iPhone It In: Baseball Slugger: Home Run Race 3D

by Justin McElroy { Jul 13th 2009 at 6:15PM }

I'm sure we lost a good percentage of you with the title of the game alone, both for its connection to sports and its inarguable terribleness. Honestly, it's probably best, if only to stave off the complete stoppage of the world economy. It may seem like hyperbole -- OK, it is hyperbole -- but that's just how addictive I found BS:HRR3D (you know, I'm just gonna call it Slugger).

Gallery: Baseball Slugger: Home Run Race 3D (iPhone)

Slugger is, for lack of a more accurate term, a baseball MMO. You'll create your own player, and compete in homerun derbies, earning gold balls for top performances (or nailing an achievement like "Get 500 Home Runs"). With that gold, you'll be able to buy new stat-tweaking gear, which can give you the edge when you battle other players from around the world in matchups. Victory in multiplayer will help you to increase your ranking and ascend the ranks of baseball greatness.

Most importantly, all these bells and whistles are built around a great basic mechanic, which has you tilting the phone slightly to change your bat placement and tapping the screen at the exact right moment to knock it out of the park. You'll also get bonuses for propelling the ball into signs or specific sections of the field.

Every match, win or lose, brings you closer to hot new gear, which makes pressing the "Home" button without "one more game" incredibly difficult. It's so perfect for the platform, because you can have a quick match while you're waiting for the bus, but there's enough depth that you'll constantly be drawn back.

I dragged my heels in picking this game up when it was recommended to me by our own James Ransom-Wiley just because it didn't sound like my thing. I'm assuming some of you will do the same, but trust me, give it a try, even if you can't tell an ERA from an RBI.

Baseball Slugger: Home Run Race 3D (COM2US, $2.99):

Tags: baseball-slugger-home-run-race-3d, com2us, iphone-it-in, slugger, sports

Related From Joystiq

3D Dot Game Heroes being localized by unknown 3D game publishing heroes
11 days ago
Left 4 Dead 2 commercial hits a home run ... for GameStop
11 days ago
Sony discusses PlayStation Home's shift from social network to 'game platform'
24 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Marty @ Jul 13th 2009 6:26PM

You didn't lose me at the title of the game. You lost me at "iPhone."

Mystic @ Jul 13th 2009 6:32PM

Yawn, go home fanboy.

Marty @ Jul 13th 2009 6:40PM

Fanboy? What opposing product am I a fanboy of?

Being a hater doesn't make you a fanboy of anything.

Sly @ Jul 13th 2009 6:47PM

he meant troll.

Marty @ Jul 13th 2009 6:55PM

I am not a troll. Why am I labeled a fanboy and a troll just for making one disparaging comment?

so wrong @ Jul 13th 2009 7:02PM

Because you do something similar for every ipod touch/iphone story. We get it, you don't like it. Seriously, move on already.

Duke @ Jul 27th 2009 10:30AM

Its because you do these comments in every iPhone game posting. You should expect the response you get by this point.

Mimglow @ Jul 13th 2009 6:30PM

You didn't lose me at the title of the game. You lost me at the snarky contempt in which you hold sports game, and assume that contempt is shared.

+++volume+++ @ Jul 13th 2009 6:33PM

SPORTZ SUCK
VIDEO GAMEZ RULE

johnny @ Jul 13th 2009 8:43PM

ahh the overweight american speaking. sports sucks huh? youd rather sit on a couch playing video games instead of getting outside playing and keeping yourself fit, meeting people. i love video games and i like sports. you need to get out sometimes in the real world and play too.

Adam @ Jul 13th 2009 9:51PM

Going out on a limb here, I think our fiend here was joking.

Lonin @ Jul 13th 2009 7:26PM

I guess I'll be the only person here actually responding on topic, but I'm ADDICTED to this game.

What's your name in game Justin? I want to add you as a rival.

ECVOICE @ Jul 14th 2009 12:04AM

I bit -- just in time for the real home run derby, too! Nice little game. Nice graphics, simple concept and well implemented. Not sure it's worth $2.99, but it'll definitely get some play time.

Nathan @ Jul 14th 2009 12:07AM

I've heard about this game before, but you pushed me over the edge.
I'm glad you did. (I even updated to OS 3.0; 1G 32gig iPotch)

As a huge Worms fan, I'll concede this was the better purchase today. It's too much fun.

I love that it re-calibrates your accelerometer every time the pitch counts down. I can go from the toilet, to the couch, to the traction bed and it's always just right. I can even play with one hand!

My in-game name is "deflorist".

Nathan @ Jul 14th 2009 12:32AM

Correction:
It re-calibrates on the 1st pitch. Still a nice touch.

miseducation @ Jul 15th 2009 10:03AM

This game rules so hard. Peggle might be a more intelligently designed game but there's nothing as engrossing on the iPhone whatsoever.

Play 10 matches and you are utterly and completely hooked. I can't wait for the inevitable sequel with more stadiums, more gear and maybe tournament capabilities.