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MLB '09: The Show Review

08:06 PM - March 6, 2009 by RaychelSnr

Let us just get one thing out of the way, MLB 09: The Show is the best next-gen sports game yet. It is a must-own title, and anyone who is even remotely interested in baseball should consider checking it out.

It is also one of the deeper, more complex and realistic sports games I have ever gotten the chance to play. Simply put, games like High Heat and MVP can now be put on the shelf in the Sanner household because The Show has finally surpassed them.

Now, at this point of the review, I must stress that MLB 09: The Show is not perfect. There are several little bugs and interesting happenings that will make you shake your head like catchers sometimes do after a foul ball. But from my experience, these negatives only slightly detract from the overall package.

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Game: MLB '09: The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSPVotes for game: 90 - View All

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Member Comments

# 81 ffyfe7 @ 03/07/09 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newfgamer


	WOW, sorry, but this reeks or some seriosu bias. It is one of the best sports games of this gen, but it is not as a realistic depiction of the sport as NHL 09, it is obvious the reviewer likes baseball more then hockey and this is the basis for the ridiculous comments, no way this is a 9.5, no other reviews come close to this score. It is a very good game, but not 9.5 NHL 09 good. This is a 8.5-8.8 or so game.

I have to say NHL 09 was a good game with many online upgrades. BUT MLB 09 The Show just has amazing atmosphere and presentation. As Gaametrailers said about MLB 08 " Any baseball game can let you hit, pitch & field but the truly special ones pay attention to the suttlties of the game." Which I feel NHL was very good gameplay wise but the atmosphere wasn;t there.

# 82 maddcatt @ 03/07/09 10:27 PM

Nice Review and thinking about getting a PS3 now

How bout multiplayer human vs. human to play offline ?

Can anybody tell me how good it is when playing against a human opponent / buddy ?

I would really like to hear about this because my brother and I play all kinds of games against each other offline.

Thanks

# 83 BrownsFan72 @ 03/08/09 01:38 AM

Best next gen sports title hands down. I love the game. The only complaint I have is the online is terrible and keeps the game from being the 10 it deserves.

# 84 Buckeyes_Doc @ 03/08/09 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrownsFan72


	Best next gen sports title hands down. I love the game. The only complaint I have is the online is terrible and keeps the game from being the 10 it deserves.

Agreee this game would be perfect if Online was improved. I had a few good games today finally. I dont mind the toned down graphics, it's just the lag that kills the game because with screwed up timing playing baseball is pointless.

# 85 CalmLikeABomb @ 03/08/09 03:48 AM

Ok just trying to sort through all the needless back and forth on the announcing on a totally different game. I will post my thoughts now.

Great review. I have been a longtime reader of OS, decided to join in the forums. I think the main thing we look for in a game is the atmosphere of the game, as well as the overall package. I think SCEA has done an amazing job. Not saying the game is perfect, but just like many other games I am sure patches will come out to help netcode, etc.

For example; How much better was NCAA 09 after patch 2? I think it was a great patch. I hear that NHL09 is MUCH better online after patch 2. So if we are judging by online play, we should probably take the game as it is now, and what it can be with upcoming patch work. That is my 2 cents.

# 86 maddcatt @ 03/08/09 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbz06


	it's sooooooooooooooooooooo much fun and makes for intense pitcher/batter duels (assuming you turn off pitch locator icon and strike zone) playing against a human is very satisfying, especially offline...since you get the game in it's full glory. When you go Online, it's laggy, toned down graphics, and a lot of sync issues.

Wow !! That's all I needed to hear....Thank You !! pbz06's

Looks like I'll be racking up even more credit card debt soon : (

I'd much rather play vs. a human opponent offline as opposed to vs. the computer AI without the worry of lag ruining a game.....I really think that's when all these sports games are at there best.

I really wish they would go over the human vs. human offline play during these reviews.....My brother and I have been getting together once a week for years to play each other in sports games and I'm now 42 and he's 41

This is all we have because we are both to old to be playing real sports any longer : (

# 87 SDwinder @ 03/08/09 05:50 PM

I love both The Show 09 and NHL 09. I am partial to baseball as that was my passion and career for a good part of my life. But NHL 09 is as much fun as a game can get. Head to Head offline is incredible. Havent played it online yet though. I would be perfecttly fine with this game for hockey if another hockey game never came out. It is that good to me.

The Show 09 is a fantastic baseball experience out of the box. Like the reviewer stated there are numerous little bugs I have noticed playing offline, but they are minute. The additions to the gameplay over 08 really make the experience that much better. I am sure those little bugs will be fixed in the future. The online aspect though is disconcerting. In 08, it was hit and miss. With a cable connection in Southern Calif. I would have games that played great and then games which were crap due to lag. The key is the batting lag. That has to be eliminated otherwise what's the point.

While I feel NHL 09 has gotten about as good as it can get as a package, The Show 09 still has room for improvement, but even with that, they are both 9.0+ games to me. Offline play is always the most important, because without solid gameplay what is the point playing online. Other than the online play, I feel we are splitting hairs between which game is best. They are both outstanding and deserve to be recognized as such.

As for the commentary between MLB 2k9 and The Show 09, long term I prefer The Show because of the deeper, on the point commentary. I love Gary Thorne, it doenst get any better, but there is much more of a vocabulary of info in The Show. I like Matt V. a lot in The Show. He is solid. Rex Hudler is an aquired taste. I am an Angels fan and have heard him through his entire broadcasting career. Early on, he was quite the Valley guy and I used to cringe at some of his choice of words. But I always loved his energy and love for the game and appeal to kids. He has gotten MUCH better as a professional sounding broadcaster in recent years without losing his zest for the game. I think he brings a lot to the broadcast now, but if you are not used to him and his energy, he might be too much for you. Also, I dont notice a difference between his Angel broadcast quality and his performance on The Show. Very much the same.

The last year we have been blessed with some great sports games including The Show, NHL 09, Tiger Woods, FIFA, both NBA games, and Madden. There is always room for improvement, but it has been a very good sports gaming year.

# 88 EnigmaNemesis @ 03/08/09 06:06 PM

Agree with pretty much everything you just said SDwinder!

# 89 Jimbo68 @ 03/08/09 06:50 PM

Alright, finally got a few games of The Show in this weekend. Initial thoughts are... Great game, great graphics, presentation, etc. For those who have said the batting is tough, YOU ARE CORRECT. I never play a new game on Rookie mode. I usually start on the mode right after Rookie, in this case, Veteran. And let me tell you, Veteran mode is tough. I am 0-3 in Veteran mode and 1-0 in Rookie mode.

Pros: As I stated earlier, gameplay, graphics, presentation, etc. Good pitcher vs batter confrontations, nice replays, game options, practice mode: batting cage with different pitch selections to choose from, etc.

I am older than most playing this game, with wife and child, job, so I don't have enough free time to play franchise and RTTS modes. Sad but true. I only play exhibition games and I'm fine with that.

Cons: Have seen and heard too many times that the pitch was close enough to be called a strike but wasn't. Not sure what the algorithm is that dictates the on the border pitches. But the majority seem to be called balls instead of strikes. Batting is a challenge, I try to wait early in the count, have gotten to many 2-0 counts, so I know a fastball is coming, but end up hitting into to many grounders, or shots right to an outfielder. Will continue to practice in the batting cage. The running game is still too complicated, push this stick and corresponding base to steal, push this and that to lead off, push this too send runners back, or to stop them between bases, etc. too confusing for this old time gamer. During the contests I end up letting my runners run for themselves normally, otherwise I always seem to make stupid running mistakes because I don't get the button/stick combos during the heat of the battle.

Anyways, overall a very nice game. Haven't tried online yet, so can't discuss that here. I would give this game a 9.2 overall. As for those of you debating NHL 09 vs The Show 09, give it a rest, you're comparing apples and oranges.

# 90 RaychelSnr @ 03/08/09 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseB


	Chris is, in fact, not Jeebus. I know some people were confused on that point though so I see why you would be too.

Touche Chase, touche

# 91 EnigmaNemesis @ 03/08/09 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo68


	Cons: Have seen and heard too many times that the pitch was close enough to be called a strike but wasn't. Not sure what the algorithm is that dictates the on the border pitches.

That is due to umpire tendencies. You can turn that off in the options. They will call borderline pitches, or balls as strikes, just as they do IRL depending on umpire.

It is programmed that way so when you have that umpire calling the game, you will know his tendencies on how to pitch.

# 92 KOL @ 03/08/09 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokez4DAyz


	i don't mind your excitement for the game, nor do I doubt, its worth a high score, but 9.5, with annoying bugs? And constant low scoring games, and poor online connection, and its still a 9.5? I remember when game reviews had real weight, and not just a comparison to the competition's game. Furthermore, telling us "it plays like baseball" is not a reason to get a high marks...Maybe if one of these years MLB tries some new things, we can get a real critique, but this is the same game engine for 4 years now. I give credit to game designers who don't sit around just updating the rosters and the stadiums...Not a must get, if you're not a baseball fan.

Constant low scoring games?

This is what we wanted, personally the game for me is perfect.
As the OP said, you can't go into this game with the mindset of 'Well if I swing at everything eventually I will score'

Patience is a virtue.

And the engine why would you change something that's not broken?

# 93 countryboy @ 03/08/09 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokez4DAyz


	telling us "it plays like baseball" is not a reason to get a high marks...

So its not a good thing when a sports video game does a tremendous job of simulating its sport?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokez4DAyz


	I give credit to game designers who don't sit around just updating the rosters and the stadiums...

yes, because we all know this is exactly what the devs did this year. I can't believe I never noticed the new legend difficulty mode, the new hitting mechanic, the new progressive lighting, or the new robust franchise mode in '08 last year. Oh...

had I only paid more attention to the game I was playing last year, maybe I wouldn't have wasted my money on this game that is nothing more than updated rosters and prettier stadiums.

# 94 EnigmaNemesis @ 03/08/09 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokez4DAyz


	Not a must get, if you're not a baseball fan.

This comment takes the cake.

No sports game is a must get, if you are not a fan of the sport.

Wow!

Though I know plenty who get this and are not fans, and love it. Because IT IS DONE RIGHT!

*looks and sees he has no PS3*

# 95 sooner111 @ 03/08/09 10:04 PM

Am wondering if there is going to be a patch for the Texas Rangers helmet? They decided to scrap the ugly 2 tone blue/red helmet for the basic blue helmet and solid red helmet (when they wear the red alternate uni's.). The 2 tone sure is ugly!!!

# 96 SDwinder @ 03/09/09 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokez4DAyz


	i don't mind your excitement for the game, nor do I doubt, its worth a high score, but 9.5, with annoying bugs? And constant low scoring games, and poor online connection, and its still a 9.5? I remember when game reviews had real weight, and not just a comparison to the competition's game. Furthermore, telling us "it plays like baseball" is not a reason to get a high marks...Maybe if one of these years MLB tries some new things, we can get a real critique, but this is the same game engine for 4 years now. I give credit to game designers who don't sit around just updating the rosters and the stadiums...Not a must get, if you're not a baseball fan.

You know there is always "weinie" level if you want to see slugfests!

# 97 SDwinder @ 03/09/09 12:30 PM

One of the things I havent heard much about that really is a nice addition to 09 this year is the new scoreboards with the abundunt real time info and very hi def looking and readable. Also, the other stat scoreboards around the stadium like pitcher numbers, etc. This was something I always wanted and now we have it and it looks very clean and just adds to the gameplay experience!

# 98 ajb1980 @ 03/09/09 12:44 PM

Hi guys, can someone please tell me how to substitute my pitcher? I am not very familiar with baseball and it keeps saying something about a Bull Pen? help me please.

# 99 BlackRome @ 03/09/09 01:14 PM

If The Show is only about simulation offline then why attempt to make the game playable online. From your answers it seems as though i'm expecting to much.

I guess It's my fault for expecting a great baseball game that I can play against a human being online. It's only 2009. I guess I'll have to wait for the next next generation of sports games to fulfill that need.

The reason the game is broke online has nothing to do with it being a simulation or not. That argument is pointless.

The great simulation is there. It's just being destroyed by lag. When you look on the box of The Show it says it has online play. I guess spending 60 bucks on a game and expecting online play is just to much to ask. I'm glad I didn't.

A simulation is great. Your excuses for online being broken are silly.

# 100 bjmiles @ 03/09/09 02:16 PM

This game is great. However, I feel like the hitting is a tad bit to touchy. It seems like pitches that should be drives to gaps are not always happening. I was playing with Boston v. Twins last night, Bottom 9 man on 1st and 3rd, 1 out 3-2 score (I'm losing) Varitek at bat. They threw a 90 mph fastball down the middle of the plate and I pop out to the pitcher. After looking at the swing analysis it said I was perfect timing and wheelhouse swing and right in middle of the egg. Safe to say I was a little pissed. But this seems to be happening more often than not. I just feel like they tried to make this part a little to touchy.

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