Power Pros

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Power Pros
Genre(s)Sports (baseball)
life simulation
Visual novel
Developer(s)Pawapuro Production, Joymoa
Publisher(s)
  • JP: Konami
  • NA: 2K Sports/Konami
Creator(s)
  • Isao Akada
  • Naoki Nishikawa
  • Kōji Toyohara
Artist(s)Fujioka Kenji
Platform(s)Android, arcades, BlackBerry, Dreamcast, feature phones, Game Boy, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Sega Saturn, Super Famicom, Wii
First releaseJikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '94
March 11, 1994
Latest releaseeBaseball Powerful Pro Yakyū 2020
July 9, 2020
Spin-offs

eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball previously known as Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū,[a] 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, but deep gameplay.[2] Most games in the series are developed under license from the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), which enables the use of the league's team names, stadiums and colors in the games, and the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA), which enables the use of the league's player names and likenesses. There are also six games in the series with the Major League Baseball (MLB) and Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) licence, two with the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and Korea Professional Baseball Players Association (KPBPA), and one with the World Baseball Classic licence. It is long running in Japan, starting out in 1994 for the Super Famicom. The game has also appeared on the Sega Saturn (1995–1997), the PlayStation (1994–2003), the Nintendo 64 (1997–2001), the PlayStation 2 (2000–2009), the Dreamcast (2000), the Nintendo GameCube (2002–2006), Wii (2007–2009), PlayStation 3 (2010–2016), PlayStation 4 (since 2016) as well as the PlayStation Portable (2007–2013) and the PlayStation Vita (since 2012).

A spin-off series, Professional Baseball Spirits, is a baseball sports simulation series with more realistic graphics and physics. Another spin-off series has also been released on handheld systems between 1999 and 2014 under the title Power Pro Kun Pocket, with versions for the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS. The series was originally designed as the side-story of Success mode, and was part of the main series, but Konami retroactively declared it as a separate series.

On May 12, 2006, a version of Power Pro was released featuring Major League Baseball players, under the title Jikkyō Powerful Major League. The Power Pro series has featured online play since its tenth incarnation on the PS2 and its first handheld version on the PlayStation Portable. A version of Power Pro was announced for the PlayStation 3, first shown at the Tokyo Game Show in 2005, but it would take another five years for the series to reach the PS3, with the system instead getting Power Pro's sister series, Professional Baseball Spirits, for the interim. On August 3, 2007, an American release of the series was announced for both the PlayStation 2 and the Wii.[3] The game, titled MLB Power Pros, was published by 2K Sports,[3] and features a Success Mode set within Major League Baseball.[3]

The most distinctive feature of the Power Pro series is its odd depiction of characters. The basic design of the Power Pro baseball player is a short figure with an excessively wide, gashapon capsule-shaped head, lacking a mouth, nose, ears with expression being mainly in the eyebrows. Power Pros characters are somewhat similar to the character Rayman, in that they do not have legs and thus their feet are not connected to their body. Power Pros characters do have arms and hands; however, their hands are fingerless and bear more resemblance to a sphere than a human hand. The Power Pro series has used this comic design for every single one of its games.

In Japan, the series has been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, while in North America it received mixed to generally favourable reviews[4][5] and sold poorly.[6] As of December 2020, the series has sold over 23.5 million copies, in addition to 44 million mobile game downloads as of October 2020.[7]

Games in the series[]

This is the major system development in the main series (as well as information of seasons series and MLB Power Pros series), some minor development, such as player's ability, are not included in the development

Pawapuro '94[]

Released on February 24, 1994 for the Super Famicom. The game has the licence of the Nippon Professional Baseball and the Japanese Professional Baseball Players Association, though the Meiji Jingu Stadium and the Hanshin Koshien Stadium are listed under a fictional name. 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. The first game in the series with full Pennant mode, and save game features.[8] The Hanshin Koshien Stadium is fully licensed, but the Meiji Jingu Stadium is still listed 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 becomes one of the main features in the Power Pros series, is firstly installed in this game.[9] Commentary is once again provided by Abe Noriyuki, who stayed in this position until Power Pros 8.

Pawapuro 4[]

Released on March 14, 1997 for the Nintendo 64. With the generation leap, the game's graphics (polygon-based stadia), and controls greatly improved. The Success Mode firstly features original characters, some of them become regular even nowadays.

Pawapuro 5[]

Released on March 26, 1998 for the Nintendo 64. In March 1998, the game was the best selling game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan.[10]

Pawapuro 6[]

Released on March 25, 1999 for the Nintendo 64.

Pawapuro 7[]

This game was the first in the series to be released on the PlayStation 2. First game in the series with fully polygon-based graphics. IGN thought that the game was fun, but criticized the games for its "horrible" graphics and for its lack of power on the new console.[11] The game was due to be released on March 4, 2000,[12] but was later pushed back to July 6, 2000.

Pawapuro 8[]

Vocalized opening ("Little Soldier" by Chihiro Yonekura) is firstly featured in the series, with the openings made by Kyoto Animation which mainly works on animation after-production at that time. They have been working on the openings until Pawapuro 11 as they had started working on the anime version of Air, a famous production from Visual Arts/Key. The production works are passed to Production I.G in Pawapuro 12.

Pawapuro 9[]

This game was the first in the series to be released on multiple platforms - PlayStation 2 and GameCube.[13][14] This game was also the first in the series to employ cel shading.[15]

Pawapuro 10[]

Success Mode first features creating teams instead of individual players. Online mode is firstly available in a main series title. And the only installment that allow machine crossovers. Mylife mode, an alternate type of Success Mode that player controls the Japan League player instead of original character (but you can still play created player in Success Mode), is firstly placed in this installment.

Pawapuro 11[]

Created for the 10th anniversary of the Power Pros series. Audio endings are first featured in Success Mode (made by Kyoto Animation), as well as the ability to break the bat and performing safety bunts.[16]

Pawapuro 12[]

Modified player password system, means password systems cannot be placed on previous installment (for Nintendo side). However, password from 12–14, can be used on Portable 1 and Portable 2 (within Sony platform only). Cheering Songs Editor is available since this installment, like players, password system are used to transfer and import the songs. Cheering Songs can be transferred to any installment within the Sony's platform without restrictions. As long as that installment support Cheering Songs.

Jikkyō Powerful Major League[]

The game firstly features MLB instead of NPB series. It also holds the license for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Pawapuro 13[]

As Nintendo's GameCube has stopped production at that time, it is the only installment of main series that only features in PS2 platform since 8. Major system changes have been placed in this installment. In online mode, every players only control one player in the team, not a whole team. Scenario Mode, a feature since the first series is cancelled from this installment.

Pawapuro 14/Wii[]

Wii platform is added in Nintendo side, replacing GC for the future installment in Pawapuro (and MLB PP series), as a feature of Wii, motion control system is supported in Wii side, both versions support online mode which adepts system in 13 (but controlling three players instead), in separated server. Success Mode firstly features leading a high-school team, targeted at Summer Koshien Champion. Later also feature currently Japanese NPB players as members of the National Team.

Jikkyō Powerful Major League 2 (MLB Power Pros)[]

The series finally officially has its debut in America, numbers of Japanese players who had turned into a Major League Player participated.

Pawapuro 2009/NEXT[]

Released for the 15th anniversary of the series. Also, numbered versions are established for the first time since '94. And different unique contents (apart than control and console feature differences) are firstly featured in different versions.

Power Pros 2010[]

Released on July 15, 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. 2010 is the first game in the series which supports high-definition video (1080p), true surround sound (5.1 channel LPCM). Mylife mode is omitted from the PlayStation 3 release.

Power Pros 2011[]

Released on July 14, 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. Unlike the previous installment, the two version have the same content.

Power Pros 2012[]

Released on July 19, 2012 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita. The game introduced significant gameplay mechanic changes to the series, including the PawaSta mode, which is only available in the PlayStation 3 and Vita versions.

Power Pros 2013[]

Released on October 24, 2013 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita. Unlike 2012, the game is 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 twentieth anniversary. 2014 is the first game in the main series, which have active Japanese MLB players as "OB players".

Power Pros 2016[]

Released on April 28, 2016 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita to commemorate the Success mode's twentieth anniversary. The game introduced many gameplay elements to the series, lifted from the Professional Baseball Spirits series. On April 27, 2017 the game was updated with 2017 season rosters, the players are able to choose from the 2016 and 2017 rosters upon launching the game. The game also introduced two new game modes to the series, "PawaFes" and "Challenge".

Power Pros 2018[]

Released on April 28, 2018 for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. 2018 is the first game in the series to support the PlayStation VR and PlayStation 4 Pro, along with high-dynamic-range video and 2160p resolution. The game also includes a new game mode, "Live Scenario", lifted from Professional Baseball Spirits 2015. A 2019 season pack was recently added as an updated feature to Power Pros 2018.

Power Pros (Nintendo Switch)[]

Released on June 27, 2019 for the Nintendo Switch. The Success mode is a remake version of some scenarios in Power Pros 9.

eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020[]

Released on July 9, 2020 for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. It is the first entry in the series to feature Konami's eBASEBALL branding in its official title.[17]

The Success Mode[]

The Success Mode is the game's most compelling feature[citation needed], combining role-playing game and life simulation games elements with the baseball sport. The basic objective is to train a generic Pawapurokun to become a professional baseball player. The Pawapurokun starts out with low stats, but often ends up being far better than any of the real professional players included in the game. Generally, Pawapurokun begins as an amateur player (ranging from high school, college or company player) who must become a professional in a certain period (usually three years). The Success Mode takes only about 2 hours to complete, but creating a good player requires an extraordinary amount of skill and luck, giving the game almost infinite replay value.[citation needed] Various random events will affect the growth of your player, for example, getting a girlfriend will allow you to regain motivation easily and receive presents (which drastically improve your player's stats) on your birthday. The amount of stress caused, and number of Pawapurokuns killed off in the Success Mode can be very large,[citation needed] as someone can spend hours carefully training a Pawapurokun, only to see him become severely injured in a car accident, ending any chance of his becoming a good player. "All A's" Pawapurokuns (characters that have all of their stats in the highest range) are particularly sought after, since you can transfer Pawapurokuns from one memory card to the other using a password, and use them in exhibition games (It is noted that password have different formats between Sony and Nintendo side, which means you cannot transfer a password from PS2/PSP to a GC/Wii/NDS/GBA Pawapuro installments, and vice versa).[citation needed] Often a cheat device such as Action Replay is used to generate incredibly strong Pawapurokuns, and several fansites (such as mlbppworld.com) offer to create customized Pawapurokuns in exchange for voting for the site in a web ranking.[citation needed] As Success mode is the most popular major part of the Pawapuro Series, thus there are no ability editing mode in Pawapuro series (except American installment's MLB Power Pros) which become a regular element in other sport games. The plot as well as the storyline of the Success Mode has a profound effect on the game's popularity, as many users would rather replay older Pawapuro games that have good Success Modes than buy a newer installment that has new data and improved gameplay, but a bad Success Mode.

In Pawapuro 14, it is available to become a coach instead of Pawapurokun, leading a high school team to Koshien Champion, it is somewhat an alternate way to create a large amount of Pawapurokuns in the same time. The mode does not require any skill in pitching, catching nor batting on their own, but require planning and tactics skill like other sport-manager game. Later, 14 Kettei-ban firstly features 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

Through the background of the story and events of the series usually have connection with the sequel and the pre-sequel (which also gives conflicts, which sometimes major character returns to university or company), but may not be in the same chronological order. For example, 7 is actually the sequel of the events in 9, and 11 is the sequel of 7. But 13 is actually the story paralleling to 10, in which the previous characters appeared. The only exception is Yabe Akio, the original outfielder who appeared in every installment of main series (since 4) who will always be the Pawapuro-kun's first partner no matter what (in which he appeared wearing Nippon-Ham Fighters (now the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters) uniform in the openings in 7, 8 and 9). Currently Konami should have set the main storyline in the sequence of 9 (P3) -> 7 -> 13 -> 10 -> 11 -> 12 -> 14.

In the early series before 10, major characters are spread into different real NPB teams, after the installment 10, four original teams (Powerfuls, Keysers, Cathands, and Yanks) were formed in Pacific League and Central League to room original characters, in which some minor characters would stay in the real teams and being opponents. Two more teams, Vulcans and Busters were added in 14 and formed the fictional third league "Revolutional League" with the prior 4 original teams, according to storyline of 14, the league participated in Japan Series in its fourth year since establishment. Other than team formations, the major regulations of NPB are kept (including the playoff system introduced in 2007 season), only having a shorter Pennant span, in order to keep the gametime under three hours. (Except Pawapuro 9, 10 and 99' which there are more complete matches, or particular mode in 11, 13, 14). Usually players are not needed (and not permitted to) play all innings unless player involves it, being a captain in final stages of the success mode, or the success mode itself does not give status point in practices.

Due to the possibility of copyright conflict towards MLB (particularly before the release of the MLB series after Pawapuro 12), the American League system in NPB series is called the UBL (Possibly named as USA Baseball League) in NPB series, which are composed by three grades: Single Star, Double Stars, and the top-ranked Regular League, similar to the AA, AAA, and MLB system in the real world. Such naming were continued to use in 13 and 14 even the MLB series released, and it is believed to continue to use to make story connections to the other NPB installments since some players are set in the UBL. Currently MLB series' success modes did not feature as a position of MLB player yet (but AAA players in MLB Power Pros 2008).

For another remarks, there are numbers of female players appeared in the series with some of them have remarkable performances. At least four female players in main series have gone through Koshien and turned Pro (through one is never seen as being released later).

Since the 7th installment, usually the opening sequences gives some clues of the storyline of the success mode, especially for the 9th and 10th installments while professional players are only given a very brief cameos, Success Mode characters filled the major parts in the openings.

Sub-series usually featured independent scenarios (or even not featuring success mode), the most renowned one was in the 99' installment, which there has a mode called "Mekkou-Tou", which consecutive battles with all the original teams appeared in the past success mode (whenever appears in main-series, Power Pro Kun Pocket series, or even appeared in the later series), it is still one of the legendary modes that the later series didn't revive.

The Power Pro Kun Pocket series, rather than focusing on real-life baseball worlds, many fantasy elements were added in the series. Since the second installment, two success modes were placed in each installments, while the normal success mode usually featured high-school or professional baseball (unlike main series, fantasy elements are usually mixed in the series), the second success, called "Inner Success" mode, usually placed the Power Pro Kun in the various worlds, varying from the Medieval Ages, ancient times, and to future worlds. Fantasy elements are very uncommon in the main series, but Konami did it in 8, which the (optional) final battle is versus aneroid players which legendary players' data were inserted.

Mylife mode[]

Due to the great success of success mode, Konami have someway extended to another game mode called Mylife since Pawapuro 10, which can use created player (or using an NPB player, even creating a player at place) to play in the NPB, with another series of events, through there are no more characters from success mode appears in it. The difficulty will change according to your performance in the game.

The known mode in Mylife mode are:

  • Loan player: Playing as a loan player from other team, maximum playtime is one year.
  • Playing Manager: Playing as a playing manager, maximum playtime is one year. Whenever the team lose the possibility claiming the League Champion (or playoff in Pacific League). Currently available in 13.
  • Pro players: Choosing one current NPB players, maximum playtime is 20 years.

Note: If you choose Yakult Swallows' catcher Atsuya Furuta as your player in the Mylife mode in 13 or 14, playing manager duties are added. However, maximum playtime is reduced to two years. (Atsuya was a playing manager in 2006 and 2007 season, he retired in 2007)

  • Retiring player: Playing the retiring year of your career, 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 Powerful Pro Yakyu[]

The Power Pro series raised some controversy in Japan with its use of the term "Gyroball", a term made popular by Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka when he signed with the Boston Red Sox. The Gyroball appears not as a pitch usable in a baseball game, but as one of the special abilities assigned to particular pitchers. In Pawapuro, pitchers that have the Gyroball ability get increased velocity on their fastball, which is completely different from the actual definition of a Gyroball (a pitch with a spin resembling that of a slider). Power Pro and other baseball manga (which also give misinterpretations of the Gyroball) have given the impression that the Gyroball is an all-powerful strike out pitch, which it is not. Several professional pitchers (including classic players) are given this ability in the game, but Daisuke Matsuzaka is not given the Gyroball ability in any of the game's installments. Daisuke does not appear in Pawapuro 14 as he was transferred via Posting system to Boston Red Sox, through two-seam ball which made closer to his pitching is added in this installment. It is expected Daisuke will return as a Seibu OB somedays (through Daisuke's official password has been released in MLB Power Pros 2), but his ability changes is still unknown at this moment.

Games in the series[]

Below is a rough list of the games within the Power Pro series. Basically can de divided into certain categories below.

Main Series: Ending with only number suffixs (except '94, the first series), most major system amendments (including success mode) are placed in the main series. Number series are not used after 15.

Season Series: A PlayStation exclusive series, ending with suffix in year number, it is mainly an alternate installment of the main series which is installed in Super Famicom and PlayStation 2. This series has been merged to the main series as the PlayStation had stopped being manufactured. Since 1998, two installments are released every year, one normal version in the start of the season, and one named Kettei-ban(Post-Season version), with the latter have statistic (and sometime involving player transfers) update that reflects his performance in the season. This has become one of the tradition of Konami even after this has been merged in the main series, much like the Winning Eleven series with a more frequently update. Ketten-ban version is cancelled in 15 (But they used on instead). However, year series are revived after that.

MLB Power Pro Series: The only series that is officially released in America, it features MLB series instead of traditional Japanese NPB series, through Japanese version is also available. See the MLB Power Pros entry for further details.

It is noted that passwords cannot be used on same installments with different manufacturer's machine (Sony/Nintendo has their own password format). Passwords of Power Pros (Japanese version) cannot be used on American version either.

Main Series[]

Game Release date Platform
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball '94 March 11, 1994 Super Famicom
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2 February 24, 1995 Super Famicom
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball '95 1995 PlayStation
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 3 February 29, 1996 Super Famicom
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball '97 Spring March 20, 1997 Super Famicom
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 4 March 14, 1997 Nintendo 64
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 5 March 26, 1998 Nintendo 64
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 6 March 25, 1999 Nintendo 64
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 7 July 6, 2000 PlayStation 2
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2000 Ketteiban December 21, 2000 PlayStation 2
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 8 August 30, 2001 PlayStation 2
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 8 Ketteiban December 20, 2001 PlayStation 2
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 9 July 18, 2002 PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 9 Ketteiban December 19, 2002 PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 10 July 17, 2003 PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 10 Ultra Ketteiban: 2003 Memorial December 18, 2003 PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 11 July 15, 2004 PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 11 Ultra Ketteiban December 16, 2004 PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 12 July 14, 2005 PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 12 Ketteiban December 15, 2005 PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 13 July 13, 2006 PlayStation 2
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 13 Ketteiban December 14, 2006 PlayStation 2
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 14 July 19, 2007 PlayStation 2
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 14 Ketteiban December 20, 2007 PlayStation 2
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 15 July 24, 2008 PlayStation 2, Wii
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2009 March 19, 2009 PlayStation 2
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2010 July 15, 2010 PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2011 July 14, 2011 PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2011 Ketteiban December 22, 2011 PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2012 July 19, 2012 PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2012 Ketteiban December 13, 2012 PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2013 October 24, 2013 PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2014 October 23, 2014 PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2016 April 28, 2016 PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2018 April 26, 2018 PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020 July 9, 2020 PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

Consumer Series[]

  • Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball '95 (PS) – 1994 Dec 22
  • Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball '95 version of the opening (PS, SS) – 1995 July 14 (PS Version) 1995 year on July 28 (SS)
  • Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball '96 version of the opening (SFC) – 1996 July 19
  • Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball '97 version of the opening (PS) – 1997 August 28
  • (SS) – 1997 yDec. 4
  • (SFC) – 1998 March 19
  • (GB) – 1998 March 26
  • (PS) – 1998 July 23
  • (PS) – 1998 Dec 23
  • (PS) – 1999 July 22
  • (PS) – 1999 Dec 25
  • (DC) – 2000 March 30
  • (N64) – 2000 April 29
  • (PS) – 2000 July 19
  • (PS) – 2000 Dec 21
  • (N64) – 2001 March 29
  • (PS) – 2001 June 7
  • (PS) – 2001 Dec 20
  • (PS) – 2002 March 14
  • (PS) – 2003 January 23
  • (PSP) – 2006 April 1
  • (PS2, GC) – 2006 May 11
  • (PSP) – 2007 April 5
  • (Wii) – 2007 July 19
  • (Wii) – 2007 Dec 20
  • Jikkyou Powerful Pro Major League 2 (a.k.a. MLB Power Pros) (PS2, Wii)- 2007 Oct 4 (Overseas Edition: October 3, 2007)
  • (PSP) – 2008 May 29
  • Jikkyou Powerful Pro Major League 3 (a.k.a. MLB Power Pros 2008) (PS2, Wii, DS) – 2008 Oct 3 (Overseas Edition: July 29, 2008)
  • (Wii) – 2009 March 19
  • (PS2, Wii) – 2009 April 29
  • (PSP) – 2009 September 17
  • (PSP) – 2010 February 25
  • (PS3, PSP) – 2010 July 15

Arcade Series[]

  • (Arcade) – 1996
  • – 1997 year ※ PAWAPURO arcade version of the movie. Consumer Edition ahead of the home run race mode is added.
  • – 1998 year
  • (Arcade) – 2015

PC Series[]

  • (Windows version) (Win) – 1997
  • Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball (Windows second edition) (Win) – 1998
  • (Win) – 2001

Play Online Series[]

  • – (2004 April 30 delivered end)

Mobile Phones[]

  • (NTT DoCoMo au by KDDI SoftBank) – 2007
  • (NTT DoCoMo au by KDDI SoftBank) – 2008
  • Power Pro World University Baseball Success Volume – 2009
  • Power Pro World High School Baseball Success Volume – 2009
  • Power Pro World Shakaijin Yakyū Success Volume – 2009
  • Power Pro World Mobile – Powerful Pro Baseball MEGA-X – 2009
  • Power Pro World Mobile Powerful Pro Baseball 6 – 2009
  • Power Pro World Fierce Fighting High School Baseball Success Volume – 2010
  • Mobile Powerful Pro Baseball 3D – 2010
  • Social Appli Power Pro home run competition for GREE – 2011
  • Pawapuro Sakusakusesu (パワプロ サクサクセス) – 2013
  • Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū (iOS/Android) - 2014
  • Pawapuro Puzzle - 2021

Card Game[]

  • – 2006
  • – 2006

Other Appearances[]

  • Konami Krazy Racers (GBA, 2001)- a Pawapurokun appears as a racer.
  • DreamMix TV World Fighters (GC, 2003) – a Pawapurokun appears as a playable character, along with a Pawapuro Stadium stage.
  • New International Track and Field (DS, 2008) – a Pawapurokun appears as a playable character
  • Krazy Kart Racing (iOS, 2009) – a Pawapurokun appears as a racer.

Related Productions[]

Reception[]

Critical reception[]

The series generally receives favourable reviews from Japanese video game magazines. Twelve installment received the "silver prize" (30–31/40) from Famitsu, while twentyseven received the "gold prize" (32–34/40), and twenty installment received the "platinum prize". Only seven game in the series got a score below 30/40.

Critical reception
Year Title Famitsu score
Main games
1994 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '94[18] 34/40 (SFC)
1995 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2 31/40 (SFC)
1996 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 3 30/40 (SFC)
1997 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 4 33/40 (N64)
1998 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 5 33/40 (N64)
1999 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 6 36/40 (N64)
2000 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 7[19] 35/40 (PS2)
2001 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 8[20] 33/40 (PS2)
2002 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 9[21] 34/40 (GCN/PS2)
2003 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 10[22][23] 36/40 (GCN/PS2)
2004 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 11[24][25] 35/40 (GCN/PS2)
2005 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 12[26][27] 35/40(PS2)
33/40 (GCN)
2006 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 13[28] 33/40 (PS2)
2007 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 14/Wii[29][30] 34/40 (Wii)
2008 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 15[31][32] 35/40 (PS2/Wii)
2009 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2009[33] 28/40 (PS2)
2010 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2010'[34][35] 38/40 (PS3)
34/40 (PSP)
2011 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2011[36] 37/40 (PS3)
36/40 (PSP)
2012 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2012[37] 36/40 (PS Vita)
35/40 (PS3)
33/40 (PSP)
2013 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2013[38] 35/40 (PS3)
34/40 (PS Vita)
31/40 (PSP)
2014 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2014[39] 35/40 (PS3/PS Vita)
2016 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2016[40] 37/40 (PS3/PS4/PS Vita)
2018 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2018[41] 38/40 (PS4/PS Vita)
Roster updates
2003 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 10 Chō Kettei-ban 2003 Memorial 33/40 (GCN/PS2)
2004 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 11 Chō Kettei-ban 32/40 (GCN/PS2)
2005 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 12 Kettei-ban[42] 33/40 (PS2)
32/40 (GCN)
2006 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 13 Kettei-ban[43] 35/40 (PS2)
2007 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 14/Wii Kettei-ban[44][45] 34/40 (Wii)
33/40 (PS2)
2012 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2012 Kettei-ban[46] 35/40 (PS Vita)
34/40 (PS3)
33/40 (PSP)
Side games
1994 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '95 31/40 (PS)
1995 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '95 Kaimaku-ban[47][48] 31/40 (SS)
1997 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '97 Kaimaku-ban[49] 29/40 (PS)
1997 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū S[50] 26/40 (SS)
1998 Pawapuro GB[51] 20/40 (GB)
1998 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '98 Kaimaku-ban[52] 30/40 (PS)
1999 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '99 Kaimaku-ban[53] 33/40 (PS)
1999 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '99 Kettei-ban[54] 33/40 (PS)
2000 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū Dreamcast Edition[55] 31/40 (DC)
2000 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2000 34/40 (PS)
2000 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2000 Kaimaku-ban[56] 29/40 (PS)
2001 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2001[57] 30/40 (PS)
2002 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2002 Haru[58] 31/40 (PS)
2006 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū Portable[59] 32/40 (PSP)
2007 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū Portable 2[60] 34/40 (PSP)
2008 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū Portable 3[61] 33/40 (PSP)
2009 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū Next[62] 34/40 (Wii)
2009 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū Portable 4[63] 35/40 (PSP)
2010 Power Pro Success Legends[64] 29/40 (PSP)
2010 Nettō! Powerful Kōshinen[65] 31/40 (NDS)
2016 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū Heroes[66] 30/40 (3DS)
Major League subseries
2006 Jikkyō Powerful Major League[67] 34/40 (GCN)
2007 Jikkyō Powerful Major League 2[68][69] 30/40 (PS2/Wii)
2008 Jikkyō Powerful Major League 3[70][71] 31/40 (PS2/Wii)
2009 Jikkyō Powerful Major League 2009[72][73] 35/40 (PS2/Wii)

Commercial reception[]

As of December 2020, the series has sold over 23.5 million copies, in addition to 44 million mobile game downloads as of October 2020.[7] Power Pros is the best-selling baseball video game franchise in Japan since 1997.[74] '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.[75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82]

The mobile game Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū has received 43 million downloads.[83]

Notes[]

  1. ^ 実況パワフルプロ野球 in Japanese, translated as "Running Commentary Powerful Pro Baseball",[1] Commonly abbreviated as Pawapuro (パワプロ).

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External links[]

Official website (in Japanese)

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