MLB 15: The Show
Score: 95% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment America Developer: SCEA San Diego Studio Media: Blu-ray/1 Players: 1 - 4; 2 - 8 (Online) Genre: Sports (Baseball)/ Simulation/ Online
Graphics & Sound: Authentic. That's the one word that comes to mind when playing Sony's MLB 15: The Show. That's a hell of a quality for a sports game to have in spades. And at every turn, that is the word that defines this incredible baseball game. Sports simulations and I don't always get along; several of them tend to alienate me with their focus on management and other off-screen parts of their respective games. But more often than not, I can respect them for what they aim to bring to more hardcore players. Here's a game for anyone with even the slightest interest in baseball. MLB 15: The Show is a stone cold stunner. I don't see myself ever becoming one of those people who claim that certain games look photorealistic. I'm not sure games will ever get to that point, and if they do, I doubt I'll still be around to appreciate them. That being said, MLB 15: The Show is absolutely on its game in the visual department. Player models look fantastic, and while the majority of the details are focused on animation work, the artists clearly didn't simply throw on jerseys with numbers on generic textures. Gameplay-wise, I've never seen the act of playing baseball replicated so smoothly. Granted, my baseball gaming past is mainly limited to Baseball, Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run and Ryne Sandberg's Super Bases Loaded. But I've seen my share of them over the years, from the long-departed Triple Play series to even the recently-returned R.B.I. Baseball. Even the little things that would usually go unnoticed (like crowds) are impressive here. With the PlayStation 4 still in its infancy, it's games like MLB 15: The Show that have me excited to see what this new hardware will be capable of in the years to come. The soundtrack for MLB 15: The Show is solid, featuring a blend of rock songs that fit the sport well enough. Plus, nobody can really complain about the likes of Interpol and Spoon. Crowd and stadium noise sounds like the real thing, and the acoustics are replicated quite impressively. Finally, the commentary by Matt Vasgersian, Steve Lyons, and Eric Karros is spot-on. They know their stuff more than I do, so their observations were totally beneficial to me.
Gameplay: Baseball is a slower kind of sport that generates a very particular sort of smoldering hot tension. Sure, there's lots of down time, but the suspense that hangs in the air between each pitch is so taut it's sometimes difficult to stand. MLB 15: The Show captures this intensity so well that it replicates the emotions of an actual ballgame. And when you take into account that you're in complete control, it is multiplied. Contained in a clean, easy-to-navigate interface is a selection of game modes that round the bases of what should make a game about that great American pastime. You've got your requisite "Play Now" modes: Exhibition and Online play, both of which are easy to get into and enjoyable in their own rights. The meat of the single player experience is arguably Road to the Show, which allows you to follow a single player's path from rookie to superstar. I love modes like these; they don't charge you with filling every single role, instead opting to let you play your part of a greater whole that you have only the slightest degree of control over. I may be continuing on with this mode next year... It seems that every sports series has found a way to work in a Fantasy style mode for the most hardcore sports nerds out there. And it also seems that these modes absolutely must feature cards. Diamond Dynasty is such a mode; using cards, you create your dream team and take on challenges both online and off. These modes have never been my thing, but there will be those who appreciate it here.
Difficulty: I always fear the entry point of a simulation game. Whether it's sports or racing, I often feel like I'm required to slam headfirst into a brick wall before I can even begin even thinking about scaling it. There's also the matter that I'm not a hardcore sports fan and rarely think about the details of what go into making each play special. I'm not an analyst and I'm never looking for the little things. Thankfully, my first experience with MLB: The Show was a smooth one, with very little initial turbulence. Difficulty settings aside, there are a handful of modes that allow you to get some practice in, whether it's behind the plate, atop the mound, or in the field. Most of these are in the "Mini Modes," which contain the requisite practice feature, as well as a fun diversion in the Home Run Derby.
Game Mechanics: Regardless of whether you're in the field or at the plate, MLB 15: The Show controls beautifully. Things are kept simple enough for the game to remain accessible to newcomers, but if you scratch a little deeper, you'll find there's tons of depth to the gameplay; more than enough to match that of the actual sport. Pitching hearkens back to golf games with those classic power/accuracy bars. Once you've chosen your desired pitch (mapped to one of the face buttons), you can make adjustments to the ball's intended path using a quickly fading projected trajectory line. Holding the line by which you intend to deliver the pitch, it's all a matter of holding a button until you've reached your desired power, then tapping it again once the line snaps back to the starting line. It's simple, but variable enough to be deep. Picture the four bases that make up the infield. Now look at the face buttons on your DualShock 4. Now you know how to field. (X) is home plate, (Circle) is first base, (Triangle) is second, and (Square) is third. If your fielder has the ball and is in a position to make an attempt at throwing someone out, simply press the button that represents the base you wish to throw to. The length and intensity of your button press does a fine job of communicating the urgency with which the ball is thrown. Batting is simple. Three buttons dictate the kind of hit your batter will go for. There are buttons for contact swings, power swings, and bunts. A contact swing is for those who simply wish to get players on base or advance the ones who already are. Power swings are risky, and if you make the wrong judgment call, you stand a good chance of hitting an easy pop fly. Bunts are strategic, often sacrificial taps that force the pitcher and catcher to scramble for the ball while runners (particularly the one on third base) runs like mad in an attempt to advance. One of the mechanics being touted in MLB 15: The Show is directional hitting. By moving the Left Analog Stick, you can influence the direction of your hit. Granted, you'll have to factor in the ball's approach vector, as that affects trajectory just as much. I didn't really find this mechanic to be all that effective. Of course, I simply might just be terrible at the game. If you're a longtime fan of the series and would like to continue your progress made in MLB 14: The Show, you can do just that, using the year-to-year save feature. If you're a newcomer, this is as fine a place to start as any.
-FenixDown, GameVortex Communications AKA Jon Carlos
Related Links: Official Website of MLB 15: The Show Game Vortex's MLB Coverage Buy MLB 15: The Show on Amazon
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