Another Season, Another Great Game…
As the new season of Major League Baseball officially kicks off tonight, we’re treated to yet another entry in Sony’s successful MLB The Show series and, while other developers might rest on their laurels with each entry in a series, Sony not only knocks it out of the park again (with all the same great elements that baseball fans have become used to), but they also take it to another level with some great improvements in presentation, gameplay, online interactivity, depth, and overall fun. Kudos to Sony for not just phoning it in with another solid outing, but for also giving the fans something new each and every season.
It all starts with some amazing gameplay visuals, and MLB 09 THE SHOW is no different than the previous year’s entry – the presentation is absolutely stunning and beautiful. Animations are realistic, well-timed, and eye-catching, while highlights pop from the screen just as if you were watching the real thing. Players look authentic and the new stadiums (specifically for the New York Yankees and New York Mets) are gorgeously rendered. Replays are fluid and come naturally within the flow of each game (though, at times, they might seem to come a bit too much). If you get tired of seeing them, a quick flick of the X button and you can skip ahead to the action.
Gameplay is handled incredibly well and actually gains a few improvements with this year’s iteration of the series. AI seems to be improved slightly and the Pitcher/Batter standoff achieves a whole new level of intricateness with several tweaks in the battle. Batters begin to learn the tendencies of pitchers that they see often, and vice versa, while easily-manipulated adjustments make the game all the more realistic. Sure, there are a few anomalies that can sometimes plague your defense (players sometimes double-clutch for no reason, it’s sometimes hard to choose the closest player to the ball, etc), but the increased number of fielding blunders and mix-ups only help to make the game all the more realistic.
Fun factor is great all around for both hardcore baseball fans and newbies. The longtime players have their in-depth statistics and incredibly deep season (and franchise) play, while casual fans can easily pick up the controller and have a great time playing against on of their friends (either in person or online). There is certainly a bit of a learning curve attributed to all aspects of the game, but the curve is actually small enough to make MLB 09 THE SHOW enjoyable for anyone willing to take a few minutes to read the manual (or just feel it out).
Finally, the usual deep gameplay that fans of the MLB THE SHOW series have become accustomed to is back and even better this year with improvements in the intricacy of Franchise Mode, Road to the Show Mode, and online interactivity. While these improvements might be slight, they make for a great deal more fun and replay value.
If you’re a baseball fan (either casual or hardcore), you simply can’t do better than MLB 09 THE SHOW. It’s not only the best possible baseball experience on the PS3, but easily the most full-featured, attractive, and fun game you’ll find on any console.