[2] Most games in the series are developed under license from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA), allowing the use of team names, stadiums, colors, and players' names and likenesses.
Another title, MLB Power Pros, was published by 2K for the PlayStation 2 and Wii in October 2007, and featured a Success Mode set within Major League Baseball.
Power Pro baseball players are short with large, gashapon capsule-shaped heads, lacking a mouth, nose, and ears.
In Japan, the series has been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, while in North America, it received mixed to generally favorable reviews[6][7] but sold poorly.
Released on February 24, 1994, for the Super Famicom, the game is licensed by Nippon Professional Baseball and the Japanese Professional Baseball Players Association, though Meiji Jingu Stadium and Hanshin Koshien Stadium are listed under fictional names.
Success mode, which later becomes a core feature of the Power Pros series, is introduced in this game.
IGN found the game fun but criticized its "horrible" graphics and lack of power on the new console.
Online multiplayer was introduced for the first time in the main series, and was also the only title that enabled cross-platform play.
Created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Power Pros series, this game introduced audio endings in Success Mode, produced by Kyoto Animation.
In Success Mode, players could lead a high school team to compete in the Summer Koshien tournament.
This title marked the official debut of the series in North America, featuring several Japanese players who had transitioned to Major League Baseball.
Released on June 27, 2019, for the Nintendo Switch, this installment of the series featured a Success Mode that was a remake of scenarios from Power Pros 9.
Released on July 9, 2020, for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, this game marked the first entry in the series to incorporate Konami's eBASEBALL branding into its official title.
[20] Released on February 8, 2023 for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, this game was a collaboration between Konami and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).
Pawapurokun starts with low stats but often surpasses the real professional players included in the game.
Typically, Pawapurokun begins as an amateur (high school, college, or company player) and must become a professional within a set period (usually three years).
Success Mode takes about two hours to complete, but creating a good player requires significant skill and luck, giving the game near-infinite replay value.
In Pawapuro 14, players can become a coach instead of Pawapurokun, leading a high school team to the Koshien championship.
The mode does not require skill in pitching, catching, or batting but emphasizes planning and tactics, similar to other sports-management games.
The main background of Pawapurokun in various installments are below: For managers: The storylines and events in the series are often connected to both sequels and prequels, though not always in chronological order.
The only constant character is Yabe Akio, an original outfielder who has appeared in every main series installment since 4 and always serves as Pawapuro-kun's first partner.
After installment 10, four original teams (Powerfuls, Keysers, Cathands, and Yanks) were created in the Pacific League and Central League to accommodate original characters, with minor characters remaining on real teams as opponents.
Players are generally not required to play all innings unless involved in key moments, like being captain in the final stages of Success Mode.
This naming was used in installments 13 and 14, even after the MLB series was released, to maintain continuity with the NPB storylines, as some players are set in the UBL.
Notably, several female players have appeared in the series, with at least four advancing through Koshien and turning professional (though one is not seen after release).
The standard mode often involves high school or professional baseball (with fantasy elements mixed in), while the second, called "Inner Success" mode, places Power Pro Kun in various worlds, including the Medieval Ages, ancient times, and the future.
The Power Pros series sparked controversy in Japan due to its use of the term "Gyroball", popularized by Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka upon joining the Boston Red Sox.
Power Pro and other baseball manga have contributed to the misconception that the Gyroball is an all-powerful strikeout pitch, which it is not.
This practice has become a Konami tradition, even after the merger, similar to the Winning Eleven series, which receives more frequent updates.
The Kettei-ban version was canceled in 15 but continued on Pro Baseball Spirits, but the year series was revived afterward.