9 Innings Pro Baseball: 2013 Review
Price: Free
Version: 2.0.1
App Reviewed on: iPad 2
Graphics / Sound Rating:





Gameplay Rating:





Playtime Rating:





Replay Value Rating:





Overall Rating:





Baseball is an inherently boring sport. Even fans are willing to admit that. Essentially it is a chess match that plays out in middle of a glorified meadow, featuring big sticks and athletes with even bigger biceps. Everything comes down to playing the numbers correctly, which lends itself well to an interactive trading card game. Fortunately that plays directly into 9 Innings Pro Baseball: 2013’s hand perfectly.
This light sports sim revolves around collecting licensed MLB players from “packs” and then tactfully inserting them into the starting lineup in the most advantageous ways. Then, unlike other sports trading card games, (looking at you, Big Win Football) players actually get the chance to act out games in a limited capacity. Upon completion of a game, the money earned can be once again cashed in for new player packs; thusly starting the vicious cycle all over again. The process of constantly trying to acquire that next lineup upgrade can be addictive to say the very least.
As far as a card collecting/sports sim, there are certainly worse ways to spend a rainy afternoon. 9 Innings Pro Baseball: 2013 may not be the best in any relative category, but when you are competent in all areas, while still costing nothing, it certainly works in your favor. It may not be stealing home anytime soon, but when you can get this much gameplay for free, it is hard not to feel like you are robbing the publisher blind.
[gallery ids="169281,169280,169279,169278,169289,169288,169287,169286,169285,169284,169283,169282"]