Home Run Derby VR – Early Impressions

So I had the privilege to try Major League Baseball’s first and only VR game in early access. So I wanted to give you some quick impressions of my experience. Big shout out to the developers (MLB) for the opportunity to play Home Run Derby VR in early access.

Note – The Meta Quest 2 version of the game was tested for the purpose of this preview.

Features So Far

Before getting into the impressions, check out some of the notable features so far for the game:

• Step Into The Big Leagues with a Brand-New Progression System and Unparalleled Rewards!
• A brand new Progression System lets players conquer 100 levels of skill mastery as you work your way from Single-A to the Majors! With new Achievements and Quest systems, every new achievement unlocks a cascade of customization rewards, such as cosmetic upgrades for your Clubhouse and avatars, bat skins, batting gloves, ball trails, and more!
• Forge Your Legacy and Showcase Your Personality through a Fully Customizable Online Clubhouse and Trophy Room
• Transform your Clubhouse into a personalized haven of baseball greatness, proudly showcasing your favorite team’s colors and displaying your hard-earned accolades. Show off your customized clubhouse to friends and rally your crew for head-to-head derby showdowns.
• Dominate with Expanded 4-player Online Play and Become the Best Batter in 8-player Tournaments
• Tournaments allow up to 8 friends to challenge one another for Home Run Derby supremacy! Unleash your skills and swing for the fences to conquer the competition and secure the coveted title of Home Run Derby Champion.

I will say I was surprised by how much is in Home Run Derby VR. My expectations were just a basic home run derby game, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much the team put into the game.

Impressive Visuals

The visuals I experienced while playing were impressive. Nothing like cranking out home runs in Yankee Stadium. Standing up at the home plate waiting for the pitch kind of brought me back to my old baseball days, which I played for nine years. The clubhouse, the dirt, to the field were really detailed. You can tell how much attention the developers put into details. The only issue I had was the crowd didn’t have a whole bunch of detail, but nothing too bad.

Smooth Gameplay

Home Run Derby VR’s gameplay was smooth. From the time the pitcher throws the ball until you hit it with the bat, it’s almost perfect. Now I do want to reiterate this isn’t a full baseball game like MLB The Show. This is exactly what it says it is which is a Home Run Derby game. It isn’t too difficult to get started playing either. This is a very good thing as some people just want to get in and get to the action. If you find it too easy you can increase the difficulty. I didn’t experience online play as access wasn’t provided during the preview period. So I focused on the single-player aspect.

There weren’t any timing issues between the Meta Quest 2 controllers and the game.  If I missed a pitch I knew it was my fault and not the games. My only minor issue here is it isn’t required to use both hands like you normally would in real life. I only had to use one arm to swing the bat so it slightly breaks immersion. Also, a big thing I feel like people with motion sickness would be fine playing. I also recommend using the wrist strap on the controller while playing! If you get too reckless while swinging to hit the ball the controllers can fly out of your hand and potentially damage something around your area of play. So, best to wear the wrist strap for safety purposes.

Multiple Customization Options

When you aren’t cranking out home runs, you will be relaxing in the clubhouse. This is where you have access to multiple customization options. You can customize your bat from multiple options such as bat grips and others. I could customize the ball, my favorite teams, my character, and more. A big thing for me when it comes to games is customizing my character or whatever I’m playing to represent me or what I want. Home Run Derby VR does that well here. You also have to ability to essentially pin whatever goals you are working toward. They also allow you to select where you play and more.

Platforms and Release

You will have to opportunity to try Home Run Derby VR out for yourself on Steam VR, Rift, and the Quest devices. The game will be released on the Meta Quest Store on March 28, 2024.

Final Thoughts

I do want to say these are just my early thoughts for Home Run Derby VR. I will be playing more over time and I’m sure I’ll be talking about it again. It was exciting to try out the first and only VR baseball game (as of this moment), brought to you by MLB. Honestly, I didn’t expect a whole lot when I first loaded up the game. So with everything I experienced, I’d say it’s worth a try. Baseball fans out there who enjoy VR should definitely try it. I believe it is worth the experience at least and decide for yourself.