Home Run Challenge 2005 Hands-On

Home run derby games reduce baseball to the core confrontation between batter and pitcher. Their quick and dirty gameplay style works well on mobile's limited controls. Big League Home Run Challenge 2005 boasts some cool features you wouldn't expect (like an extensive create-a-player mode).

In Home Run Challenge, you can set up matches between your favorite MLB players, pitting Roger Clemens against Johnny Damon or A-Rod against Curt Schilling. You can either play against the computer or challenge a human opponent. The actual gameplay is simply timing-based. You press a single button as the ball sails across the plate, and, if you connect at the right moment, you'll hit a home run. That's it. Pitchers are CPU-controlled, but their abilities correspond to real-world stats.

The home run derby takes place in a nondescript park, featuring an electronic billboard opposite home plate. Exciting messages appear on that board whenever you hit the ball. The players don't much resemble their real-world counterparts. However, you're given quite a few customization options in the create-a-player mode and can make your uniform a technicolor masterpiece. Home Run Challenge 2005's sound seems to be composed of typical park noise and ball-bat collisions.

Home Run Challenge 2005 is poised to be one of the better entries into its admittedly lackluster genre. If you're looking for a baseball game reduced to its central components, you may be interested in this title. Check back for more coverage.