MLB 09 The Show
Score: 80% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment America Developer: SCEA San Diego Studio Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 2; 2 (Online) Genre: Sports (Baseball)
Graphics & Sound: Every year, Sony gives baseball fans something to look forward to with its MLB: The Show series. While the PS3 version understandably gets most of the attention, the PS2 version has managed to quietly chug along and give PS2 baseball fans something to enjoy. Although MLB 09: The Show delivers a good game of ball, it is clear that the PS2's limits are beginning to show. MLB 09 does a lot with a little. Players and stadiums look as close to their real-life counterparts as the system's power allows. It's no hi-def PS3 version, but looks more than adequate. As always, clipping and the lack of decent collision detection are two graphical traits that end up hurting the game. I understand this is due in large part to the system's power, but by now, some solution should have emerged. Too many players run through each other, even in the outfield. There are even times when the ball will bounce through player's gloves, sometimes allowing for easy bases. Whereas the visuals lack certain smaller features, it absolutely nails the audio stuff. Fans heckle and cheer along with other recognizable ballpark sounds. Special attention is also given to the on-field sounds like slides, the crack of the bat and player chatter.
Gameplay: Most of the gameplay modes are unchanged, though MLB 09: The Show does see a few changes. A lot has been added to the management side, including management of a 40-man roster and salary arbitrations. This adds a lot of depth for those who want it, but will more than likely be something that players assign to the A.I. to do for you. However, for those who want to try their hand at management but don't know all the ins-and-outs of baseball, a handbook is provided that spells out everything for you. The only issue, which is something that both the PS2 and PS3 games share, involves trades and contracts. You can still build superstar teams easily and cheaply. Road to the Show is still MLB 09's signature feature. Here you take a created player and work your way through the minors and hopefully into a major league contract. Once you create a character, you can try out for a major league team and depending on your performance (and team needs), they'll pick you up or send you to a farm club for a bit of extra polishing. The big difference between Road to the Show and any other mode is that you only play as your created player. This leads to a few long-standing issues, namely camera angles. Though improved over last year, they are still problematic and hard to see, especially if you're a fielder. It is easy to lose sight of a ball and blow plays. Play modes are rounded out by Exhibition, Online play and a collection of mini-games, like Home Run Derby. Online play isn't the best and tends to run into a lot of lag, resulting in unplayable games.
Difficulty: MLB: The Show has typically been one of the easier sports games to just pick up and play. The controls are kept simple and while the A.I. makes some dumb moves, it never feels like you're being cheated out of something. One of the more noticeable aspects of MLB 09: The Show is that the A.I. has been slightly improved over last year. It still makes mistakes, but it doesn't make them nearly as much as in past years, which is really impressive considering the strides made in last year's game. For players who are a little beyond the normal modes, Legends Mode brings players even closer to their real-life counterparts. Great players are really good and will give you a massive challenge.
Game Mechanics: The constant struggle between pitcher and batter is one of the core elements of any baseball game, real or digital. MLB 08 managed to nail this duel, leaving very little for MLB 09: The Show to improve. For pitchers, the Pitch Command System allows them to look at an opposing batter and determine what pitches work best against them based on tendencies. As a counter-measure, Progressive Batter Performance allows them to use a pitcher's tendencies to determine where the ball will most likely go. Both are great systems, though it is apparent that the PS2's age may be starting to show when it comes to using each. While at bat, swings feel a little slower, so you need to add some delay in order to accurately hit the ball. Though not a major adjustment, it makes enough of an impact that it can throw off your game. Fielding always seems to be an issue in baseball games, and receives the most attention in MLB 09. Between pitches, you can access a menu that allows you to quickly shuffle your fielders around or adjust their reactions to certain situations. This helps a lot and gives you the flexibility to react to just about any batter, pitch or game situation. Player stats also seem to play a greater role. Players with low-reaction times will bobble and even misread balls more often, which results in slightly more realistic fielding than the magnetized gloves and metal balls of years past. This also plays into their reaction time when balls come their way. The unfortunate downside to this is the increased number of errors, which is a bit troublesome. Even the better teams seem to create more errors than they logically should. Again, it doesn't kill the game, but it makes enough of an impact that it will throw your game off. If you're still not able to upgrade to a PS3, but still want to go to "The Show," MLB 09: The Show offers a problematic, but enjoyable experience.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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