Customer Reviews

MLB 07 The Show

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When I bought this game I was just looking for a baseball game to play. Now everyday I'm playing this game and I never get sick of it. Amazing game, great graphics, overall just fun to play. So much variety in game modes that you will never get bored. Easy to learn to play, but still realistic because you won't destroy every team you play.

I read numerous reviews before purchasing this game. After reading some of them, I started second guessing whether or not I really wanted to purchase this game. I am glad that I decided to. Yes, there are minor glitches, such as automated throws around the horn going into the outfield, but I have really seen nothing that gets in the way of gameplay. Overall, this is the best baseball game I have ever owned.

I'm not even going to compare this game to MLB 2K7 because it would be like Tyson fighting an infant. 2K7 is a junior varsity game, end of story. This review will focus on MLB The Show 07 and how it compares to last years game, which by the way, was a classic.

Graphics-The graphics in MLB the show are the best you would expect for the dying PS2 console. Stadiums are done in full detail and includes most minor league parks as well, which is where you most likely will start out in "the road to the show" mode. The player models look very similar to the real things. Also, batting stances, pitching windups, they are exactly as the real players. The animations, from running the bases, to pitching, batting and fielding, The Show nails almost everything creating a truly authentic baseball environment

Gameplay-The amount of different gaming modes that are available is really where The Show shines. The revamped "Road to the Show" is extremely addictive and takes you from spring training trying to make the big leagues through the season, where you build your attributes from game to game hoping to eventually get called up to triple a and eventually the majors.

The franchise mode gives you complete control over everyone and everything relating to your team. Hiring/firing coaching staffs, trades, contracts, lineups, rotations, its all here. You can even control small things like tv contracts, how and when to advertise your team, and setting prices for food, parking, and seating. It's all here, so the re-playability is a ten all the way on the different things you can do in this game.

The only gripe I had with this game is that it plays almost exactly like last years, with a very minimum amount of changes. It seems to me that the developers focused on creating "road to the show" and left the actual gameplay from last year alone. I guess that's a good thing because the fiedling, hitting, and pitching, were dead on in last years game (not the baserunning, which they fixed). Also, some minor tweaks from last year still aren't fixed, which is puzzling. I feel like when you shell out 45 bucks for a game you are kind of disappointed when it looks and plays almost exactly the same as last years. EA is always guilty of that. But the road to the show mode makes up for this.

This game shows what baseball is about. Every single aspect of baseball is included in this game. EVEN PLAYER CAREERS!!! The gameplay is simple to learn (4 games min). The online play is the best, The news feeds on your favorite sports teams are amazing. This game deserves a 10 out of 5 stars. It also saves very fast, unlike other titles from previous years.

If you loved '06, then you'll like '07.

What's changed? Well, from what I've seen in just under 24 hours, not much. The graphics look the same; players, parks, animations, the crowd, basically are all the same. The audio commentary is at least 90% identical. There are, of course, a few new pieces of player-specific analysis. But "He'd better get a stool...", "He'd need an oar...", etc.; *all* your favorites are *still* there. If you played '06 enough to become familiar with the voice-overs, you'll know what I'm talking about. They even missed a few QA blunders from the '06 version. For instnace, they still call Troy Glaus the "top power threat for the D-Backs"! C'mon guys, if you couldn't get Vasgersian and co. to commit this time, go elsewhere. How 'bout Costas?! You can afford him. Man, wouldn't that be awesome?! Anyway...

A few things about the gameplay have changed during season/exhibition modes, but, in my opinion, they are not improvements. The way the camera reacts after you've put the ball in play is a bit awkward; the throw-power meter (or whatever they call it) seems useless. Pitching and hitting are basically the same. There are a few new gadgets (pitch selection advice, etc.) that you won't use if you had success without them in '06.

Career mode seems to have been an area of focus in the "off-season". You don't have to do the manual fast-forwarding anymore, and the default camera angle for when you're playing the field is nice. However, watch out for the throw buttons in career mode. When you're on D, the field is inverted on your controller and X becomes 2nd. This is a really tough transition if you logged as many innings as I have!

Anyway, this is a cool game, I certainly don't mean to slam it. But if you, like me, were going, "I can't wait to see how they topped '06!", you will be disappointed. But, if you want rosters that are mostly up-to-date, if you want the players that had great (in MLB '06 Reality) years to play well (Papelbon is actually well represented this time), and if you never want to hear that damn "Prototype" song again, go ahead and pick this up.

Oh, and just as an aside, for you RSN members out there: They tagged Pedroia with Mohr's picture.

So, obviously I've only had the game for one day and I've only played a few games but so far I'm dissapointed. My favorite part of MLB '06 was the online play. The online play in '07 is bad. It is slower with more delay than last year. The game overall is very similar to last years version. That's not the worst thing in the world, because I liked last years gameplay, but I was hoping for some improvement.
I think the best feature is Road To The Show, and I really enjoy playing it. First, the game skips ahead to your players appearances, you won't be waiting around or simulating a lot in order to get your next appearance. Second, you are given the players view. I created a pitcher. The camera is set up behind the pitcher with the pitcher facing home plate. You get the feeling you are seeing what a major league pitcher would be seeing. You also have to play your position. As I pitcher, I have to break towards first base when a ball is hit to the right side. If I don't the runner could make it safely to first if the ball is hit to the first baseman.
If you are buying this game mostly for the online play, I wouldn't recommend it. Overall, I would recommend this game if you are looking for a realistic baseball game, or if you love creating your own player and helping them advance in the Major Leagues.

This is a great baseball in every way outside of the very poorly done franchise mode. Single games and player statistics are very realistic down to the last detail. Stadiums look great, broken bat hits, realistic pitching/fielding/baserunning and hitting, outfielders fumbling around in the corners...all great. Now....the bad. If you have any interest in the behind the scenes aspects of baseball, such as free agency, trades, player call ups from AAA, etc...etc. You may want to look elsewhere. It looks like the developers put all the effort into the game play itself, which is great, but they should just remove the franchise aspect then. For starters, the computer does not sign free agents and they do not make trades amongst themselves. You can trade w/ computer controlled teams, but they will NEVER make trades that don't involve your team. And secondly, you can bring up and send down players to AAA without any limits. You can bring up a different starting pitcher from your minors every game if you like. They have no rules like waivers, options, or players refusing demotions (maybe it seems too technical, but real MLB has these rules for a reason)

The online roster updates are very nice though, so if you want to play out a season and have the exact rosters as in real life, it can easily be done here. But, if you want to actually be the GM and make the decisions that you think the real teams should be making (the whole purpose of a video game) then you will be disappointed as the free agency system and roster changes are very bare bones.

Overall, this is far and away the best baseball game on the console platform. However, if you really like getting into the nuts and bolts of micromanaging your franchise over multiple seasons....try something else.

This must be a great game, I bought it for my husband he is always playing it a little too much for my liking.

I loved last year's MLB The Show. The new one hasn't disappointed me. I really like the new career mode! The game moves more quickly through your personal performances automatically. I like the added "solo" fielding aspect of my 3B player. I don't have to worry about pitching or other fielders, only my own guy in the field! I love the new focus. For people who kept getting hammered as pitchers and didn't know what to throw, the new pitching system helps out. You can choose to use the game's AI to recommend pitch location and the type of pitch to throw. Personally it has really helped me create a dynamite closer. This game is fun and much more interesting to play than other titles I have tried before. Especially if you liked last year's game, you won't be disappointed!

This game is one of the best baseball games I have played over the years. It has a great presentation that feels like you are actually watching a real game. The announcers are right on and do not feel canned and corny. The game mechanics are solid and the game is polished and very close to real. My son loves this game and we play often and enjoy this game more than any other on the pc2.