MLB 14 The Show: Initial Impressions

It is that time of year again folks. Baseball is back, and so is Sony’s MLB The Show franchise. We have a had a bit of time to spend with the newest iteration for the PS3, and will have our full review out in a couple of days. For now though, we wanted to take a quick look at MLB The Show ‘14, and share some quick impressions. Although we were able to try out a lot of the core game modes, any server based modes were not available to us as of yet.

- This isn’t just a fresh coat of paint, and a roster update. There are legitimate differences in this year’s title.

- The new quick counts option is truly a game-changer, and may help many gamers see the end of those unfinished seasons

- The new menu system is fast and well thought out. It allows the user to easily access the information they are looking for. It may take some time to adjust to it, but it will pay-off in the end.

- The new dynamic fielding cam is just as welcomed as the new quick count system. It really adds a fresh new feel to a game that was starting to show its age.

- The hit variety is this year’s title is as good as ever, and also just as authentic.

- Although we love the new dynamic fielding camera, we did notice a few wonky moments because of its implementation. It will likely become easier over time, but it will take users a bit of time to adjust.

- Unfortunately animation driven plays are just as abundant as in years past, but that is somewhat to be expected as the transition to next gen becomes the focus.

- For the most part, commentary feels and sounds about the same. If you are a veteran of the series, the 3-man booth becomes repetitive white noise after awhile.

- Visually, the crowds and players look as good as they ever have, and the stadiums are bursting with authentic ambiance.

- The game's options are as deep as you would expect, and still allow the user to adjust to their style of play.

- RTTS mode has some welcomed changes that should alleviate a bit of the grind mentality, and presents itself more as a true journey.

- The effects of the revamped overall presentation is felt immediately, and continues to feel that way throughout the game.

That is about it for now. As we mentioned earlier, look for our full review of Sony’s MLB The Show ’14 for the PS3, later this week.