While it may be true baseball is one of the easier games to replicate on a digital screen -- it is also true no other sports game captures its sport quite like MLB 13: The Show.

Delivering a refined and polished baseball experience, Sony has set the bar incredibly high as we head towards next-gen baseball. It's going to be somewhat ridiculous to see how detailed the next-generation of The Show titles are going to be -- because the current generation titles are already at the top of the heap.

One glance at the 'little things' thread for each Show title tells you all you need to know: MLB The Show, as a series, is a labor of love and a finely crafed product designed to deliver the ultimate baseball experience.

Why it Rocks

While previous iterations of the game delivered revolutionary features such as analog pitching and batting alongside realistic ball physics -- MLB 13: The Show was all about tuning what was already there to be great.

There are still some quirks within the game, but you will be hard pressed to find a more well rounded hardball title anywhere.

The bigger timing window made hitting somewhat easier for newcomers to the franchise, and the sliders all but guarantee a good gameplay experience if you simply spend some time hunting down the best set for you.

While the Franchise mode isn't quite Out of the Park Baseball deep, it is among the deepest of any AAA sports simulation. You'll have a hard time not getting lost in the expansive menu system, but you get minor league management and extensive franchise tweaking options to give you a lot of control on how your ballclub evolves.

What Isn't So Hot

Perhaps the biggest knock against MLB 13: The Show is that it doesn't deliver a big value considering it's simply a more refined version of MLB 12: The Show. If both were sitting side by side, it'd be hard to tell much of a difference between them -- and if you attached the price tag on each it'd be hard not to get the older version of the game at a good discount.

That is probably the biggest problem with MLB '13 The Show, it was simply an evolutionary title which improved upon its predecessor in most every way -- but the value proposition it delivers isn't that high if you can get the older version for half the price or lower.

Should You Still Give It a Go?

The Show is still a pretty high priced item on store shelves, and with the next-generation of the game (plus a new edition coming soon), it's hard to outright recommend this title just yet. If you are a fan of baseball, own a PS3, and haven't played The Show -- I'm not sure how many people that might describe, but you should get MLB 13: The Show to enjoy the long winter months of free agency and more.

If you are upgrading to next gen, there is no reason to play this game right now. But hold your breath, because The Show is coming on next-gen consoles and it's certainly going to be amazing.