Sony’s San Diego Studios can do no wrong with The Show. This is the premiere sports franchise on the PS3, and the rare case where limited competition hasn’t hindered the game at all. While lacking substantial upgrades, MLB 09 offers incredible depth and value for a die-hard baseball fan.
Immediately apparent upon booting the game is the lighting engine. In fact, it’s the most apparent new feature in ’09. The visual boost is remarkable, adding a sense of depth to the graphics absent in prior games in the series. The Show has come a long way on the PS3 since the rather poor and rushed ’07 entry.
Wisely, the developers have resisted the temptation of including slapped together new control schemes, settling on a simple button based system. It’s remarkable how in-depth their system is despite using only a few buttons. Where the competition from 2K falls flat with convoluted analog controls, The Show delivers a consistently engrossing pitcher/batter duel that remains the best the sports gaming market has ever seen.
Some minor fielding quibbles remain, such as the game selecting the wrong outfielder when the ball heads to left or right centerfield. Base running offers a new option to control runners, although the original system remains in place. As always, the amount of customization to cater the game to all skill levels is staggering. The options menu is literally pages long, and everything is adjustable.
An incredible array of new animations further bring the game to life, and as usual, it’s the little touches that add value to this product. Stances are accurate almost across the board. Mascots are included in every stadium. Fans don’t show up for a losing team. Players now react realistically depending on where the ball comes at them. Between play cinematics have been increased, and fans still dive for foul balls and home runs. Gimmicky touches like the ability to create crowd taunts are a novel concept, but probably won't find much use.
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