MLB The Show 16 News Post

MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

03:12 PM - March 31, 2016 by RaychelSnr

For years, MLB The Show has been a series known for its incremental upgrades -- small changes that generally increase the overall quality of an already quality title. Whether improving the lighting engine or analog controls, these year-to-year improvements were well received, but not typically earth-shattering features. This "slow but steady" philosophy makes sense for a relatively small development team, but often left some users unimpressed. "Stale" was a common complaint, though one unattached from the general consensus that The Show was still one of the best sports games on the market.

After playing MLB The Show 16 for the last week, I�ll start with the obvious; it's still The Show. As usual, there is not one giant game-changing, "back of the box" upgrade that makes this year�s game feel like something brand new. Instead, the "small but meaningful" description I have used in the past to talk about The Show is still apt.

Before you check out and cast The Show 16 off as another collection of small tweaks, here�s the catch: The sheer amount of changes, whether under the hood, visual, or mode-related, collectively make this the most improved, and best, Show of this generation.

Read More - MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

Game: MLB The Show 16Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4Votes for game: 23 - View All

MLB The Show 16 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 NeoOsiris @ 04/01/16 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboy


	Press R2. I believe you have to have Guess Pitch ON for this to work. If that doesn't work try pressing R3 which is what the command is when pitching.

I believe he means gen you would press R2 and then press right on the dpad in The Show 15 it would display swing details on the lasr pitch thrown, like whether you were late or early etc. That feeture seems to have been taken out and you can only see the pitch spread when you press R2.

# 22 BG921 @ 04/01/16 12:45 PM

Biggest issue for me is that the pitchers still have the same robotic motions as every other version of The Show. I've been playing this game for the past ten years and it's still ridiculous that the motion capturing is so off. Some guys have nice fluid mechanics, but far too often you face guys with inaccurate hitches that make certain pitches just look awkward to face. In other games (sports and non-sports), the characters can move fluidly and accurately, but in The Show the pitchers just look awkward. I gave it a pass in the last gen because so many improvements were made in the graphics department and overall gameplay... But on this gen, I just expect more fluidness from the pitchers. If they kept previous versions of the game online, I'd probably just hold onto '15 and return '16 to save some money lol....

# 23 BSchwartz07 @ 04/01/16 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quentin32


	I kno different games different ratings. But man UFC the same rating as MLB just feels wrong.

I agree 100%! Even if The Show were exactly the same as the 2015 version it is still a solid game at its core. EA UFC is a complete waste of time and money. I am a big fan of this site, but I refer to sites like IGN for ratings. Too inconsistent here.

# 24 countryboy @ 04/01/16 12:58 PM

This game should be rated 100 on a scale of 1 to 10 in my humble opinion.

# 25 bigdipper88 @ 04/01/16 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSchwartz07


	I agree 100%! Even if The Show were exactly the same as the 2015 version it is still a solid game at its core. EA UFC is a complete waste of time and money. I am a big fan of this site, but I refer to sites like IGN for ratings. Too inconsistent here.

IGN for ratings..Since when have they been consistent ? They praise every COD game like it's the best thing ever. They get paid to overrate the same garbage games. UFC 2 is very very solid game that will only get better in the months to come

# 26 NAFBUC @ 04/01/16 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by econoodle


	NAf, do you play any of the other modes? if so i have preorder bonus stuff from gstop i have no interest in using, since i am only a franchise man.

I am like you econoodle.....franchise man, but thanks for the offer!

# 27 BSchwartz07 @ 04/01/16 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdipper88


	IGN for ratings..Since when have they been consistent ? They praise every COD game like it's the best thing ever. They get paid to overrate the same garbage games. UFC 2 is very very solid game that will only get better in the months to come

I respectfully disagree. In my experience, and given I mostly play sports titles, IGN has been pretty spot on on their reviews. Usually if they go 8.5 or above I don't regret the purchase. I have no idea what you see in the UFC game, but for me the mechanics are off, the "damage" is 100% cosmetic, the best way to win a fight is to just spam press the same move, or use ground and pound. The career mode is a complete joke, and the energy "meter" is horrible. The presentation was MUCH better with the THQ versions last gen. But other than that... the umm.... walkout music is pretty solid.

# 28 Woodweaver @ 04/01/16 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw9036


	All pitching grip is a terrible in the MLB The Show 16. why SDS change the pitching grip? I can't understand... serious frame rate, terrible pitching motion capture, boring sportscaster~ I honestly think 7.5. MLB 15 The Show - KERSHAW MLB 16 The Show - KERSHAW

The grips have not changed. They still vary pitch type to pitch type. What you are highlighting there is the release. In MLB15, the pitch grip was maintained even after the ball was released. Now, pitchers/fielders look like the are actually letting the ball go during a pitch/throw animation.

# 29 jw9036 @ 04/01/16 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodweaver


	The grips have not changed. They still vary pitch type to pitch type. What you are highlighting there is the release. In MLB15, the pitch grip was maintained even after the ball was released. Now, pitchers/fielders look like the are actually letting the ball go during a pitch/throw animation.

Sorry, my mistake. All grips have the same release animation. Thanks~~

# 30 p00p1 @ 04/02/16 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodweaver


	The grips have not changed. They still vary pitch type to pitch type. What you are highlighting there is the release. In MLB15, the pitch grip was maintained even after the ball was released. Now, pitchers/fielders look like the are actually letting the ball go during a pitch/throw animation.

Wow, had not noticed that before. That's not what a hand does after throwing a fastball though.

# 31 p00p1 @ 04/02/16 12:09 AM

Great, now I can't unsee it...

# 32 Woodweaver @ 04/02/16 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven78


	I hate to say it but that's not realistic at all. Pitchers irl do maintain their grip right after the ball leaves their hand.

You don't have to hate to say it. That's what they do in the game too. They maintain their grip for a split second after the ball is gone before going into a full release.

# 33 Woodweaver @ 04/02/16 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.A.D.


	Still doesn't seem exceptionally realistic. When a pitcher throws a breaking ball, his hand stays in that grip until the arm comes all the way down.

# 34 Woodweaver @ 04/02/16 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodweaver

I think it varies a lot from pitcher to pitcher and pitch to pitch. I think this is a fairly realistic common ground for a video game which gives a better feel for the ball actually being hurled.

# 35 fearwhatnow @ 04/02/16 04:46 AM

Sometimes I feel happy I have just a basic/intermediate knowledge of the sport of baseball. This little thing with the pitching grip and your debate looks outlandish to me. I just enjoy the gameplay and have fun.
I understand though the debate as many times I do the same with minor aspects of NBA2k.

# 36 strawberryshortcake @ 04/02/16 04:52 AM

With regards to a pitcher's hand and finger positioning on a pitch, I'll just say I agree with P.A.D. and Steven78.

================================================== ===========
Off thread topic, I guess. I'll create a thread in the future (probably months down the line that deals with the following [pitching motion]). I was actually going to wait to address the below points but since an SCEA developer is responding to other individuals about "pitching," I figured I'll throw in my two cents, all to hopefully get the game to greater heights.

Two concerns:

(A) Hand/finger grip position
That was actually the second thing I noticed during gameplay that took away from an immersive experience unfortunately. A static image doesn't always tell the whole story, but google image gives a good indication that all pitches still has the pitcher's hand/finger in a gripped position (as opposed to fully opened palms) once the ball is released.

(B) Arm whip for all pitchers should be much faster.
The first and primary thing that unfortunately still readily takes away from an immersive experience comes down to the pitcher's follow through/arm motion/body english. Pitching a baseball is a magnificent beautiful violent forceful behavior. The Show's pitcher is still missing the true characteristic of a pitch. Hone in on the body english and especially the arm motion follow through.

The whip of the arm realistically should be a blur. It should be fairly blurry to the eye because it's a very violent incredibly fast action. MLB the Show's arm whip has a very calculated clean comparatively slow(er) motion.

The above second point brings us full circle to the first point. If I could actually see the pitcher's hand in a fully opened position during regular gameplay speed, that is a good indication that the arm whip isn't fast enough. If my recollection and understanding is correct, I shouldn't be able to see the "release point grip" of the pitcher while watching a major league pitch.

SIDE NOTE
I decided to buy MLB16 digitally this year for one important purpose. When time permits, I want to capture all pitchers (or as much pitchers as possible) in the game (in gif format) and do a visual comparison to the pitchers' real life counterpart to showcase the "missing element" that still escape MLB the Show pitchers. And ultimately submit it to the developers of MLB the Show. This will be a time consuming project ... meaning I'll have to find the time to do it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strawberryshortcake


	http://www.operationsports.com/forum...w-mocap-2.html Spoiler It's not simply Strasburg, I'm guessing it's with most if not all of their pitchers. I'm suspecting a lot of work and a lot of time as well. But if wanting the most authentic and most realistic sports game out in the market place, how realistic the motion of the body in action is captured can certainly be said to be an important or even crucial component. ...... snippet... Pretty much the part in bold is why I will say most if not all deliveries are simply off. To replicate proper pitching motion requires properly capturing the actual speed of the pitch/body language/body english, which from what I can see is unfortunately lacking in MLBtheShow. What I see with MLBtheShow pitchers is someone who is "tossing" the ball as oppose to actually "pitching" a real baseball with force. There is a lack of realistic body english on follow through. There is a lack of realistic strong leg kicks. There is a lack of realistic upper body/torso strong forceful follow through. There is a lack of realistic real body lean. There is a lack of realistic arm force follow through. The speed of the follow through is simply too slow. Some may say it's "good enough" but to be authentic, there needs to be more mustard. Pitching a baseball is suppose to be a violent action. So much so, that real life pitchers almost fall over on every single pitch. Righty's will fall to the left of the mound; Lefty's will fall to right of the mound because of the body's momentum. But it's not as simple as that. Capturing the proper "motion" needs to be paired with the proper "speed" of the body in motion (or pitch) as well. I suspect the motion capture "artist" isn't throwing heaters at all. I'm guessing instead of "pitching" a 90 mph fastball, the motion artist is "tossing" a ball at a max speed of 45/55 mph, plus or minus (or whatever max speed it is). But even if the motion capture artist can't throw 90 mph fastball, there should still be proper body english/lean/speed of arm during follow throughs when you're trying to legitimately pitch a heater (with respect to whatever top speed of the motion capture artist). Compare the speed/force/lean of the upper body. Real pitchers "REAR back and put mustard on that pitch; the oomph; the violent force, the violent nature of the arm speed... the body language/the upper body/the body english. .... the leg kick ... how the pitcher falls towards the mound after each pitch. ..." which unfortunately, is lacking in MLBtheShow to be honest. Anyways, that's just my thoughts on it. My 2 cents.

# 37 p00p1 @ 04/02/16 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodweaver


	I think it varies a lot from pitcher to pitcher and pitch to pitch. I think this is a fairly realistic common ground for a video game which gives a better feel for the ball actually being hurled.

For most pitches, transition should be from grip to something resembling the same grip+motion. For pitchers that do end with an open (relaxed) hand, that doesn't happen until after the hand pronates at the end of the throwing motion. The video of mlb15 actually looks like it does a great job of this. mlb16 looks weird, like he's trying to catch the ball in reverse.

Here a super slow motion video showing a circle change for example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf5UPnQx9Rw

# 38 Ghost Of The Year @ 04/02/16 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw9036


	[

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodweaver


	The grips have not changed. They still vary pitch type to pitch type. What you are highlighting there is the release. In MLB15, the pitch grip was maintained even after the ball was released. Now, pitchers/fielders look like the are actually letting the ball go during a pitch/throw animation.

Hence, the claw. Ball needs to roll off the finger tips more.

# 39 dannyheck @ 04/02/16 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NAFBUC


	Nice collection of The Show jw9036!

VERY COOL collection of games my friend.

# 40 Smallville102001 @ 04/02/16 08:57 PM

I cant believe that people are even talking about the way the hands look when the pitcher is throwing a pitch lol. Like who even notices something so darn small?

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