MLB 08 The Show
By: KEEZY
The Show is swingin' for the fences! Sony is back with
MLB '08: The Show. The game improves on many of the complaints from its 07 outing, and winds up being a fun way to hit the diamond.
General Gameplay
In
The Show, there is a big emphasis on the batter vs. pitcher aspect of the game. The pitcher has a set of pitches, with his most powerful pitch being assigned to X, and then each "lesser" pitch assigned to the other buttons. The power of the pitch is decided in the tried and true "kickoff power meter that you have undoubtedly used in a football game. This also affects the accuracy of the pitch. If you hit the sweet spot, the pitch will go where it is supposed to. Where it is supposed to go is determined by aiming the thumb stick. If you consistently botch the execution of a pitch, the accuracy of said pitch will falter as well. Keep striking fools out with that fastball? It'll stick with you too. The pitches took some getting used to for me. Sliders and curveballs gave me the most trouble. I should say that they gave the catcher the most trouble, as the pitch would go wild and runners would advance/score/laugh at me.
Pissed!
The batting end of the batter/pitcher showdown is also very impressive. Previous pitches, details of your last swing and other stats are just a button press away. You can also guess the type and location of the next pitch. This is aided by an overlay of the location and type of previous pitches. It took me a bit of time to get used to swinging the bat, but eventually you get into the groove.
This one is gone
Fielding seemed to work well for me, with a few exceptions. The game was generally good about switching to the right fielder when needed, and getting under a pop up ball is clearly marked. I think the best part of fielding is the ability to rob a home run. I was only able to do this once, but it was amazing. An indicator pops up along the wall. If you hit R1 at the right time, you'll snare the HR from the batter. Excellent. When fielding, I hardly ever threw to the wrong base, but felt that the power meter of the throw didn't make much of a difference.
The character models are well endowed... er, well equip... nevermind.
Video: For a PS2 game, the character models and animations were decent. Having played the demo on a PS3, I was very spoiled. There were some texture issues, and the crowds were very generic. I really felt like I was in the middle of a huge stadium, so there is something to be said about that.
Audio: While the crowd may have looked bland, they certainly didn't sound like it. The reactions and cheering surround and immerse you into the game. The wooden crack of the bat is satisfying, even after hundreds of hits. Also, the commentary was generally accurate. The intro analysis of the starting lineup flowed together very well, and you never notice that the analysis you are hearing is really splice phrases being put together on the fly.
Game Rage
I have to admit, I was getting pretty frustrated playing the first few games. With the wild pitches, the constant strike outs, etc. I was losing hope. I eventually hit the groove, and while still challenging, I always felt like I had a chance.
Butt Groove
With the very deep Road to the Show mode, you'll be playing this for a long time. The Progressive Batting Performance is a constant battle to keep your players "hot". With a Franchise and Season mode, as well as a few mini-games, there is plenty of MLB to go around.
Bedtime Rating
Rated E for Everyone, this is a no brainer. Play in front of the kids, or even with them.
Multiplayer
Online. League. Play. 30 teams, no less! This is a great feature, and one that I wish other games would take advantage of. Full brackets and stat tracking should keep you playing through multiple tournaments. The Player Card allows you to compare yourself to other players, and tracks various statistics.
Conclusions
If you have a PS2 and love baseball, this game is for you. It has a deep "single player" mode, as well as an excellent online situation to get your money's worth in no time. If you have both a PS2 and PS3, it might be a good idea to pony up the extra cash and go with the PS3 version. The improved graphics and other features make it worth it. Having said that, this version is a solid game worth picking up.
Category Rankings
General Gameplay
Tech Specs
Game Rage
Bedtime Rating
Butt Groove
Overall Couch Count: 4 out of 5
