@BigAntStudios @Ross
Well it's been a few weeks but I finally got the chance to try out Just Bat VR using the HTC Vive. Here's my take on it.
First of all, let me address what I looked for and how the game compared.
1) Controller Implementation / Intuitiveness
2) Software Responsiveness
3) Ball physics
4) Graphics Quality
5) Execution
As I put on the headset and start up the game I wasn't sure what I should be expecting. After the LifeVR splash-screen I am greeted with two cricket bats that are upright. The one to the left is a free form batting experience which takes the namesake of the game, "Just Bat". The one to the right is the "5 over challenge". I reached over and grabbed the "5 over challenge" bat, admittedly in my haste to want to play the game without even a second thought, and I proceeded to select right handed as my batting option. This is where it gets interesting, I see the bowler and the field through a helmet, which can be easily toggled on or off using the button on side of the controller.
The controller, well, without any hesitation I started holding it as I would a cricket bat. The HTC Vive controller lends itself well in having just enough room for average hands to hold it as though it's a cricket bat's handle. The Vive is unique in that it start small and gradually get bigger towards the sensor end (innuendo not intended). It almost feels natural that that's where the meat of bat should start. The controller isn't perfect of course, I do wish it could have been a bit longer, however it serves its purpose (innuendo not intended). You can rotate your wrists and in the virtual world you rotate the bat accordingly and it feel natural, like a ghost limb you know in your mind the bat is there. This holds true even more when you take your guard and look towards the bowler.
Like a game of shadow cricket where you imagine a ball and you play a stroke, this game takes the imagination out and replaces it virtually with variation of speed, length, line, spin and pace. As I take my guard and ready myself for the first ball, it feels surreal as you look down at the ground and start tapping the bat you realize this is exactly what you have been waiting for.
The bowler takes two strides and bowls at me, the animation is very rudimentary, typical and is the same regardless of the bowler type. Swing and a miss first ball, timing is off and it's been an entire year since I faced a real pacer. The ball, which I find out to be 65kph when glanced at the scoreboard, felt like a ripper as a result. I shake it off and get ready for the next. The line and length changed, short, outside off stump, I go on the back foot and crack a square cut, which goes for 4. That... felt... great! The next few deliveries didn't yield quite the same result but managed to get a few bat on ball. Responsiveness of the movement is accurate, but sometimes I feel the bat-ball collision physics isn't always to par. Another explanation is I simply suck at it.
Ahhh Balls, or ball physics for that matter, not quite there. I went for a front foot defense of a near full pitched delivery with the bat purposefully angled down. The ball came off the middle of the bat, back off the ground and high in the air over the bowlers head, which was covered by the Mid Off Blue Blob. I don't care how fast the bowl was, but it should not have gone that high in the air after a defensive stroke as the one I had played. In contrast, I went for a similar stroke many deliveries later and the result was what I had expected in the first place. That ball suffers a dead stop and trickles away from me gently. Sometimes, the batting felt effortless, a wrist swing of the bat and hitting a ball off the hips that goes for a six. This could be attributed to a perfectly timed fast delivery which made contact with the middle of the bat and shot off in to the stands, but that could be a stretch because I'm not that good.
Speaking of things that aren't that good, how about them graphics?! Well, I'm going to keep this short, it is lack luster and subpar by a long shot, maybe I'm giving it too much credit. It's no Don Bradman's nor is it even any of EA's attempts at a cricket game visually. To be fair this game isn't about graphics so I truly shouldn't be too critical.
Overall the execution seems very rushed but that's in part due to the nature of the beast. This game is nothing more than one individual's attempt at a proof of concept, which on its own was executed well. My gracious friend that allowed me to play the game on his Vive, has never played cricket before. He decided to give it a whirl as well. I have to say he was doing way better than I was at first and thoroughly enjoyed it. Finally, the price, which is simply ridiculous for what you get. If you feel you have been over charged then you might be in a majority and consider this confirmation.
In conclusion, if you are like me and have been longing for a cricket game with an intuitive pick up a bat and play virtually style cricket game, then this satisfies that craving. In other words, like any good appetizer this leaves the taste of what's to come and you remain hungry for more. Hats off to the developer for trying something new and now the proverbial ball is in the hands of the big boys to deliver.
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If you got to this point then kudos to you and thank you for taking the time to read it.
Anyways, Cheers all!
SLHomie