MLB 13: The Show OS Reviewer's Initial Impressions - CPRoark's Blog

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MLB 13: The Show OS Reviewer's Initial Impressions Stuck

Posted on March 4, 2013 at 03:02 PM.

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Operation Sports was granted an early review copy of MLB 13: The Show; while I spent a good deal of time with the title this weekend, all of the online/connected features weren't working as of this morning. This includes new areas like MLB Live and improved modes, like Diamond Dynasty. My review of the game will include these elements and more!

However, I have gotten the chance play a lot of exhibition games, and explored Road to the Show, Post Season, Franchise Modes.

Here are some quick impressions, prior to the review later this week:

Veterans to the series are going to see and hear a lot of familiar elements, including animations and lines of commentary. This isn't bad, necessarily, since a lot has been improved.
The best improvements, in my eyes, have been made to Road to the Show. It's not something I typically spent a great deal of time with in the past, but the modifications to fielding and base running have made it quite addictive.
Visually, everything seems a little brighter: from the lights to the color palette of the menus. For what little has changed in the graphics department, this is easily the best looking Show to date. The new tutorials (at the bottom) and score bug look great.
Postseason mode is interesting and welcome, but nothing in it is entirely unexpected. Actually, I was surprised to see that you can set up the brackets nearly anyway you want. For instance, if you want all five teams from the AL East in, you can do that. Also, when I played a Wildcard game, some of the commentary kept referring to "game 1" or "the first game of the series."
Franchise mode interface is well done, but will take veterans some time to get used to. The new scouting system makes that aspect of the game much more interesting, but I haven't seen the results play out long term yet.
In terms of gameplay, hitting seems a lot more balanced. My outs tend to be well hit outs now, instead of a lot of weak hit dribblers. I've been able to hit home runs with more frequency than previous years, though it's not over done. Hitting a hung curveball or guessing right on a fast ball is very satisfactory, partly because the results "feel" like they fit the swing.
Fielding is relatively the same, with animations kicking in pretty early. The new button throwing system will take most users a while to get used to. I'm still not clear how strength of throw is factored in (the meter is for accuracy), but if you don't hit the green, expect an error. While I'm talking about this--while everything else in The Show looks great, those throwing meters are pretty jarring. They can be turned off--or you can elect a different throwing mechanic.

That's it for now! Stay tuned for more, including the full review, later this week.

Comments

# 1 Dazraz @ Mar 4

I hate to beat down on a game that in my opinion is second only to NBA 2K in the sports game genre. However it does seem that this year The Show has stalled. The franchise has often focused its yearly iterations on refinement rather than groundbreaking innovations yet this year there really is little change.The additional Minor League stadiums are a nice addition & its good to see the Post Season presentation getting some attention. Outside of this there seems little to get over excited about & I see a number of people sticking with last years game with updated rosters.
The key thing with the any new game is not to go backwards yet it does seem that this game has done just that, ironically in terms of one of its more criticised aspects, the commentary. As many have already noted there seems to be a load of dead air this year, whilst the 3 man booth still have no cohesion with each other.
No doubt developers are shifting their attention to the PS4 & that would likely explain the minimal changes this year. For me I'm still getting the new game but I can see many saving their money this year.

# 2 sactown_13 @ Mar 4

the improvements to franchise mode and RTTS are enough for me. im excited to check out the manual catch feature. will make fielding a bit more fun

# 3 StormsWarning @ Mar 4

this game looks to be a lot better than 12, and for me at least this will have to hold me until i can purchase a ps4 and the show, from the videos Ive seen, overall this game looks solid and easy 9.7 -9.9? perfect 10 would be pushing it, without even playing it.

# 4 lynkraid @ Mar 4

This game is honestly to the point where it shouldn't cost $60. What I heard so far sounds about like Madden years ago with a "new roster update for $60". This sounds like a $60 roster update, and it would be sad if all the attention was given to the PS4 as a reason for not much being put into this.

I will still buy this game more then likely just because I love baseball and good baseball video games. Still should be a great game just like MLB12 was.

Ratings, and good scouting should at least make franchise mode more fun at least.

# 5 Bulls321974 @ Mar 5

@ StormsWarning: The game doesn't look a lot better because graphics didn't improve at all. This is pure imagination.

# 6 Blublub @ Mar 5

If it ain't broke...

Should definitely apply to one of the best sports series ever. I'm pretty happy that there were no radical changes to gameplay.

# 7 NeverEnough @ Mar 5

60 bucks is nothing, so for what is improved, worth getting the game

# 8 dbw59 @ Mar 5

I can not even enter my 12 digit code so I can play. Went back to Gamestop and they said Sony was having trouble but should have it fixed tonight or tomorrow? Any one else have this issue?

# 9 Retropyro @ Mar 5

@dbw59, I think this has to do with Sony not having done their update yet. It's suppose to run tonight. Even BF3 was suppose have it's new map pack release today and it's still not available in NA.