3 Point Hoops was fun but felt a little empty. Field Goal Frenzy left me wanting to kick myself more than a football. So, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Batter Up Baseball. As it turns out, this is actually the best of the bunch so far where sports mini-games from Skyworks are concerned. There isn’t really any more to it content wise than 3 Point Hoops. Where the basketball game was simply standing around shooting hoops, this game is simply standing around hitting home runs. I think what makes this a more interesting affair, however, is the potential for “infinite” playability. Plus, it was fun trying to hit the various targets!

There are two modes to Batter Up Baseball: Home Run Rally and Arcade mode. In Home Run Rally you start out with three swings, and each hit that’s not a home run costs you a swing. If you can hit one of the targets scattered around the billboards in the outfield you can earn an extra swing (up to a maximum of 3). In Arcade mode, on the other hand, you start out with 20 swings. This time, each swing deducts from your total. However, if you hit three home runs in a row you’re “on fire”, and every home run after that until you miss is considered a “free” swing, and doesn’t deduct from your total. If you hit three targets in a row you earn an extra swing, and there’s no limit to extras in this mode. This is what I meant by “infinite” playability, because as long as you keep hitting home runs while on fire you could potentially play forever. That would probably get a bit boring, but at least it gives you more control over when your game ends.

Here Comes The Pitch

The control scheme is pretty simple. You swipe downwards to get your batter in position, then swipe up and towards the direction you want to hit when the ball comes at you. It does take a bit of getting used to, and chances are good you’ll never hit the ball quite the same twice, even if you think you have, but that’s the fun of the game. My favorite part of the game, however, was in the last round I played before writing this review, where I got to go all “Bull Durham” and take out some of the stadium lights. I wasn’t really sure they’d let me do that, but I’m glad they added that little detail.

The graphics are probably the best of the bunch. It’s not so much in the overall, because the images in 3 Point Hoops are probably a bit more polished. Where Batter Up Baseball scores is in the details. The signs look like authentic vintage advertisements. When you hit a target there’s always some sort of reaction, usually accompanied by a small shower of fireworks. Hitting a light is actually location sensitive, so the part of the lights you hit actually go out instead of the whole thing. And you’ll definitely want to try and hit the clock at least once. My favorite effect of all, however, is the flaming bat when you’re “on fire” (they really weren’t kidding about that). I just wish that every home run you hit with the flaming bat would have left a trail of flames instead of the standard white trail.

Yet Another Home Run

The sound effects worked really well. From the crack of the bat against the ball to the clunk when the ball fell short and hit the wall, everything sounded right. There were only two things that I was a bit disappointed with. The first was the lack of some shattering sound when the ball hit the lights. Might not have been overly realistic, but it would have been cool. Second, when the audience was cheering and a ball went foul, the audience fell silent immediately. It just seemed a bit odd. As for music… well, there was none, aside from the quick riff played over a home run. This was somewhat surprising, since the other games had pretty decent music.

For being nothing more than a home run simulator, Batter Up Baseball was surprisingly fun. The inclusion of targets and the potential for playing “forever” in Arcade mode just add replayability to the game. Aesthetically the game was all there except for the music. As a result, Batter Up Baseball scores a home run in my book.

Final Verdict: Recommended
App Store Link
App Store Link – Lite Version

[Note: image courtesy of App Shopper]