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The Home Run Derby is the most prized and exciting event to take place during the MLB
All Star Weekend. If you're a baseball fanatic, what could be more exhilarating than watching
the best power hitters go toe to toe in a slugfest?
Now you can enjoy the derby via a recent mobile game published by MLB Advanced Media. MLB.com
Home Run Derby incorporates real MLB players, rich 3D graphics, and the slugfest competition,
which stays true to the original rules of the game. As you gain more experience and
collect coins, there is a number of skill upgrades and gear to take your hitter to the
next level.
There are a handful of home run derby mobile games including Home Run Classic with ESPN,
Boomtime Baseball, and Baseball Slam by Zynga. However, MLB.com Home Run Derby differs from
these games as it delivers a relatively realistic experience as opposed to an arcade slugfest.
You begin the game with 100 MLBucks to unlock a player of your choosing. Select from a host
of actual MLB Home Run Derby stars from events tracing back to 2010. Choose from players
such as David Ortiz, Jose Bautista and Vernon Wells to name but a few. Each player has different
stats with the statistically advantaged players costing significantly more to unlock.
MLBucks are awarded when you do well within the Derby mode in which you compete with 8
other players controlled by the computer. NPC rounds are simulated quickly with the
total home runs determining whether the player reaches the next round.
Another mode is available called Arcade mode, which is a timed event and you are awarded
an additional 5 seconds if you hit a home run. This movde is much faster paced and pitches
seem slightly harder to hit. This option is best for collecting coins at a faster rate.
Lastly, there is a multiplayer mode to compare hit totals with your friends. This can be
done via MLB's official site or Facebook login if you choose.
The hitting method is similar to popular MLB games out today on console. In the strike
zone, there is a bat indicator, which will dictate where you will swing. As the pitch
is thrown, tapping the screen will initiate a swing. Timing and getting underneath the
ball are important factors in your home run success rate.
Although there are many features within this game, I did feel that the currency and tickets
drastically limited your experience. Signing on new players was expensive and winnings
MLBucks required you to play Derbys and place in the top few positions each round to avoid
elimination. In addition, tickets only allow you to play the official Derby a certain amount
of times and if you've exhausted all of your tickets, you must wait four hours to collect
another. Alternatively, these can be picked up by trading coins.
Given that the cost to change players and purchase most items is significant, limiting
the number of times a user can actually play a round seems a little harsh.
MLB.com Home Run Derby is a free-to-play game and you will appreciate the gameplay and graphics
early on. With dedication, eventually unlocking these players and upgrading items would make
the game more enjoyable.
Thank you for joining me for today's review. Be sure to subscribe to stay up to date on
the latest mobile games. This has been Alex for Game Mob. That's www.gamemob.com.