Mark McGwire steps to the plate for the home run challenge. The pitch comes in, flaming hot, and McGwire powers through it, sending it screaming into the sky. It’s back, way back. The ball shoots over the fence and smashes into the television set, shattering the tube. There are bonus points for you. Next time, aim for the chandelier, or the family portrait over the mantle.

Wait, television set, chandelier, family portrait? What’s going on here?

The answer is easy, actually. The Extreme Challenge, a target home run contest, is taking place in the living room with miniature ball players blasting moon shots over a playing card fence.

It’s Triple Play Baseball by EA SPORTS™ for the PlayStation. Hold it! Didn’t EA SPORTS™ release Triple Play 2001 not that long ago? It sure seems like it. And if this is the 2001 season coming up in a few short weeks, then why this version, that doesn’t have a year stamp on it?

Triple Play Baseball features fully updated rosters for 30 teams and two all-star teams, statistics and 2001 schedules. And if the accompanying data is to be believed, this is the final appearance of Triple Play Baseball on the PlayStation console.

The program all features all 30 Major League Baseball ballparks. Yep, even the new ones in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee are represented.

The games themselves can be played in a variety of ways. You can micromanage the teams: Create players, sign free agents, hold a draft, set the lineups and pitching rotations – in short, most of the things that real managers are involved in. You can also play an exhibition, launch into a season, make the playoffs, advance to the world series, and if you are really good, qualify for a World tournament.

There is a Big League Challenge for players who want to hone up on home run hitting skills. And four difficulty levels to challenge any skill level. You will be able to unlock arcade-style rewards, which include bonus teams and special stadiums.

Graphically this game is quite nice. But if you have played Triple Play 2001, you will see exactly the same elements as before. The pitchers all rotate their arms exactly the same way before a game, the centerfielder tosses a one-hopper to the right fielder, and the catcher runs out to the mound, gives the pitcher and little ‘go get-em’ gesture and runs back to home plate.

The audio elements are more or less the same as the previous incarnation as well. Jim Hughson and Buck Martinez handle the play-by-play and color commentating, and their phraseology is almost identical to the last version of the game.

The control elements are simple and easy to learn. However this is a reflexive effort more than a cerebral challenge.

Triple Play Baseball is still a quality console product, in spite of the lack of innovations. The game play is very good, and the entertainment value is high. However, if you own Triple Play 2001, this game presents minimal new features, which you can almost duplicate with the older game.

Install: N/A
This game will chew up one to seven blocks on a memory card.

Gameplay: 8
Whether playing a game, or indulging in the Extreme Challenge, this program moves well through each phase of the contest.

Graphics: 8.5
Facial expressions, batting stances and realistic polygonal character movements combine to make this a product that is quite good graphically.

Sound: 7
The soundtrack in this game has changed very little from the previous incarnation of the game for the PlayStation.

Difficulty: 8
The rookie level seems to be quite easy, but wait till you step up to the plate in the all-star level. Things move quite a bit faster, the ball has eyes, and your pitcher will tire easily. Gee, that’s sort of like the real thing.

Concept: 7
A couple of new stadiums, a new Extreme Challenge park and updated rosters, stats and schedules are all well and good, but other than that, this is Triple Play Baseball 2001.

Multiplayer: 8
This is a fast-paced game that can pit player against player, or against computer. The action is as strong whether playing a one-player or two-player game.

Overall: 7.5
There is just not enough new here to make you want to go out and buy the product if you have the previous version. If, however, having updated rosters, stats, and stadiums is that important to you (meaning you must eat, sleep and drink Major League Baseball), then by all means, invest in this program. However, a true aficionado can break out his or her Baseball Encyclopedia, and simply update rosters and stats, reveling in the endeavor.