman modes, Bowser Jr. nor Metal Sonic does not wander the map.
In order for players to star characters, they must complete specific Star Missions for a character in Challenge Mode. These are optional, but Superstar characters have an increase in stats. The number of Star Missions vary depending on the character; generally, team captains have more Star Missions than team players. Characters have a star title: these change when characters achieve more missions. In addition, challenges are confined to specific difficulties: some challenges are exclusive to Mushroom/Chao difficulty while others can be obtained if players cleared it in Star/Emerald difficulty. Miis are unlocked after completing the Big Bang Cup in Challenge Mode.
==Characters==
===Team captains===
====Balance captains====
{| align="center" width="100%" cellspacing="0" border="1" cellpadding="6"	Image	Name 	Bio 	Team 	Special Ball	Running/Fielding	Bats/Throws	Stats	Stats
	Mario	"Everyone's favorite hero. When Peach is in trouble, he always saves the day! A kart racer, tennis player, golf enthusiast, doctor...the list goes on and on, showing that he's a jack-of-all-trades. His trademark fireball will help him in his first foray into baseball." 	Mario Sunshines	Fireball 	Wall Jump
Sliding Catch	Right/Right 	Bat 	6/10 	
	Mario	"Everyone's favorite hero. When Peach is in trouble, he always saves the day! A kart racer, tennis player, golf enthusiast, doctor...the list goes on and on, showing that he's a jack-of-all-trades. His trademark fireball will help him in his first foray into baseball." 	Mario Sunshines	Fireball 	Wall Jump
Sliding Catch	Right/Right 	Pitch 	6/10 	
	Mario	"Everyone's favorite hero. When Peach is in trouble, he always saves the day! A kart racer, tennis player, golf enthusiast, doctor...the list goes on and on, showing that he's a jack-of-all-trades. His trademark fireball will help him in his first foray into baseball." 	Mario Sunshines	Fireball 	Wall Jump
Sliding Catch	Right/Right 	Field 	6/10 	
	Mario	"Everyone's favorite hero. When Peach is in trouble, he always saves the day! A kart racer, tennis player, golf enthusiast, doctor...the list goes on and on, showing that he's a jack-of-all-trades. His trademark fireball will help him in his first foray into baseball." 	Mario Sunshines	Fireball 	Wall Jump
Sliding Catch	Right/Right 	Run 	5/10 	
	Amy 	"A Pink Girl Hedgehog is presented as being somewhat kind and girly. Amy had grown a more feminine personality, such as an interest in shopping, fashion, and baseball with her new Piko Ball that'll make Sonic dizzy but that did not remove her tomboyish nature." 	Amy Pikos 	Piko Ball 	Quick Throw
Super Catch	Right/Right 	Bat
Pitch
Field
Run	9/10
8/10
7/10
10/10	
	Blaze	"A cat princess from another world is here to play baseball with Sonic and his friends. She teamed up with Sonic to defeat Dr. Eggman and Eggman Nega. With her power of the Sol Emeralds, she is ready to win." 	Amy Pikos 	Purple Fireball	Super Throw
Sliding Catch	Left/Right 	Bat
Pitch
Field
Run	8/10
9/10
6/10
7/10	
	Luigi	"The younger Mario bro. He's a better jumper than Mario but lacks good traction. Always in Mario's shadow, Luigi tends to be low-key but is always a dark horse in athletic contests. Despite perpetually finishing second, his excellent form and green Fireball make him a force."	Mario Sunshines	Green Fireball 	Wall Jump
Super Jump	Left/Right 	Bat 	5/10 	
	Luigi	"The younger Mario bro. He's a better jumper than Mario but lacks good traction. Always in Mario's shadow, Luigi tends to be low-key but is always a dark horse in athletic contests. Despite perpetually finishing second, his excellent form and green Fireball make him a force."	Mario Sunshines	Green Fireball 	Wall Jump
Super Jump	Left/Right 	Pitch 	6/10 	
	Luigi	"The younger Mario bro. He's a better jumper than Mario but lacks good traction. Always in Mario's shadow, Luigi tends to be low-key but is always a dark horse in athletic contests. Despite perpetually finishing second, his excellent form and green Fireball make him a force."	Mario Sunshines	Green Fireball 	Wall Jump
Super Jump	Left/Right 	Field 	6/10 	
	Luigi	"The younger Mario bro. He's a better jumper than Mario but lacks good traction. Always in Mario's shadow, Luigi tends to be low-key but is always a dark horse in athletic contests. Despite perpetually finishing second, his excellent form and green Fireball make him a force."	Mario Sunshines	Green Fireball 	Wall Jump
Super Jump	Left/Right 	Run 	6/10 	
	Daisy	"Sarasaland's princess. Mario rescued Daisy from the nasty villain Tatanga. While often compared to Peach, Daisy is both stronger and more tomboyish than her blonde counterpart. She uses a Flower Ball that scatters confusing petals." 	Peach Monarchs 	Flower Ball 	Quick Throw
Sliding Catch	Left/Right 	Bat 	6/10 	
	Daisy	"Sarasaland's princess. Mario rescued Daisy from the nasty villain Tatanga. While often compared to Peach, Daisy is both stronger and more tomboyish than her blonde counterpart. She uses a Flower Ball that scatters confusing petals." 	Peach Monarchs 	Flower Ball 	Quick Throw
Sliding Catch	Left/Right 	Pitch 	7/10 	
	Daisy	"Sarasaland's princess. Mario rescued Daisy from the nasty villain Tatanga. While often compared to Peach, Daisy is both stronger and more tomboyish than her blonde counterpart. She uses a Flower Ball that scatters confusing petals." 	Peach Monarchs 	Flower Ball 	Quick Throw
Sliding Catch	Left/Right 	Field 	5/10 	
	Daisy	"Sarasaland's princess. Mario rescued Daisy from the nasty villain Tatanga. While often compared to Peach, Daisy is both stronger and more tomboyish than her blonde counterpart. She uses a Flower Ball that scatters confusing petals." 	Peach Monarchs 	Flower Ball 	Quick Throw
Sliding Catch	Left/Right 	Run 	4/10 	
	Birdo	"A dinosaur that spits eggs from her huge mouth. Birdo is very particular when it comes to fashion, though her reliance on the color pink is a bit limiting. Her bow and ring are her pride and joy. Birdo's mouth has massive suction that can even catch a ball by sucking it in."	Yoshi Islanders	Weird Ball 	Suction
Body Check	Right/Right 	Bat 	6/10 	
	Birdo	"A dinosaur that spits eggs from her huge mouth. Birdo is very particular when it comes to fashion, though her reliance on the color pink is a bit limiting. Her bow and ring are her pride and joy. Birdo's mouth has massive suction that can even catch a ball by sucking it in."	Yoshi Islanders	Weird Ball 	Suction
Body Check	Right/Right 	Pitch 	4/10 	
	Birdo	"A dinosaur that spits eggs from her huge mouth. Birdo is very particular when it comes to fashion, though her reliance on the color pink is a bit limiting. Her bow and ring are her pride and joy. Birdo's mouth has massive suction that can even catch a ball by sucking it in."	Yoshi Islanders	Weird Ball 	Suction
Body Check	Right/Right 	Field 	4/10 	
	Birdo	"A dinosaur that spits eggs from her huge mouth. Birdo is very particular when it comes to fashion, though her reliance on the color pink is a bit limiting. Her bow and ring are her pride and joy. Birdo's mouth has massive suction that can even catch a ball by sucking it in."	Yoshi Islanders	Weird Ball 	Suction
Body Check	Right/Right 	Run 	4/10 	
== Gallery ==
: For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario and Sonic Baseball.
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== Quote ==
:: Main article: List of Mario and Sonic Baseball quotes
=== Lakitu ===
:* "Hey, Donkey Kong! I see your team is ready. Quite a fine group of players you have there! ...Wait... Donkey Kong! What in the... What's the deal with that boxing glove? You're using that as a bat?! Is that even allowed? Ummm... Well, OK, I guess... Here's the deal. Bowser craves a test of his might. He wishes to play a powerful team. Let me give you some details, OK?"
:* "Hi there, Yoshi! Is your team ready? Hmmmm... Looks like a very quick-footed group. Bowser craves a test of his might. He wishes to play a powerful team. So, you'd better listen to some details. OK, Yoshi?"
=== Princess Peach ===
:* "That's my Mario...I had forgotten how safe I feel when I'm with you, Mario! Do you think it would be all right...if I joined your team, Mario? I can? Really?! Oh thank you! May the mushrooms bless you!"
=== Amy ===
* "Hey, Sonic! Do you mind if I join your team? I will teach Eggman a lesson!
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=== Wario[edit] ===
:* "Aargh! Mario! You musta cheated last game, but not THIS time. Chump! I'm the only one in this entire kingdom with any class whatsoever! This time, I mean business! Go time! It is ON!"
:* "YAAAAAAAAAARGH! You stink! But...you know what? I'm just gonna let it go. Yeah. I'm above holding grudges. I'll even lend you a hand! Admit it, you wanted me with you anyway! Wah ha ha ha ha ha ha! With me on board, victory is totally guaranteed! Heh heh heh heh... Idiot... That team will be all MINE someday... Hmm? What? Er... Nah, I didn't say anything! You're hearing things!"
Category:Mario Games
Category:Sonic Games
Category:Sport Games