  'MLB '06: The Show' raises the bar. |
You know a game sounds good when someone thinks you are watching an actual major league broadcast rather than playing one on your PSP. 'MLB '06: The Show' not only sounds phenomenal, it looks phenomenal too.
With announcers Rex Hudler, Matt Vasgersian and Dave Campbell providing the impressive commentary, the game is firmly grounded in reality. They don't just utter the same repetitive phases over and over like androids either. The intuitive commentary is so startlingly realistic that they not only discuss the fundamental aspects like strikeouts and hits but they actually chat about the course and tone of the game as well as ongoing events like a player's hitting streak. The voice work and how it is integrated into the experience will astonish you.
Whether you are playing it on the PSP or PS2, 'The Show' not only sounds like a real ballgame, it looks like one too. It has all of the whiz bang graphics, cut scenes and replays you'd come to expect. It is the way they are presented though that catches the eye. They are compiled and edited into a faux television broadcast format that again, makes you feel as if you are actively playing a ballgame that's being slickly produced and beamed to fans.
Old school gamers like myself will appreciate that 'The Show' is based on the one true baseball game format that has been improved upon but never surpassed after all of these years. It is simple and it is the best. The four directional keys represent the different bases when it comes to running and throwing. Batting is all timed and you can use the joystick or directional keys to hit the ball left, right, ground it or fly it out into the field. When it comes to pitching, players have the option of using the "metered" system - which requires perfect timing as a power indicator winds its away around - or the "classic" button mashing mode in which you just pick the location and type of pitch and then bash the "X" button to increase the speed.
All of the current players and teams are included and best of all, players can determine how deep they wish to get into the game. If you like, you will be forced to make tough roster decisions, monitor your team's moral and maintain rivalries between players. If that isn't your deal, you can just cruise along playing game after game on the schedule. Don't feel like going through spring training? You can bypass that as well and get right to regular season action.
In the online portion, you can engage in ranked or unranked games where you can face-off against a challenger that matches your experience level, trash talk opponents in the chat room, participate in a tournament, download live rosters updates and get the latest news from around the league.
One aspect of the PSP version that will excite fans is that there is a list of historical greats that can be incorporated into the game. Both platforms though have the Home Run Derby and King of the Diamond (rack up as many runs as you can) mini-games.
More than any other release in the past, 'The Show' captures all of the intricacies and the essence of the great game itself. That is not an easy task considering all of the elements involved. You will be hard-pressed to find another baseball game that is as authentic and realistic as 'MLB 06: The Show'. The bar has indeed been raised and 'The Show' will be a hard act to follow.
WHAM! Rating: |
9 out of 10 |
ESRB Rating: |
E (Everyone) |
Official Web Site: |
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