Road to the Show mode in MLB 09: The Show is the best career mode I have ever played. Road to the Show was introduced in the 2007 iteration of The Show and has been a cornerstone of the series ever since. However, it is starting to show its age this year. In 2009, the developers have added more minor league stadiums and given you the ability to edit your player throughout his career.

In 2010, the developers are going to need to improve more than just the aesthetics to keep things interesting.

Quicker Loading

When I popped in MLB 09: The Show on my PS3 for the first time, I had to wait a few minutes so it could take up a few GBs on my hard drive. Yet, when I started a game up, I did not notice any real difference in loading times. While loading only occurs when you are going in and out of games, in RttS you are doing that quite often. That is fine if you are a pitcher going five or six innings, but it is wholly disappointing when you ground out for the pitcher in the seventh and your experience is over for the day. If you would like to be a closer in the Major Leagues, do not bother in this game.

Base Running

In '09, the developers implemented a new base-running system where you use the left-analog stick to make the majority of your moves. Simply put, the old system was not great and neither is this one. The base-running difficulties could have something to do with the fact that the user has to decide where to go using a completely new control system -- plus there are new camera angles that users are not used to. The best I can ask for is a practice mode where you can just get used to both. But if that does not work, a classic camera and control system would be the simplest way to go.

Progress and Goals

The biggest problem with RttS mode is the path you take to get there. It seems that no matter how well you perform, it is never good enough. The game places too much emphasis on sometimes meaningless goals, and when you complete them you are simply rewarded with a few nice words from your coach. While the goals put you closer to your goal of becoming a big-league ballplayer, they should not decide your fate. Completing your goals as specified should give you more training points, which you would then use to increase your attributes.

Team Relations

As far as the Rule 5 draft is concerned, it does not seem to work the way it would in real life. As a 22-year-old Double-A All-Star and effective Triple-A starter, you would think the White Sox would put me on the 40-man roster to protect me from the draft. Yet the team did not and instead hoped no one would select me. The gamble paid off and nobody did, but any GM in his right mind would have protected that caliber of player -- if they did not, another GM would have scooped me right up. I should have asked for a trade, right? Well you can only do that at certain times of the year. So, I am asking for smarter GMs and a more seamless presentation that can bring out the Terrell Owens in all of us.

Synergy

I have gone through long careers on both the PSP and PS3. The only problem was that they were completely separate. One thing that should be added is the ability to take your PS3 RttS outside with you on your PSP. As of right now, there is no real reason to start a career on both platforms, and the time and effort needed to do both simultaneously would be fruitless. It would be so much easier if I could save my data on a memory stick, jam it into my PSP and continue from where I left off.


Would you rather play Superstar mode in Madden or Be a Pro mode in NHL? Would you buy MLB 09 for the PSP if you could connect it to your PS3 or PS2? Can you finish a Rubik’s Cube as you wait for the game to load? Sound off with your comments below!