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Powerful Pro Baseball,[a] previously known as Jikkyō Powerful Pro Baseball,[b] and eBASEBALL Powerful Pro Baseball[c] and marketed internationally as Power Pros, is a Japanese baseball video game series created by Konami. It is known for its super deformed characters and fast-paced, yet deep, gameplay.[2] Most games in the series are developed under license from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA), allowing the use of team names, stadiums, colors, and players' names and likenesses. Six games in the series also feature licenses from Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), two from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and Korea Professional Baseball Players Association (KPBPA), and one from the World Baseball Classic.
The game has two spin-off series: Professional Baseball Spirits, which features more realistic graphics and physics, and Power Pro Kun Pocket, released on handheld systems from 1999 to 2011, including the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS. Although originally part of the main series, Konami retroactively declared Power Pro Kun Pocket a separate series.
A version of Power Pro featuring Major League Baseball players was released under the title Jikkyō Powerful Major League in May 2006. The Power Pro series has included online play since its tenth installment on the PlayStation 2 and the first handheld version on the PlayStation Portable. A version for the PlayStation 3 was shown at the Tokyo Game Show in 2005, but it took five years to release the game on the PS3. During that time, the Professional Baseball Spirits series filled the gap. Another title, MLB Power Pros, was published by 2K for the PlayStation 2 and Wii in October 2007, and featured a Success Mode set within Major League Baseball.[3]
The most distinctive feature of the Power Pro series is its depiction of characters. Power Pro baseball players are short with large, gashapon capsule-shaped heads, lacking a mouth, nose, and ears. Their expressions come mainly from their eyebrows. Similar to Rayman, they have no legs, and their feet are not connected to their bodies. Their hands are spherical and fingerless.
In Japan, the series has been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, while in North America, it received mixed to generally favorable reviews[4][5] but sold poorly.[6] As of March 2023, the series has sold over 24.7 million copies, with 48 million mobile game downloads as of October 2022.[7]
Games in the series
This is the major system development in the main series (as well as information about the season series and MLB Power Pros series). Some minor developments, such as player abilities, are not included.
Pawapuro '94
Released on February 24, 1994, for the Super Famicom, the game is licensed by Nippon Professional Baseball and the Japanese Professional Baseball Players Association, though Meiji Jingu Stadium and Hanshin Koshien Stadium are listed under fictional names. Success mode is not included in the first two installments. Commentary is provided by Asahi Broadcasting Corporation radio commentator Abe Noriyuki.
Pawapuro 2
Released on February 24, 1995, for the Super Famicom, this is the first game in the series to feature a full Pennant mode and save game functionality.[8] Hanshin Koshien Stadium is fully licensed, but Meiji Jingu Stadium remains under a fictional name. Commentary is provided by Asahi Broadcasting Corporation radio commentator Motoharu Ōta.
Pawapuro 3
Released on February 29, 1996, for the Super Famicom. Success mode, which later becomes a core feature of the Power Pros series, is introduced in this game.[9] Commentary is again provided by Abe Noriyuki, who remained in this role until Power Pros 8.
Pawapuro 4
Released on March 14, 1997, for the Nintendo 64. With the hardware upgrade, the game's graphics (polygon-based stadiums) and controls saw significant improvements. Success mode introduces original characters, some of whom continue to appear in later installments.
Pawapuro 5
Released on March 26, 1998, for the Nintendo 64, it became the best-selling game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan during that month.[10]
Pawapuro 6
Also known as Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 6, it was released on March 25, 1999, for the Nintendo 64.
Pawapuro 7
The first game in the series released on the PlayStation 2, and the first with fully polygon-based graphics. IGN found the game fun but criticized its "horrible" graphics and lack of power on the new console.[11] Initially scheduled for release on March 4, 2000,[12] it was later delayed to July 6.
Pawapuro 8
This installment features the first vocalized opening in the series, "Little Soldier" by Chihiro Yonekura. The opening animations were produced by Kyoto Animation, which primarily worked on animation post-production at that time. Kyoto Animation continued to produce the openings for the series until Pawapuro 11, after which they shifted focus to projects like the anime adaptation of Air by Visual Arts/Key. The production of game openings was then passed to Production I.G from Pawapuro 12 onward.
Pawapuro 9
Released on both PlayStation 2 and GameCube, this was the first game in the series available on multiple platforms.[13][14] This title also introduced cel shading graphics, a significant visual change.[15]
Pawapuro 10
This installment was the first to allow players to create entire teams rather than just individual players in Success Mode. Online multiplayer was introduced for the first time in the main series, and was also the only title that enabled cross-platform play. Additionally, MyLife Mode made its debut, allowing players to control an actual Japan League player rather than an original character, although created players from Success Mode were still playable.
Pawapuro 11
Created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Power Pros series, this game introduced audio endings in Success Mode, produced by Kyoto Animation. Other new features included the ability to break bats and perform safety bunts.[16]
Pawapuro 12
This installment introduced a modified player password system, making passwords incompatible with previous Nintendo-based games, but passwords from Pawapuro 12 to 14 could still be used on the Portable 1 and Portable 2 versions on Sony platforms. The game also introduced a Cheering Songs Editor, which allowed players to create and transfer cheering songs using passwords between Sony platform games.
Jikkyō Powerful Major League
This game marked the first time the series featured MLB instead of NPB. It also included the license for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Pawapuro 13
With Nintendo's GameCube production discontinued by this point, this installment was released only on the PlayStation 2. It introduced significant system changes, such as an online mode, where players could now control only one player on the team, rather than the entire team. Scenario Mode, a long-standing feature of the series, was removed.
Pawapuro 14/Wii
The Wii platform replaced the GameCube for this installment. The game supported motion controls on the Wii version and online multiplayer, where players controlled three players at a time. In Success Mode, players could lead a high school team to compete in the Summer Koshien tournament. The mode also featured current Japanese NPB players as members of the National Team.
Jikkyō Powerful Major League 2 (MLB Power Pros)
This title marked the official debut of the series in North America, featuring several Japanese players who had transitioned to Major League Baseball.
Pawapuro 2009/NEXT
Released for the 15th anniversary of the series, Pawapuro 2009/NEXT reintroduced numbered versions for the first time since Pawapuro '94. Different versions of the game featured unique content based on the specific console and control features.
Power Pros 2010
Released on July 15, 2010, for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, this was the first game in the series to support high-definition video at 1080p resolution and true 5.1 surround sound (LPCM). The MyLife Mode was omitted from the PlayStation 3 version.
Power Pros 2011
Released on July 14, 2011, for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. Unlike the previous version, the two platforms had the same content.
Power Pros 2012
Released on July 19, 2012, for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita, this installment introduced significant gameplay mechanics, including the PawaSta Mode, available only on PlayStation 3 and Vita versions.
Power Pros 2013
Released on October 24, 2013, for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita. Unlike Power Pros 2012, this game was also compatible with the PlayStation TV microconsole.
Power Pros 2014
Released on October 23, 2014, for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita to commemorate the series' 20th anniversary, this was the first installment in the main series to feature active Japanese MLB players as "OB players" (retired players).
Power Pros 2016
Released on April 28, 2016, for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Success Mode, the game introduced many gameplay elements from the Professional Baseball Spirits series. The game was later updated with 2017 season rosters, allowing players to choose between 2016 and 2017 rosters. Two new modes, "PawaFes" and "Challenge", were also introduced.
Power Pros 2018
Released on April 28, 2018, for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, Power Pros 2018 was the first game in the series to support PlayStation VR and PlayStation 4 Pro, along with high-dynamic-range video (HDR) and 2160p resolution. The game included a new mode, "Live Scenario", adapted from Professional Baseball Spirits 2015. A 2019 season pack was later added as an update.
Power Pros (Nintendo Switch)
Released on June 27, 2019, for the Nintendo Switch, this installment of the series featured a Success Mode that was a remake of scenarios from Power Pros 9.
eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020
Released on July 9, 2020, for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, this game marked the first entry in the series to incorporate Konami's eBASEBALL branding into its official title.[17]
eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2022
Released on April 21, 2022, for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, this installment's Success Mode (called "Rivals") featured selected events from Power Pros 9, Power Pros 13, and Power Pros 2011.[18]
WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros
Released on February 8, 2023 for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, this game was a collaboration between Konami and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). It was the first game in the series to feature English text since MLB Power Pros and also included Japanese voiceovers in the English release.[19][20][21][22]
Powerful Pro Baseball 2024 - 2025
Powerful Pro Baseball 2024 - 2025 is a baseball simulation video game in the Power Pros series, developed by Konami and Power Pros Production for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, released on July 18, 2024.[23] Released in celebration of the series' 30th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the Professional Baseball Spirits series, this installment features Shohei Ohtani as the ambassador. For the first time, the game title is written in two-year increments, and the "eBASEBALL" branding has been removed, though it remains part of the overall brand identity.
The Success Mode is the game's most notable feature, blending role-playing game and life simulation game elements with baseball. The main objective is to train a generic Pawapurokun to become a professional baseball player. Pawapurokun starts with low stats but often surpasses the real professional players included in the game. Typically, Pawapurokun begins as an amateur (high school, college, or company player) and must become a professional within a set period (usually three years). Success Mode takes about two hours to complete, but creating a good player requires significant skill and luck, giving the game near-infinite replay value. Various random events affect the player's growth. For example, getting a girlfriend allows the players to regain motivation easily and receive gifts (which significantly boost the player's stats) on their birthday. The level of stress and the number of Pawapurokuns lost in Success Mode can be substantial, as players may spend hours training a Pawapurokun, only to have him severely injured in a car accident, ending his chances of becoming a top player. "All A's" Pawapurokuns (those with maximum stats) are highly sought after, as players can transfer Pawapurokuns between memory cards using a password, but passwords differ between Sony and Nintendo, preventing transfers between platforms like PS2/PSP and GC/Wii/NDS/GBA. Since Success Mode is the most popular part of the Pawapuro series, there is no ability-editing mode (except in the American installment MLB Power Pros), which is common in other sports games. The plot and storyline of Success Mode greatly impact the game's popularity, as many players prefer to replay older Pawapuro games with strong Success Modes rather than buy newer installments with updated data and gameplay but weaker Success Modes.
In Pawapuro 14, players can become a coach instead of Pawapurokun, leading a high school team to the Koshien championship. This offers an alternate way to create many Pawapurokuns simultaneously. The mode does not require skill in pitching, catching, or batting but emphasizes planning and tactics, similar to other sports-management games. Pawapuro 14 Kettei-ban was the first to allow enhancing current NPB players and placing them as original players.
The main background of Pawapurokun in various installments are below:
3: Reserve player (in NPB team)
4: Reserve player (in NPB team)
5: High School Student
6: University player
7: Reserve player (in NPB team)
8: Fantasy Story (High School/University/Company player can be chosen)
9: High School Student
10: An NPB fictional team Reserve
11: University Team/Japan National Team (as amateur player)
12: Student in baseball academy/Company amateur player/Dropout in baseball academy
Major League: Player in independent league
13: High School Student (World High School Championship is added in Kettei-ban)
14: Reserve of Vulcans, an NPB fictional league team.
MLBPP: University Student
15: Company amateur player
MLBPP08: An AA/AAA player
For managers:
10: Playing-owner of the professional-Success All Stars (Kettei-ban only)
14: High School Team, Japan National Team (Kettei-ban only)
15: High School Team
The storylines and events in the series are often connected to both sequels and prequels, though not always in chronological order. For example, 7 is a sequel to the events in 9, and 10 is a sequel to 13, but 11 and 12 are parallel stories branching from 13 and have no connection to 10. The only constant character is Yabe Akio, an original outfielder who has appeared in every main series installment since 4 and always serves as Pawapuro-kun's first partner. He appears in the openings of 7, 8, and 9 wearing a Nippon-Ham Fighters (now Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters) uniform.
In early installments before 10, major characters were placed on different real NPB teams. After installment 10, four original teams (Powerfuls, Keysers, Cathands, and Yanks) were created in the Pacific League and Central League to accommodate original characters, with minor characters remaining on real teams as opponents. Two additional teams, Vulcans and Busters, were added in 14 to form the fictional "Revolutional League" with the previous four teams. According to the storyline in 14, the league competed in the Japan Series in its fourth year. Despite the fictional teams, major NPB regulations are followed, including the playoff system introduced in 2007. The Pennant span is shorter to keep gameplay under three hours, except in certain modes in 9, 10, 99', 11, 13, and 14. Players are generally not required to play all innings unless involved in key moments, like being captain in the final stages of Success Mode.
Due to potential copyright conflicts with MLB (especially before the release of the MLB series after Pawapuro 12), the American League system in the NPB series is called the UBL (possibly "USA Baseball League"). It consists of three levels: Single Star, Double Stars, and the top-tier Regular League, akin to the AA, AAA, and MLB system. This naming was used in installments 13 and 14, even after the MLB series was released, to maintain continuity with the NPB storylines, as some players are set in the UBL. Currently, the MLB series' Success Modes do not feature MLB players as playable characters, though AAA players appear in MLB Power Pros 2008.
Notably, several female players have appeared in the series, with at least four advancing through Koshien and turning professional (though one is not seen after release). Since the 7th installment, the opening sequences often provide clues to the Success Mode storyline, especially in the 9th and 10th installments, where professional players make brief cameos and Success Mode characters take center stage.
Sub-series often feature independent scenarios or omit Success Mode entirely. The most famous is the 99' installment, which introduced "Mekkou-Tou" mode. This mode involves consecutive battles with all original teams from past Success Modes (across the main series, Power Pro Kun Pocket series, and even future installments), and it remains a legendary mode that has not been revived in later series.
Power Pro Kun Pocket series, in contrast to the main series, incorporates many fantasy elements. Since the second installment, two Success Modes are featured in each game. The standard mode often involves high school or professional baseball (with fantasy elements mixed in), while the second, called "Inner Success" mode, places Power Pro Kun in various worlds, including the Medieval Ages, ancient times, and the future. Fantasy elements are rare in the main series, though Konami introduced them in 8, where the (optional) final battle is against android players infused with the data of legendary players.
Mylife Mode
Following the success of Success Mode, Konami introduced a new game mode called Mylife in Pawapuro 10. In this mode, players can use a created character, an NPB player, or create a player on the spot to compete in the NPB. The mode features a different set of events, and no characters from Success Mode appear. The difficulty adjusts based on the player's performance.
The known modes in MyLife mode are:
Loan Player: Playing as a loan player from another team, the maximum playtime is one year.
Playing Manager: Playing as a playing manager and the maximum playtime is one year. This mode is available when the team loses the opportunity to claim the League Champion title (or playoff in the Pacific League). It is available in 13.
Pro Players: Choosing one current NPB player, the maximum playtime is 20 years.
Retiring Player: Playing during the retiring year of player's career, it is available in 14.
Original Players: Using players created in Success mode to play in MyLife.
MLB version did not feature Mylife mode until the 2008 installment, in which it is known as MLB Life mode.
The Gyroball within Power Pros
The Power Pros series sparked controversy in Japan due to its use of the term "Gyroball", popularized by Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka upon joining the Boston Red Sox. In the game, the Gyroball is not depicted as a usable pitch but rather as a special ability assigned to certain pitchers. In Pawapuro, pitchers with the Gyroball ability experience increased velocity on their fastballs, which differs significantly from the actual definition of a Gyroball (a pitch that spins like a slider). Power Pro and other baseball manga have contributed to the misconception that the Gyroball is an all-powerful strikeout pitch, which it is not. Several professional pitchers, including classic players, possess this ability in the game, yet Daisuke Matsuzaka does not have the Gyroball ability in any of its installments.
Daisuke does not appear in Pawapuro 14 as he was transferred via the Posting system to the Boston Red Sox. A two-seam ball, which is more akin to his pitching style, has been added in this installment. It was anticipated that Daisuke will return as a Seibu OB someday (as Daisuke's official password has been released in MLB Power Pros 2), but changes to his abilities remain uncertain at this time.
Games in the series
Below is a rough list of the games within the Power Pro series, which can be categorized as follows:
Main series: This series is identified by numeric suffixes (except for '94, the first installment). Most significant system updates, including success mode, are incorporated into the main series. Numeric designations are not used after 15.
Season series: A PlayStation exclusive series, identified by a year suffix, serves as an alternate installment of the main series, which is available on the Super Famicom and PlayStation 2. This series has been merged with the main series following the discontinuation of the PlayStation. Since 1998, two installments have been released each year: a standard version at the start of the season and one named Kettei-ban (post-season version). The latter includes statistics and sometimes player transfers that reflect performance during the season. This practice has become a Konami tradition, even after the merger, similar to the Winning Eleven series, which receives more frequent updates. The Kettei-ban version was canceled in 15 but continued on Pro Baseball Spirits, but the year series was revived afterward.
MLB Power Pro series: This is the only series officially released in America, featuring MLB teams instead of traditional Japanese NPB teams, although a Japanese version is also available.
The passwords cannot be used across different manufacturers' consoles (Sony and Nintendo each have their own password formats). Additionally, passwords from the Japanese version of Power Pros cannot be used in the American version.
The series generally receives favorable reviews from Japanese video game magazines. Twelve installments have received the "silver prize" (30–31/40) from Famitsu, while twenty-seven have received the "gold prize" (32–34/40), and twenty installments have earned the "platinum prize". Only seven games in the series have received a score below 30/40.
As of March 2023, the series has sold over 24.7 million copies, in addition to 48 million mobile game downloads as of October 2022.[7]Power Pros is the best-selling baseball video game franchise in Japan since 1997.[81]'97 Kaimaku-ban, '98 Kaimaku-ban, '99 Kaimaku-ban, 10, 12, 2013, 2016, and 2018 earned the gold prize at PlayStation Awards, for shipping more than 500,000 units, including downloads, in Asia.[82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89]
The mobile gameJikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū has received 43 million downloads.[90]
Adaptations
A 4-part web series based on the mobile phone version of the game was produced by CloverWorks.[91][92][93]
Notes
^Also known in Japan as Powerful Pro Yakyū (パワフルプロ野球).
^Also known as Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū (実況パワフルプロ野球) in Japanese, translated as "Live Powerful Pro Baseball",[1] commonly abbreviated as Pawapuro (パワプロ).
^Also known in Japan as eBASEBALL Power Pro Yakyū (eBASEBALL パワフルプロ野球).
