MLB 09: The Show

Developer: SCEA
Publisher: SCEA
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Systems: PS3 (reviewed), PS2, PSP
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web site

In a nutshell: A realistic bit of spring on a cold winter's day

0:00 Apparently I didn't like MLB 07 but did like MLB 08 when I played them for an hour. This could be because of the many (read: few) differences between the versions, but more likely relates to my mood at the time of playing.

0:01 The intro video has a "then & now" theme. "He anchors the front of the rotation. He's an All-Star. A Hall-of-Famer. He's the guy you count on to start the season, to stop a losing streak, to start a post-season series. They deliver the strikeouts, they deliver the wins, and most of all, they deliver the glory." He's ... the pitcher, I guess? "THE TRADITION CONTINUES!" the screen blares. Title screen! OK then!

0:02 "The game requires data to be cached to the HDD. This process will take 6-7 minutes." Of course it does...

0:04 Just as a warning: It's roughly 5 degrees Kelvin outside in Pittsburgh today, so I'm not really in the mood for baseball...

0:06 During the HDD preloading process I get to stare at an HD image of some screaming Red Sox player. If I were a better baseball fan I'd probably know who he is...

Read the full review at Crispy Gamer

MLB Power Pros 2008

Developer: 2K Sports
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: July 29, 2008
Systems: Wii (reviewed), PS2, DS
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web site

In a nutshell: Super cute happy fun baseball game time!
0:00 I haven't really read anything concrete, but I'm already a fan of the super-deformed characters and the simplistic, arcade-style baseball they seem to imply. I'm encouraged by the 2K and Konami names on the box, too.

0:01 After a few seconds of loading and logos, a ball sits on an oddly detailed field. Guitar-heavy rock comes in as heat haze obscures views of a lone pitcher and batter, both with small bodies and huge heads. Similarly deformed versions of a bunch of real-life players flash by alongside action photos of their real-life counterparts. "MLB Power Pros" yells the announcer, repeating the name again when I push the + button to start. We get it, it's the name of the game!

0:03 Bad sign: The game supports four different controllers! Usually I prefer they focus on one good control scheme. I go with just the Wii remote for now because I'm too lazy to go get the Nunchuk.

0:04 Good lord! The menu screen is crowded with 12 different gameplay options, including "baseball cards," "shop," and "MLB Life." Only one of these modes ("Wii Remote") seems to support my current Nunchuk-free control scheme. I try the "Home Run" derby as a simple intro.

Read the full review at Crispy Gamer

MLB 08: The Show

Developer: SCEA
Publisher: SCEA
Release Date: March 4, 2008
Systems: PS3 (reviewed), PS2, PSP
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web site

In a nutshell: MLB 07: The Show + 1

0:00 I played MLB 07 a bit after I reviewed it for lunch about a year ago, but the last time I really got into a baseball game was back in the NES days.

0:01 I'm downloading a 36 MB update. I'm reeeeeally getting tired of this, Sony.

0:05 The update is installing. The download wasn't quite as bad this time.

0:06 "2007: Year of the Milestone" flashes across the screen. "In 1989 Sammy Sosa made his major league debut..." He was chasing the "600 club" re: home runs, and he got it in a fetching Rangers uniform. Some nice full-screen game footage here, then an abrupt transition to a legalese loading screen and the title. Gives the game a good sense of history.

0:08 After some longish initial loading, the game asks me to create a profile. An old-timey baseball radio announcer comes on in the background -- nice touch -- then transitions into the song "Low Rider." Not as nice.

Read the full review at Crispy Gamer

MLB 07: The Show

Developer: SCEA
Publisher: SCEA
Release Date: May 15, 2007 (PS3)
Systems: PS3 (reviewed), PS2, PSP
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web Site

In a nutshell: The MLB stands for Major League Baseball.

0:01 The frenetic video intro. makes baseball look like a non-stop thrill-fest. In other words, the intro. lies. "Welcome to MLB 07: The Show" Thanks, disembodied voice!
0:02 A loading screen appears as data is loaded to the hard drive. Ah for the days when you could put in a game and, y'know, just play.
0:04 Now we're ready to play. Oh, not quite, I have to create a player profile. It's a little unsettling that it assumes the Orioles are my home team. I mean, it's convenient, but still unsettling.
0:05 Playing around in the options. It's nice that they include a big list of new features right there in the game. Like a built-in press release.
0:06 The options include a ridiculous number of sliders to affect everything from pitch speed to throwing accuracy. A simulators dream.
0:07 Diving into a quick game. There are an amazing number of minor league teams to choose from. I choose the Yankees, because even though I'm an Orioles fan, I like winning.
0:09 Most of this minute spent watching a loading screen.
0:10 Matt Vasgergian's intro. speech is surprisingly natural. He mentions the new Yankee stadium being built and some random trivia about the players. Just like on TV.
0:11 On close ups, the players look a bit like mannequins with ery waxy skin. From afar the movements are pretty natural.
0:12 My first pitch hits the batter. Whoops. I have no idea what I'm doing here.
0:13 The second batter gets walked. I can't get the pitches to go where I want.
0:14 I finally get a pitch solidly in the strike zone and it's called a ball. I know umpires are blind but usually the computer is not.
0:16 Just like that I'm down 3-0. Wow I suck.
0:19 A ball goes up the middle, right past the shortstop. Why won't he dive for it? Oh, a hint comes up. I have to shake the controller to make him dive? Whatever. I finally get out of the inning with a grounder to third.
0:20 I guess orrectly on the pitch and location, but I still hit a fly out. Oh well... I liek the system anyway.
0:23 BAM! A quick single then A-Rod guesses the pitch right and hits it out of the park. 3-2
0:25 Another strike that gets called a ball causes a walk. Damnit.
0:26 An outfielder misses a ball that drops right next to him. What the hell?
0:27 And I give up a three run homer. Double damnit.
0:28 Another homer. Sigh. "Sometimes when things are going bad, everything kind of snowballs on you. A domino effect." You're telling me.
0:29 I'm really not impressed with the fielding controls. Fielders just watch balls go by. The umpire's continuing blindness also continues to frustrate.
0:30 Another one that falls just past the left fielder. Am I missing something here?
0:31 Finally a fielder does something right and catches a quick drive to second.
0:33 In between batters about pitch coach and nice vignette in dugout. Interesting.
0:34 My runner at first decides to try to steal second without nay input from me, as far as I can tell. Wha?
0:38 "Oh man he just can't catch a break here." the commentator says after the umpteenth bad call on a strike.
0:40 I finally figure out what I'[m doing wrong with the pitching. Apparently I was letting go of the button at the wrong time. Armed with this knowledge, I get out of an inning without giving up a run for the first time.
0:42 I like how the actions freezes and the camera pans when I get caught on a close play at first.
0:43 On another close play the runner waves his hands for a safe call and then looks exasperated when the call doesn't go his way. The little things matter!
0:44 I'm finally getting the hang of this pitching thing. 1-2-3 inning.
0:47 I haven't gotten the hang of hitting, though. Another 1-2-3.
0:48 Finally get a good strike call on the corner. "You gotta hack or they'll send you back."
0:50 Another 1-2-3 inning. Excitement, thy name is baseball.
0:52 I can't figure out the running controls. I want the guy to round third and go home, instead I get the guy at first caught in a rundown. Sigh.
0:56 Another perfectly fieldable ball gets by my infielder. I give up.

Would I play this game for more than an hour? No
Why? Complicated controls, bad responsiveness and I suck.

This review based on a retail copy provided by Sony