Apple Arcade - Ballistic Baseball (2019) [/]
Apr 03 2023
Ballistic Baseball is an Apple Arcade baseball game combining action and strategy.
The main action is pitcher vs batter. As the pitcher you choose your pitch and location then when you're ready to go there's a slider that moves horizontally back and forth which you need to stop in the center for the best pitch (and as the pitcher gets tired both the slider moves faster and the sweet spot gets narrower).
As a batter it's a bit simpler: position yourself left and right then either bunt or swing as the ball enters your hit zone. Here the key is being able to tell where the ball ends up because it's fast and tricky and for me I can see why hitting the ball is hard.
Once the ball is hit everything is automatic. Fielders field and runners run the bases.
You can also ignore pitching selection/placement and batter stance. The computer will pick initial pitch and placement (the computer will throw balls and strikes until there is a must throw strike situation) and you can just concentrate on getting the pitch timing correct. Similarly you can bat fairly well just swinging at every pitch; don't worry if the ball is a strike or not and just concentrate on timing of your swing.
The cool thing is an experience system where you can upgrade your players. You have nine batters (one for each fielding position except pitcher and a designated hitter) and four pitchers. Batters have four attributes (power, contact, speed, fielding) and pitchers have four attributes (control, stamina, velocity, fielding) and they range from 0 to 5 stars and improvements are 1/2 star per point. You can set player positions (speed in the outfield, fielding in the infield), batting order and your starting pitcher.
In career mode your team starts out semi-pro and as you gain experience and wins you move up to better leagues. Each game is one inning and can end in ties. A win gives you 5 training points, 3 for a tie and 2 for a loss. There is no league standings -- you're just playing games and move up leagues automatically.
Arcade mode you choose your team, park and playing conditions and it's just one 3-inning game. Ballistic Bash is home run derby type play where you get points for home runs and if your home run hits virtual targets in the stands. Career and Arcade you can play online, Arcade adds vs a friend online, Ballistic Bash you and friends can take turns.
In the end the game is kind of fun but not especially. I want actually league play with standings and playoffs. The training stuff gives you a bit of team development but you can't replace players and don't manage contracts. That said a game like Out of the Park Baseball is way too complicated so don't want to take it that far. But Ballistic Baseball leaves me wanting for a little bit better game.
The main action is pitcher vs batter. As the pitcher you choose your pitch and location then when you're ready to go there's a slider that moves horizontally back and forth which you need to stop in the center for the best pitch (and as the pitcher gets tired both the slider moves faster and the sweet spot gets narrower).
As a batter it's a bit simpler: position yourself left and right then either bunt or swing as the ball enters your hit zone. Here the key is being able to tell where the ball ends up because it's fast and tricky and for me I can see why hitting the ball is hard.
Once the ball is hit everything is automatic. Fielders field and runners run the bases.
You can also ignore pitching selection/placement and batter stance. The computer will pick initial pitch and placement (the computer will throw balls and strikes until there is a must throw strike situation) and you can just concentrate on getting the pitch timing correct. Similarly you can bat fairly well just swinging at every pitch; don't worry if the ball is a strike or not and just concentrate on timing of your swing.
The cool thing is an experience system where you can upgrade your players. You have nine batters (one for each fielding position except pitcher and a designated hitter) and four pitchers. Batters have four attributes (power, contact, speed, fielding) and pitchers have four attributes (control, stamina, velocity, fielding) and they range from 0 to 5 stars and improvements are 1/2 star per point. You can set player positions (speed in the outfield, fielding in the infield), batting order and your starting pitcher.
In career mode your team starts out semi-pro and as you gain experience and wins you move up to better leagues. Each game is one inning and can end in ties. A win gives you 5 training points, 3 for a tie and 2 for a loss. There is no league standings -- you're just playing games and move up leagues automatically.
Arcade mode you choose your team, park and playing conditions and it's just one 3-inning game. Ballistic Bash is home run derby type play where you get points for home runs and if your home run hits virtual targets in the stands. Career and Arcade you can play online, Arcade adds vs a friend online, Ballistic Bash you and friends can take turns.
In the end the game is kind of fun but not especially. I want actually league play with standings and playoffs. The training stuff gives you a bit of team development but you can't replace players and don't manage contracts. That said a game like Out of the Park Baseball is way too complicated so don't want to take it that far. But Ballistic Baseball leaves me wanting for a little bit better game.