Welcome to the FAQ for
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FEATURING KEN GRIFFEY JR
For the Nintendo 64!
------------------------------------------------------
Note: This is an FAQ/Walkthrough of the first version of
MLB Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. NOT for Slugfest. Now, on with the
FAQ!
------------------------------------------------------
Version 1.0, by Dane Lagasse
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. How to contact me
2. Game controls
3. Starting a new game
4. Racking up the points
5. Throwing the K's
6. Fielding finesse
7. Tricks and Cheats
8. Credits
------------------------------------------------------
1. HOW TO CONTACT ME
Name: Dane Lagasse
E-mail:
[email protected]
I welcome your comments and questions.
------------------------------------------------------
2. GAME CONTROLS
** Batting
A Button: Swing bat
B Button: Bunt
Start Button: Pause game
C Buttons: Advance runner (steal)
R Button: Advance all runners on-base (steal)
** Pitching
A Button: Fastball
B Button: Depends on pitcher (see section 5, "Throwing the K's")
Z+A: Change-up
Z+B: Specialty pitch (see section 5, "Throwing the K's")
R Button: View pitches
** Fielding
C Buttons: Throw to corresponding base
Z Button: Hold Z and press C to run to that base
A Button: Dive for a ball (make sure you're close enough!)
B Button: Jump for a ball (jump about a step away from the wall)
------------------------------------------------------
3. STARTING A NEW GAME
** Season
Play a complete Major League Baseball season. Options include trading to
improve your team, or free agency to fill in the holes. Interesting feature
called "Sportswire" contains all the information you'd want to know about
your season. Sure does take a while, though.
** Exhibition
Don't want the commitment of a season? Go for an exhibition game. Trading
and free agency options are disabled. Basically all you have to do is pick your
team, stadium, and play.
** World Series
Don't have time for a full season? Skip right to the World Series. Again, trading
and free agency options are disabled.
** Home Run Derby
You pick your player, and a pitcher will throw you easy-to-hit pitches. Remove
them from the park to win. I suggest Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, or Barry Bonds.
------------------------------------------------------
4. RACKING UP THE POINTS
(Batting & Base-running)
** Cursors
When it's your turn to step up to the plate, you'll see a batting cursor (the round
one), a pitching cursor (+ sign, then turns to a square), and the strike zone.
The zone only appears in the beginning, and then flashes when the pitcher
begins his wind-up. Remember, pitches move, and be ready to move your cursor.
** Choosing Batters
Batting in Griffey 64 is based on batting averages, not homers. Trying to use
Sosa in this game would be a mistake. Griffey, Bonds, and Edgar Martinez all
have larger batting cursors, which makes the ball easier to hit. Still, you'll have
to center it to connect solidly.
** Stealing and Leading off
Press to appropriate C button to lead off toward that base. For example, if
your runner is on 1st, press the top C button to make him lead off once. You
can lead off THREE times, the fourth time, you'll run. I suggest only running
when the pitcher has begun his wind-up. If he doesn't anticipate your stealing
and throws a super-change, you're home-free.
Press R to lead off all your runners on base. Similarly, four presses will send
all your runners running, which will likely end up in one of them getting out,
if the ball is still in play. Choose steals wisely!
------------------------------------------------------
5. THROWING THE K'S
(Pitching)
** Cursors
You'll see the same cursors when pitching, only this time you control the + sign.
When you press the buttons to throw the pitch, this sign will turn into a square.
Now you can move it while the ball is in the air.
** Pitches
There are a number of pitches to choose from in the game, but your pitcher can
only use 4. Here are the pitches:
Fastball - All pitchers have one. Easy to move down. Use to fake out the batter.
Curve Ball - Curves as the name suggests. Easy to move in the direction it's curving.
Change Up - A fairly slow pitch that's hard to move. Use it after a couple of
Super fastballs.
Super Fastball - Blows over the plate at a blistering 106 mph. Vary with slow
and fast to keep the batter guessing.
Super Change Up - VERY slow. Excellent to use after fastballs.
Knuckleball - Very interesting pitch. Fakes the batter out with it's twists.
Slider - Faster and harder to hit than a curve ball.
Screwball - Basically a curve ball in the opposite direction.
I recommend getting Pedro Martinez for your team.
** Picking off runners
If you see a runner stealing, throw to the destination base immediately, then
get ready to run to the base that the runner is coming from, because they will
probably run back. Luckily for you, your man can run faster. While on the mound
view the bases by holding Z and pressing the corresponding C button.
------------------------------------------------------
6. FIELDING FINESSE
(Fielding)
** Throwing
Once you have the ball in possesion, press the corresponding C button to
throw to that base.
** Running
Hold Z and press the corresponding C button to run to a base. You can also
hold Z and use the control stick, although this control can be awkward.
Even if you are further out than 2nd base, you'd still have to press up on
the stick. I recommend using the C buttons.
** Jumping around
Press A to dive and press B to jump up on the wall. Dive only if within
a couple of steps of the ball, and be sure to time it right. When pressing
B, you do not have to time it right. Jump before the ball lands to be sure,
and if you grab the wall in the right spot (indicated by the circle), it'll
land right in your hand.
------------------------------------------------------
7. TRICKS AND CHEATS
** Called home run
When Griffey comes up to bat, pause the game and wait until he's in his
batting stance. Now switch to the control PAD and press left, left, right,
right, right, left, left. Griffey will point his bat and if you hit the ball on
the next pitch, it is guaranteed to be a homer.
** No-hit pitch
When pitching, move the cursor anywhere in the strike zone except in the
yellow batting cursor. Now hold Z and look at one of the bases. Let go of Z
first and then the C button. All the cursors will disappear. Throw any pitch
and the batter will not hit it.
** Secret Teams
Highlight "Exhibition" on the main menu and press the four C buttons down
simultaneously. Keep doing this until you hear a sound. Now Nintendo and
Angel Studios teams will be selectable in the All-Star teams section.
------------------------------------------------------
8. CREDITS
** Special Thanks
Thanks to Angel Studios for making such a great game. Thanks to Nintendo
Power magazine (www.nintendo.com) for the info and Digital Edge N64 Cheats
(www.den64cheats.com) for the tricks.
Remember visit www.gamefaqs.com for all your FAQs and walkthroughs!
------------------------------------------------------
This FAQ is Copyright 1999 Dane Lagasse. Ask for permission before using this FAQ
on any other website other than GameFAQs.
Thanks, have fun playing this great game!
------------------------------------------------------
Dane Lagasse
[email protected]