I don’t really care about sports games, typically, but there are a few that I do enjoy. These are typically older, more arcade-like games, stuff like Tecmo Super Bowl and NBA Jam. When it comes to baseball games, the only one I really latched onto was an NES game called Legends of the Diamond.

I’ve actually never really heard anyone talk about this game before. When people talk about NES baseball games, it’s usually one of the RBI Baseball or Bases Loaded games. I’m pretty sure we had Bases Loaded in the collection while growing up, but Legends of the Diamond got a lot more playtime from us.

So, what is this game? Well, at its core, it’s just a solid game of baseball. However, it does not have the MLB license or the vast majority of players. Instead, as the title implies, it’s a selection of legendary baseball players that you can make your own team out of. These include players like Babe Ruth and Cy Young and a bunch of other people I’ve never heard of because I’m not a baseball guy. It’s a cool premise though, especially for a game that isn’t a hardcore simulation of the sport.

Actually playing the game couldn’t be simpler. If you’re batting, you can position your player before the ball is pitched and then hit A to swing your bat. Telling your runners where to go is easy too. Each D-pad direction coordinates with a base, and you can push A to tell a runner to run forward or B to go back. So if you made it to first base and think you have time to get to second, hold up on the D-pad and press A. When it turns out you didn’t have time and need to return to first base, hold right on the D-pad and hit B.

Pitching is just as simple. You can move the pitcher on the mound before throwing the ball to line up the throw you want to make. You can put see one curve on the ball by holding a direction when pitching. And when fielding, the same D-pad coordinating with bases system exists. So, if you want to throw to first base before the batter can get there, hold right on the D-pad and hit A.

Besides the very easy pickup and play nature of the game, my other favorite thing is the little details. Sometimes after striking out, a batter will get pissed off and slam his bat into the ground until it breaks, sending half the bat flying. Sometimes when you hit a foul ball, a dog will run out onto the field and retrieve it. And after each inning, there’s a cute animation on the scoreboard. It gives what could be a very dry experience some real personality.

For as much as I enjoy the game, I will say, I’m not very good. I played one game for this post and got absolutely annihilated. If it wasn’t for a home run in the ninth inning, I would have been completely shut out. But I still had fun. And if the idea of a fun, easy to play baseball game sounds appealing to you, I think this is one to check out.