Milkmen are the New Udder Team in Milwaukee

  The Milwaukee Milkmen.. a new team? Absolutely! They are a team in the American Association, which is a baseball league.  Their first year was in 2019, and they opened up their new stadium in nearby Franklin, Wisconsin to a good showcase of fandom.  Over the course of the last year plus, the Milkmen went from essentially expansion team to American Association champion in 2020.  The Milkmen have been a cheap and affordable option.  I went to see a Milkmen game in 2019 and while they lost, I had a lot of things about their stadium that I feel make it one of the better ballparks in Independent league baseball.

  The Milkmen's stadium got completed for them to play in 2019 and since then they have had a lot of great success as well.  When they opened, it brought a nice flair, as it is expected to also showcase the UWM team for college baseball as well.  It still will host games for the Panthers, despite the 2020 season being cancelled due to COVID.  Upon entering the stadium, their parking lot is pretty spacious and well organized so you can get in and out pretty easily overall.  Upon going through the gates the one thing noticed is the fan store.  It's a nice small thing, which will likely be complete and filled with gear from the championship season for the Milkmen in 2020.  The fan store is nicely laid out and honestly has a lot of the same equipment as usual for hats, shirts, hoodies, and so on but at a reasonable price.  How is the rest of the stadium?

  Well the rest of the stadium is simply great.  The seats are appropriately spaced out and and the walk ways are very, very nicely laid out as well. The concourses are accessible, the fan areas and non-seated areas.  The park itself is very wide so if needed for expansion it is easily able to happen.  They have one main stand for concessions at the time I went to a game.  Their staff are pretty quick and efficient at that time which I suspect got better with a season under their belt they got even better, so how are the concessions and food?

  The food is about what you would expect with Wisconsin sports, so the burgers, chicken, fries, curds are all staples.  They are a pretty affordable price as well when I went so I suspect they would have stayed affordable in 2020 and will do so in the future.  Their one staple is the milkshake of ice cream and whichever syrup you choose overall.  The ice cream is actually quite okay and of course the syrup is typically Hershey's so it is going to be okay overall.  Main thing of this remains though, it is affordable for the people and that is the main thing the Milkmen wanted to give from the outset, an affordable program for families or for the regular fan like myself. 

  The on-field product changed rapidly from expansion 2019 team to champions in 2020.  Even then the product was fun to watch in 2019.  The staff didn't have major frills but that is a good thing for the innings promotions.  It is actually a really cool thing that they try to involve kids as much as possible so they can bring families back while also providing a party type atmosphere with their beer decks for the older generation.  So all in all the fact they can keep every form of demographic happy is what matters and the promotions and between innings entertainment is something that is good as well.

  All in all, the Milkmen and their stadium, Franklin Field, do a really nice job when it comes to everything.  They did well starting out in 2019, likely did more in 2020 with the ongoing difficulties facing everything in the world.  When I went in 2019 everything was amazing and fan friendly with an emphasis on getting young people into the park which is needed for any team.  It's affordable and fun to go to a game.  I hope the Milkmen have great success going forward in the American Association.

SNES Game Review: F-Zero

 Another blog, another racing game.  This one is a bit of the twist though, as it might be the most notable racing game that became part of a legacy.  F-Zero is part of the series of games on different systems from 1990-2004, with this one being the first.  F-Zero and Super Mario Kart are two of the biggest racing games on the SNES, but also that they are the most notable as they then become a series on different consoles.  Super Mario Kart is viewed as highly regarded by just about everyone.  Same goes for F-Zero.  How do I rate the game? Here it is below.

Positives

1. The graphics honestly are superior.  A futuristic idea of a city based in 2560, racing Grand Prix is awesome enough.  However the Mode 7 graphics model that they had allowed for it to look 3-D and allow for the multiple twisting/turning of the game through the multiple races. 

2. The music in this game is absolutely phenomenal.  It gets you pumped up to play a game.  This includes racing.  If this were the music in every racing game, it'd make a lot better overall (even if the game is not very good.) 

3. The fact that Captain Falcon becomes a major person into this Nintendo life and becomes a main character in a lot of ways.  This was his big moment and now as a result of it, he is a major character in the life of Nintendo after that.  

4. The pace of the game is quick, which makes it for a quick playthrough.  It isn't a game that will take you hours upon hours to beat (IE: Most Final Fantasy games overall so to speak) and with it being racing, most races are a short distance so don't expect to take hours on one race.

5. Contact can be restored as well as power without a pitstop.  There are places on track to restore your power and repair damage.  Remember, futuristic cities so they planned on futuristic ways of fixing stuff.

Negatives

1. The driving is a bit slick to be honest here.  You are susceptible to the 'wall' (It's more like orbs for a wall but hey we'll call it a wall) and damage which forces you to do the repair.  This is a common occurrence on a lot of racing games on SNES.  This is the main real flaw to the game overall.

Review, rating: 

All in all, F-Zero is a great start to the series for Captain Falcon and his cast of people.  While yes the driving is slick, it isn't a whole sale detriment and it is a very playable game otherwise.  From a pure racing standpoint, it is probably 2nd to Super Mario Kart.  It is ahead of Top Gear but a game that is top 20 definitely in the SNES era.  I would probably rate it 18th in SNES games.  My overall grade is a 9 out of 10.

PS1 Game Review: CART World Series

 In the 1990's almost anything that was racing in the decade was put to a video game.  The CART Series was one of them which was put to a game for the PS1.  In the 90's, the IRL (Indy Racing League, not In Real Life for the kids today) and CART split up in a very controversial move which led to CART coming into the American foray.  What came of it was Chip Ganassi dominating and a open wheel battle overall.  This game in itself doesn't have that, but it has some ups and downs overall.

Positives:

1. The tracks are realistic in this game as they were back when the game came out, and to a way that a CART open wheel car looked so they did well to give those feelings.

2. The drivers, as many as would take part of being in the game, were also realistic and used the CART license.  Not every driver was in the game but that was to be expected given the odd nature of athletes in video games in the 90's not giving their full rights to be in a game. 

Negatives:

1. Damage is not very realistic nor are the physics when the car is damaged (aka: A lost wheel.)  You literally can take most corners without a front wheel when literally you would be out of the race.

2. The cars are not the most realistic in handling.  Any breaking and they want to go out of control.  It's quite a shame really because if they fixed that part, it would be good to have for a racing game.

Review overall and rating: At best, CART World Series is an average racing game that does not come close to the NASCAR games on the PS1 or any other really.  It just lacks too much in trying to drive the car to make up for anything great.  At best it is a 5.5 out of 10.

SNES Game Review: F1 ROC II

 F1 Race of Champions II (Typically just labeled F1 ROC II) is a racing game from the 1990's on the SNES that features forms of open wheel racing and that is including Formula 1.  This game also has the F1 license at that time so when a player gets to Formula 1, they play against the drivers of that time (of which is likely from 1993.)  This is a lot better than Stunt Race FX, the game most previously rated by myself on this blog.  What works well? See below!

Positives

1. The F1 license does wonders for this game and is a huge boost to it for whenever the player makes it to F1.  You get to face off against the real players of Senna, Prost, etc. That adds instant credibility to this game.

2. The road to F1 that this game has for a career mode essentially is also a major step up, same with the progression on how you use your car to upgrade things.  I am doubly impressed with it overall.  That is something that sorely was needed in future games but they didn't do until the recent F1 games.

3. The graphics are pretty good in this game.  It isn't as sophisticated as F-Zero or Super Mario Kart but overall they are pretty decent.

4. The racing overall is competitive.  Going through career mode is a challenge yes, but that's what makes the game enjoyable overall.  

5. Frame rate is pretty good.  Again, doesn't top F-Zero or Super Mario Kart, but not many games will at all.

Negatives

1. The sound is nothing more than below average, which is quite a downer considering how lively the sounds of F1 cars were in the 90's.  

2. The turning is far too slick than it should be.  Multiple times just an easy corner is far too tough to navigate without slowing down and losing a lot of time.

3.  The game is a grind but it's honestly easy when at F1.  Maybe that is the games way of saying congrats but feels a bit too easy at the top level.

Recap/Rating

All ni all, F1 ROC II is a pretty above average game.  It won't shock you, it won't bore you.  It's a solid racing game.  It's cheap typically too so if you are looking for a decent game, then this is a good one for you overall.  I personally enjoyed the racing.  I thought if they tuned the sound and made the turning better, then this could have been a top 150 game.  I feel if they did that plus F1 tougher, then top 100 for the SNES.  On the face though, still a pretty okay game.  I would rate 6.8 out of 10.  Overall rank of 284th on the SNES all-time scale.

SNES Game Review: Stunt Race FX

 Stunt Race FX is a game with the new (at the time) FX Chip in the SNES.  The FX chip was also made for games like Star Fox and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.  This game.. yeah needless to say is not as good as those.  It is a racing game with a different set of courses.  However, it is quickly obvious what the game also lacks.  Here is my review of that game.

Positives:

1. This game does graphically look pretty well honestly.  This game honestly graphically with the FX chip does well here.  I was actually quite impressed

2. This is a pretty straight forward game.  Some you race on, some you do stunts.  It's a game that you instantly get the feel for and it is just a simplistic game overall.  

3. The trucks in this game are pretty neat.  There is a variance of them so you do get to choose over time.  However I do like the varied amount that the game does provide.

Negatives

1. The frame rate, even with the FX Chip, is just lackluster at best.  That was probably the one main downside to this game.  I couldn't really get into it as the frame rate to be honest at all.

2. The racing part due to the frame rate is honestly average at best.  There are many other good racing games out there (F-Zero, Super Mario Kart, F1 ROC to name a few) that honestly have better racing for the pure racing outlet. 

3. While yes straight forward, it isn't a game that really wows you.  With the FX chip, you would have wanted a game to wow you overall, but this game sorely didn't do that at all.  

Recap/Ranking

All in all, Stunt Race FX to me is nothing more than a below average racing game.  It's not a great game at all by any means even with the FX chip.  It's typically a cheap game so if you are looking for a cheap game or one to fill out the SNES library, by all means play it.  However, do note that you won't get too much out of it.  My rating would be a 5.1 out of 10 and around 400th or so at best on my rating list for SNES games.

Boomers Bring Frontier Fun to the Ballpark

 The Schaumburg Boomers are an independent league in the Frontier League that plays baseball in Boomer Stadium in Schaumburg, Illinois.  For reference, it's essentially west of Chicago and in some ways utilizes the Metra line.  For this game, this happened the week of Memorial Day in 2019.  This has been a while since I last blogged, but as I come back we focus on an independent league team with a stadium that is quite good.

 For Schaumburg's team, they have guys either with aspirations of going to the MLB or wanting to get paid for pro ball.  That is much of the same for any major team in the Frontier League.  Their stadium as I entered it seemed to look of that like a pretty decent minor league stadium.  The fan shop is before you enter the stadium which is overall alright and they offer some decent supplies for a minor league team as well.  Upon entering the stadium you see essentially the field right away as you make your way to the seat.  This is a stadium and team that makes use of the weekends and the area's love of baseball as they typically draw well for weekends and the late spring/summer holidays.  On this night it was still alright with attendance though a night that was more sparsely attended than typically on a weekend (this was a Monday I went.)  

This game was a pretty good game overall for the game of baseball.  It was a pretty good pitching duel most of the way and the seats, well there wasn't a bad one in the park really.  Even if you seat yourself on the hills in left or right field beyond the seating, it is a good seat to see the game.  You have a good seat regardless so you don't need to pay an incredible amount of money at all.  On top of that, you get to see literally decent baseball and the concessions are at a good price overall.  One thing I did like as well is that Schaumburg wasn't too pricey on the merchandise, the concessions or tickets.  They certainly knew what to expect out of the fan base and they did well to reasonably price it for not just the singular fan such as myself but a family of 4 to make sure they do not go broke at any point and overprice themselves.  Obviously with 2020, it is tough due to not playing baseball at the Frontier League level.

The last of the major points I want to bring is that their fan promotions are alright both pre-game and in-game.  They do try to tailor thing to the kids, in a way to bring kids to the ballpark.  One thing Schaumburg is know for is aerosol cans so they have an aerosol can race.  That's correct, an aerosol can race happens here.  It was honestly pretty cool to see this race happen and while I know Brewers fans may think it is more or less of a copycat, I know Schaumburg is tailoring to young fans with this sort of promotion.

All in all, I had a good time with the Schaumburg Boomers game.  It reminded me of my love of baseball much like Minor League teams and games do.  That is what it is all about and I am glad to have that experience.  I hope when 2021 comes around that Schaumburg can do their thing again and have a lot of good times with their fans.  They deserve it as does the Frontier League in general.

SNES Game Review: Super Mario World 2, Yoshi's Island

Super Mario World set the SNES world ablaze with selling about 40 bazillion copies back in the early 90's.  Three decades ago as we embark now on 2020, it was seen as a graphical, overall success.  I rated it as one of my top five games of all-time for the SNES, and probably would rate it in the top 20 of all-time games period, in a blog last year that I did for it.  Five years later, Nintendo decided it wanted to do a sequel.  That sequel is far, far different than what anyone imagined at the time.  Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is a game that features Baby Mario (which if social media existed en masse like today, would compare to the Baby Yoda memes) and his trusty sidekick Yoshi.  Yoshi and his.. well Yoshi pals (eight different colors) protect Baby Mario from.. Baby Bowser.  Yeah, it's a bit of a wacky story.  Wacky story aside, this game is actually quite intriguing.  What's good about Yoshi's Island?  What's not so good?  It's all below right now!

Credit: Mobygames

Positives:

1. The Super FX Chip designed to make the game graphically amazing makes it graphically amazing.  The Super FX Chip was one of the newer designed at the height of the SNES fandom.  It was a chip designed to improve graphics, gameplay and make it feel a lot better to the player.  Yoshi's Island with this chip hits it out of the park.  While yes it is a SNES game, it is also a big step up from the 1990 Super Mario World.  Yes this game is still a side scroller, but the game is much more graphically enhanced thanks to the Super FX Chip.

2. Yoshi gets his game, and it is an amazing set up for him.  This is a game that you have to rely on Yoshi.  For a lot of people, they love this, as Yoshi is one of the most notable characters in the Mario brand today.  Not only does he get his game, he also brings with him the Yoshi's of Super Mario World and they team up to save Baby Mario.  It's a fun side-scrolling adventure game that makes this sequel very well worth it.

3. Nintendo went all out on the level design here and they succeeded easily.  From the first level to the last level, they were absolutely spot on with the graphical designs, the hidden treasures, hidden bonuses, checkpoints, just everything in a nut shell.  They tailored it to Yoshi's strengths and succeeded.  Whenever Baby Mario was needed they made it simple for the player to utilize Baby Mario as well.

4. I know I have said this with just about every Nintendo made game, but the music is just superb in this game.  Every level is amazing, every boss fight is amazing for music.  The map music is probably some of the most splendid music however.  It is a very upbeat, very uplifting motto to the game.  Also, you can make up some lyrics in your head like some on YouTube have done over the course of time.

5. Okay, I have to bring this one up as more comical but also brilliant.  Nintendo in a couple of the levels of this game make it where if Yoshi touches these fuzzy ball type things (think of it similar as those things kids blow that fly into the air in summer) that he gets completely whacked out.  Moving with Yoshi in this is actually really funny as you feel like he is in a psychedelic fit with the graphics moving all up and down.  It's something that makes you laugh and enjoy.

Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy. 

Neutrals:

1. Personally, I didn't mind that Yoshi turns into a submarine, a helicopter, a car, or anything else on his trip to save Baby Mario from Baby Bowser.  It was.. weird but something that I think was geared towards young children to have them enjoy the game personally rather than an adult.  An adult may look at it as a weird and what the heck situation.  Kids would definitely enjoy the game a lot more due to this.

2. Some people have 100 percented the game and others haven't.  I have seen runs where someone 100 percent completes this game. It seems fun but to me it really doesn't matter whether you do or don't.  The game itself is quite great without doing everything 100 percent.

Negatives:

1. Yes there are a couple of negatives to this game, but the main one has to be Baby Mario's.. incessant yelling if you lose him for even a second.  It is absolutely horrid to hear that scream.  If you don't believe me, go on YouTube, type in Baby Mario crying or Baby Mario yelling.. and listen for yourself in that regard.

2. I felt the controls to be a bit slick in this game.  I do get Yoshi is carrying Baby Mario, but I felt they would have been better if not as slick like in Super Mario World.  If Yoshi can stop on a dime with a 200lb or so Mario on his back, why not an infant that weighs probably 10 lbs?  That's something that felt weird to me throughout the game.

Analysis, Rating and Ranking:

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is a pretty good game in terms of being a sequel to Super Mario World.  It is a very unconventional sequel to the predecessor for the Super Mario World franchise. It takes some aspects of Super Mario World and make a lot better the graphics, platforming and more.  The music is top notch by Nintendo as well.  The flaws are there definitely but it is more minimal than most games.  Overall this is a very fine game that got it's rightful place on the SNES Classic when that came out.
Rating/Ranking: In final rating, I would rate Yoshi's Island 9.1 out of 10, with an all-time SNES rating of 12th out of 721.