Sony has gone and done it this time. They have made a near perfect game even better. 'MLB: The Show' is as fine a baseball game franchise as has ever been made mainly because it relies on an old school control system that ain't broke so there has never been a need to fix it.
For this year's edition, SCEA has tinkered here and there improving the gameplay and adding new elements. Newbies who have been asleep in the dugout all these years will be happy. MLB veterans will see no reason to plunk down cash for a game they pretty much already have.
The biggest change in 'MLB '07' on the PS2 is the ability to block all of the time-consuming aspects of the game. Monotonous stuff like watching foul balls leisurely drop into stands full of 2-D, stencilled humans or the time wasted as each batter saunters up to the plate like a WWE wrestler with their theme music playing in the background. This material may be atmospheric but with all of that extraneous crap turned off, the game sure does play much, much better. The change should even win over those who find baseball about as exciting as watching artificial turf grow.
The catcher can play more of a role than ever before in MLB, if you elect to give him that responsibility. Based on your strengths and weaknesses as a pitcher and those of the batters you are facing, the catcher will suggest pitches and locations. You can follow his advice or you can just chuck the ball where you want to. In my experience, the catcher does make some good calls but you shouldn't take his word as gospel.
Catchers aren't the only participants worthy of a promotion in 2007. You can let the umpires in on the action too. If you activate the control, each ump will have their own definition of the strike zone. The added challenge for you will be to decipher their tendencies when you pitch or bat. That can be as frustrating as trying to convince the stadium's pimply-faced beer stand proprietor that THIS isn't your fifth time in line, however, for those who thrive on realism in sports games, this is an upgrade that does augment MLB's authenticity.
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Whoever said there is no "I" in "Team" obviously hasn't played 'MLB '07'. Outside of the gameplay adjustments, 'The Road to the Show' option is the standout 2007 add-on. In this mode, you create a player and play through their career. No longer will the game be about the team though. From the camera angles to the situational goals that arise, it is all about you, my friend. After you create your player, you only participate when a situation requires you too. If you aren't at bat, pitching or chasing down a fly ball in the field, the game goes on fast-forward until you are. Compared to all the other enhancements, 'The Road to the Show' is the only 'MLB '07' element that might make followers of the franchise consider upgrading their game.
SCEA really went to great lengths to work on the smallest gameplay 'MLB' details. One wonders why they then overlooked the bigger picture? The graphics haven't been touched up at all. The cardboard crowd still sways in dreadful unison. The camera and frame rate still hiccups hither and thither. The Home Run Derby and King of the Diamond mini-games are still yawners. It appears that the 'MLB' love only goes so far.
If you already own a recent PS2 or PSP 'MLB' release, there is no reason to purchase the 2007 edition regardless of the inventive touch-ups. 'MLB '07' still reigns as the premiere baseball title it is just that there aren't enough perks this time around to warrant trading up.
WHAM! Rating: |
8.5 out of 10 |
ESRB Rating: |
E (Everyone) |
Official Web Site: |
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