MLB 09 PS3
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
MLB 09: The Show is back for the 2009 baseball season with all the authentic baseball action that baseball and video game fans have come to expect from the longest running officially licensed Major League Baseball game series on PlayStation platforms. The fourth game in the series, MLB 09 also includes a wealth of new features such as Road to the Show 3.0, Franchise Mode 2.0, Online Season Leagues and Hotshot Fielding.
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Dedicated to authenticity in gameplay, as well as keeping up with current superstars of the National Pastime, MLB 09: The Show contains over 700 new gameplay animations, more than 150 new personalized pitcher and batter routines and hundreds of new presentation animations. In addition, the game also recognizes subtleties surrounding the action that are as much a part of the game as anything on the field. Just a few of these are the creeping shadows of a twilight game, the wear and tear a field will show as the season progresses, scoreboard animations, and changes in the clothing of the fans as the season moves from spring, summer and into fall. An Update to 'The Road to the Show'
Previous versions of The Road to the Show functionality have allowed not only for extensive customization of in-game players, but also for the ability to play offense and defense through that player's eyes. This year with Road to the Show 3.0 players can take this fine tuning even further with a new steal and lead off system, inter-active training through mini-games and enhanced interaction with managers and coaches as customized players make their way off the bench and into MLB superstardom. Hotshot Fielding
In the past all too often fielding functionality simply consisted of positioning your player somewhere near the ball, no matter how the ball appears to be hit. But MLB 09's Hotshot Fielding changes all that. Now if a ball looks too hot to handle without a little extra effort then it probably is. If you can master the dynamic player reactions possible through Hotshot Fielding then there may be a golden glove in your future, otherwise your fielder may bungle that shot to the gap or line drive. Online League Play
Providing you with the ability to set up leagues with up to 30 teams offering full stat tracking, point benefits and rewards. Customize as you see fit; choose your players, teams, length, rules and much more. Whether it’s you and a couple buddies or 29 of your closest friends, bragging rights are on the line. Key Game Features:
Customer Reviews
Enjoyable/frustrating. Take your pick.
MLB 09 The Show is without a doubt the most polished and detailed baseball game available, possibly of all time. When you look at the screen shots, you'll find it hard to not be in awe. The attention to detail is simply stunning, from the stadiums to the player details, to the spot on announcing, to the excellent surround sound support. Definitely the most painstaking baseball effort on any video gaming platform, and an admirable showcase of the Playstation 3's power. Unfortunately, I'm typing this just moments after shattering a $60 Dualshock 3 controller by fast balling it against a wall out of maddening frustration. The cause? A short fuse plus a 10 game hitless streak in Road to the Show mode, while on Veteran difficulty (the second lowest) and getting knocked down to AA Minor Leagues...
As you can see, my biggest beef with the game is what most other people have cited in other reviews...the difficulty. The game is ridiculously hard. Now, I know some of you reading this are rolling your eyes. Yes, I know baseball is hard. Yes, I know that I'm not supposed to win every game. Yes, I know that at best getting a hit 3 out of every 10 at bats is being a "good" hitter. Wherever I go, whether it be message boards looking for strategy or the reviews of this game, for every one person saying this game is too hard, someone will jump into hyperbole mode and insist that we're only looking for a baseball game where you put up huge numbers and are hitting everything out of the park. I'm not. I'm well aware that this was going to be a difficult approximation of the real thing. At the same time, however, variable difficulty levels and adjustments of the in-game sliders should allow for a more customized experience, REGARDLESS of overall ability; even after tweaking sliders to set pitching speed to the lowest and to get favorable hits and power to max for myself, I'm still faring little better. Far be it for me to be a little annoyed when I'm not enjoying my $60 purchase.
Some examples of the difficulty and frustration come into play during Road to the Show mode, the mode where you create a player and control only that player through his league career. Alone this mode could be its own game. And the quick nature of it, by skipping moments not critical to your player (say, a chopper to third while you are the right fielder), you can breeze through a game in 15 minutes (even less if you're pinch hitting or subbing for the starter). However, career advancement rests on achieving Goals that are assigned to you. More often than not, this means reaching certain stat levels for your player. To raise your stats and attributes, you need to perform well in each game and for each play you do well in, you receive points...but on the flipside, you can lose these points as well by blowing a play or a specific goal (such as "drive the run in"). This is where RttS becomes a nightmare; you will find VERY often situations where you perform great on non-critical plays, only to lose the points from those by blowing a few (or even just one) critical moments later on. Now if it didn't seem like such blind luck on what plays you blow and the ones you make, I wouldn't mind...however, I can't count how many Solid Contacts + Perfectly Timed (based on criteria the game assigns) hits I have had that were put out or grounded out and cost me 10 points, negating something good I did earlier. Frustrating, and happens constantly. Hitting into a double play when a "drive the run" in goal is on the line with 1 out is the last thing I did. Cost me quite a few points, that did. This makes improving your player, if you are horrible, a very long and tedious process, whereas better players will improve their stats quicker. Rewarding good performance makes sense, but these kinds of back and forths can literally see you gaining ZERO points for very prolonged periods of time...and you need at least 40 points to assign them to any stats.
Also, failing to meet certain goals at a time period usually prevents you from advancing to AAA or the Majors. I missed one measely goal my last run through, which alone amazed me...that goal? Draw 3 walks. Because I didn't draw three walks, I got reprimanded by my makebelieve coach via e-mail. Although this mode can be entertaining, moments like this make me feel like I'm back at work or in school again. Nevermind that I actually DID manage to have a .300 batting average, which alone amazed me and hasn't happened since in a 3 game series, but the fact that I didn't coerce 3 walks got me a reprimand.
During regular games, exhibitions, quick games, or season games, as you control the whole team in a more traditional setting, there isn't quite as much to grate your nerves. However, the biggest gripe is trying to figure out which fielder you are controlling if the batter on the opposing team makes contact...I've repeatedly been stuck controlling a completely different character (and thus, running in the opposite direction that I should) than I thought I was. This has cost me several games alone. This is a minor quibble, but the same "Solid Contact + Perfect Timing" issues show their face here, which leads me to another point...
I didn't play baseball in high school or college. I have an understanding of the rules, but do not know all of the nuances of the game, and the strategy behind all situations; I'm a casual fan, if you will. For example, I have no idea what pitches I should swing at and shouldn't...I would think pitches in the strike zone would be sufficient enough to aim for, but as I said before, solid contact with perfect timing in goal oriented situations will still result in a pop fly or even a ground out, costing me points in progress and counting against me in the long run. I hear the announcers elude to a "good pitch to hit" and vice versa, but this is never explained to a baseball dunce like myself. Some sort of built in tutorial or "Baseball 101" mode would go a long way in educating casual fans such as myself into becoming much more hardcore fans and appreciate the game (virtual and the real thing) more; not to mention limit the frustration of why I screwed up when I did, or what I could have done instead. Being berated by the one sarcastic announcer does not do this, and actually discourages me from wanting to play further. Honestly, including something like this only makes sense...nurture your potential audience, developers! So far, all I can tell is this game caters to hardcore baseball fans only. Do something for those of us who are putting an effort in but still are kind of clueless about everything! I feel like my "strategy guide" for this game is a random website entry on baseball strategy.
As I mentioned above, not to let the difficulty overshadow what is good in the game, the graphics are simply stunning, probably the best I've ever seen in a video game. The attention to detail is fantastic. And when the game is not owning you at every conceivable moment, it is a blast! The inclusion of batting practice in this year's game is a blessing, and the baserunning mode is a blast, though it is odd that there is nothing for pitching or fielding training options.
As for a few minor quibbles, which may get cleared up on a patch, I repeatedly hear the announcers screw up certain situation calls, for example by stating that the bases are empty with one away for my at bat, yet I am third in the lineup and there are 2 outs displayed on screen. Also, after a first pitch my HUD almost always disappears and will not reappear until after a few pauses/unpauses; this is actually very annoying. Also, there is a lot of inconsistency in which swings I can review with the L3 button (which tells you how good your positioning was, as well as timing).
I can respect diehard baseball fans who want a challenge...you definitely have it here. And no, I won't give up on this yet, though I will take a break after my recent "incident". But I'm at the point where I can't tell if I really am addicted to this game, despite it's unforgiving difficulty, or if I'm forcing myself to not regret my $60 purchase. Though one could argue that the difficulty that is here makes the good moments that much more rewarding, I can't help but think it isn't really all that worth the frustration in the long run...I mean, MLB players are making good salaries, so even if they suck it up every now and then, they're getting a good pay day in the end, and these are guys who are paid to practice, and who have practiced since they were in high school (or thereabouts). My only reward is what enjoyment I get out of the game, which unfortunately has been very limited; if I need to practice as much as a Major Leaguer to enjoy this game, I might as well buy a real bat and hit the batting cages. I'm playing a video game, not attending tryouts.
Best sports title ever on any console bar none.
I am a little late to the "show" but I am sure glad I finally arrived here! I just picked up the PS3 system 2 weeks ago. I am from the school that felt MVP baseball 2005 was hands down the best baseball game ever made for console gaming. I read numerous reviews on this game at various sites and was really shocked at the clear line of love it or hate it type of write ups. A little background on my gaming expereince for you youngens out there. I have been playing video games since the Atari 2600 (I still have that thing in fine working condition in a box with over 100 carts). Back then Intellevision was the bomb for baseball.Nintendo had Baseball Stars, and Bases Loaded the Second Season (both classics). On Sega Genesis we had RBI Baseball, and the sweet World Series Baseball. Then the Playstation had EA's Triple Play baseball,All Star Baseball and of course the legendary MVP 2005 for PS2. For this review I can tell you this game is being played on a 32' Sony XBR Bravia 1080P LCD with Digital Surround and HDMI video.
I will list my custom settings which I have found to be very challenging and at the same time very rewarding. These settings thus far have made for a very realistic gaming experience without the extreme amount of frustration that some have shared. Over time I am sure I will turn down and turn up these various settings as my skill in the game gets better with repeated play. I recommend these particular settings if you have had a good amount of baseball video gaming experience with either The Show or the MVP series, have a good working knowledge of the game and also if you are/were a ball player.
All Star difficulty
No hot/cold zones
No Strike Zone marker
No hitter zone marker
Yes - to ball marker to line up the pitches - even though the controller shakes if your out of the strike zone it does make things a tad easier and more enjoyable.
Yes - to 1/6 guess pitch and location - I believe part of baseball is to anticipate certain pitches and location at crucial times and to be rewarded like you would in real life with a solid hit or a majestic blast out of the park! This allows you to sit on a pitch that you guessed right. Or if you don't want to guess the pitch but know he will pitch you down and away that helps and you should be rewarded. Knowing location has it's rewards too! I played a game last night and just knew this pitcher was going to come at me inside....I promptly crushed one over the right field wall BOOYA!!!!!!
New Running control set up - very easy to use as I will explain below.
Yes - to API (Adaptive pitching intelligence) where the cather calls the game for you and you can either shake him off or follow his lead. I like this a lot! And don't be afraid to shake off your catcher. They do call for more fastballs then they should....shake him off and throw that change up or breaking ball!
All throwing, fielding, running, and sliding set to manuel
Yes - to the Fielding ball marker and steal the HR marker.
Yes - to umpire strike zone variabilty
No - CPU comebacks.
As far as my sliders go without being long winded the only adjustments I made were:
Turning up 2 clicks each:
Hitting Power
Solid Contact
Starting Pitcher Stamina
Relief Pitcher Stamina
Foul balls
Turning down 3 clicks:
Throwing errors.
Turned down 1 click
AI Pitch speed - if your a novice turn it dowm some more to get a feel for what different pitches do. Once you get the hang of it...turn it up!
On to the game.
Presentation - Never have I been so blown away by a sports games presentation than MLB 2009 The Show. From the moment you load in the game and hearing all the great radio calls to the opening lineup introductions, the umpire crew calling the game, the panning in the stadiums, the lighting and shading....I mean this is top notch stuff. The play by play is great. Without question you feel like your watching a baseball game. The menus are very in depth and easy to navigate. I love seeing in spring training games the beach balls being hit around. The crowd is very active and looks so real! The player models are nothing short of beautiful. The fielding animations are so life like...back hand stabs, flips to turn 2, scoops, fist pumping after a great play, dives and slides....all the most realisitc I have ever seen. Guys getting thrown out of arguing calls, Replays are awesome!!!! Custom walk up music, and recording your own cheers and jeers.....friggin sweet!
Gameplay - this is where the biggest debate has been on the reviews. I will say this. MLB 2009 is not for pick up and play gamers, gamers who do not have much baseball knowledge, and gamers who do not have patience. This is a game that was designed for true baseball fans, players, and sports gamers who want the ultimate in true realisim. If you don't fit into that description....buy MLB The Bigs.
The degree of difficulty in hitting is just that. It is not easy. This is not dependent on button mashing and pure timing. You must understand the sweet science of hitting, taking pitches, going with the pitch, fighting off pitches, having some sense of what pitch is coming depending on the count, the baserunners etc. The hitting aspect of this game is just flat out amazing. If you are patient and willing to practice you will be able to be successful. One of the biggest keys to hitting on this game is the left stick. You need to understand that if a pitcher is throwing it down and away and you swing at it....you better have the left stick pressed down and away as you time your button push and then maybe you either fight off the pitch, get a dribbler down the line you can leg out, hit an opposite field single...pop up, line out, my point is there is no guarantee you will get on base...but if you don't press that left stick down and away chances are you will whiff. If you have a man on third....tap the right stick up to induce a fly ball to tag up that runner!! Drag bunts are awesome on this game and they work well (tap your right stick either left or right before the pitch). I wish you could move the hitter around the box though...amazing a game with this much detail left that out. The hitters eye is a nice touch to see how the defense is playing you. Back to the hitting aspect. What I love is that even if you get the timing right sometimes your going to hit it hard....but it is going to find a glove. That is baseball. No one hits .375 year round....most hitters hit .275 to .280. Sometimes you time it right but you don't swing your bat high enough or low enough with the left stick. Again...ultimate realism. I still have not hit a HR using the power swing. I have hit a dozen (in 14 spring games) though using the normal swing button, with perfect timing and placing the sweet spot of the bat in the right area. I also do not like to use the power swing button because you can't check your swing at all. Check swinging is a major aspect of this game. The batter/pitcher duals are flat out sick!
Pitching - Wow...I love this. Even when you line up the ball right....sometimes your pitcher just does not have his best stuff. Know this and start thinking about getting your long reliever up earlier than you would like! I love the fact that you must work the zone....throw pitches high and away, low and outside, or give them a sweet splitter down the middle...whoops and then it drops like a rock! Also....make sure you get ahead in the count...because the great hitters will make you pay for mistakes all the time. Study your hitters with the pitcher/batter menu....amazing the amount of info you can gather from those screens. Also check the streak arrow direction next to their name and stats as they approach the batters box....is A-Rod on a cold steak? Then challenge him!! If he's hot and first base is open....pitch him carefully. Watch your pitchers confidence closley. If he is getting into trouble...get out there and talk to him. If he can't seem to get out trouble....send him to an early shower!
The plethora of pitches in the game is sweet. Screwballs, slurves, 2 seamers, 4 seamers, 12-6 curves, spliters, sliders, sinkers, knuckleballs, knuckle curves, changeups....awesome. The variability on the umpires is also a very nice touch. Sometimes you get calls...sometimes you don't. Adjust and adapt just like in real life!!!!
Fielding - Ok here is where there are a couple of quirks. Sometimes the AI chooses the wrong fielder for you intially and you need to hit that L2 quick...also sometimes you hit dive and meant it let's say for your 3rd baseman but the AI chose your LF instead and he is flat on his face and it turns into a double. It does not happen that often. In fact it is becoming less of an occurence as you get used to the speed of the game. The fielding though for the most part is very solid. I love the smoothness of the animations and man it feels so real. Throwing is a breeze as is diving and jumping. Throwing errors were happening too often on the "out of the box settings" so take my advice on the slider adjustments mentioned above. The fielding guide marker is very helpful and a must for novices and even vet's like me...it makes for a more enjoyable experience. Last night I perefectly timed a R2 dive for Hanley Ramirez to lay out up the middle on a grounder... he then flipped the ball up from his stomach to Uggla who was getting taken out on the throw to turn the 6-4-3 DP. AMAZING FIELDING ANIMATIONS!!!!!
Baserunning - Ok MVP 2005 has the best baserunning controls hands down with the use of the game pad....why MLB 2009 does not use that same scheme is anyone's guess....but the new running control scheme that uses the left stick is a breeze.I have never played any previous version of MLB The Show and read the classic controls and was getting dizzy. Just point to the base runner you want with your left stick and hit the button of the base you want him to go to. L1 for all advance...R1 for all retreat. After a dozen spring games for practice I have had no issues with base running. Stealing is also very easy. Point the stick to the runner you want and touch the button of the base you want him to steal. I have not tried a double steal as of yet....so no comment on that as of now.
Franshise mode - I am dizzy at the amount of options you have here. I actually let the CPU handle the training options, budget and stadium stuff....I am too busy with rosters, signing players, drafts, and scouting!!! In other words I like being the GM and Manager and I let the CPU handle other stuff.....for now (:
The 40 man rosters are great. I will miss the MVP minor league systems though. I look forward to my first draft as well as free agent signing peroid. I play the Marlins BTW.
RTTS - I have not yet ventured into this mode as of the writing of this review. I first want to complete a couple of seasons (which will take me probably a few years since I only can play maybe 8 hours a week) with my Marlins and then I will delve into that whole other world this game has.
Overall - the game is a 10 out of 10 for me. I don't think I have ever been this excited about a sports game since Madden and MVP 2005 for the PS2. This is a true innovative gaming experience. I played ball through college and still play softball on Sundays, It also helps I am a huge basbeball fan. This game is for baseball lovers...I do not reccommend this game for any casual gamers, casual baseball fans or a gamer who has little to no patience. However if you want a true baseball simulation that has more features than you know what to do with, and that also has replayability for the next 10 years look no further than MLB 2009 The Show. A game that truly rewards you with every game you play. The more you play the better you will get and the more fun you will ultimatly have! Quite possibly the best sports video game ever made. Now pass me some mustard for my red hots!
Have fun at the ball park everyone!
They made it perfect
Here we are, another long winter over and another amazing spring to begin, and what better way to ring in the best time of year than with MLB 09 The Show.
Sony has done it, they have taken an amazing franchise and made it perfect. I could tell you about the perfect graphics and amazing sounds, but this game has literally everything. They have batters that react like their real-life counterparts and pitchers that are accurate down to the grip of the ball. Each player is rendered with extreme precision, and with the ability to manually add their actual walk up music and HR celebration music, nothing is more life-like.
They team at Sony has added well over 400 animations to an already extraordinary library of ones that existed previously. I could probably play 100 games and still see something new. From speaking to one of the developers, there are now over 100 animation simply for the first baseman catching a throw to first. That's just unreal. Also, as you play the game the infield wears down, if you dive for a ball on the back of the infield in the third inning, that large swipe of dirt will still be there the rest of the game, this is amazing. Score a runner from second base, and you'll see the footprints in the dirt until they get covered by even more footprints.
The crowd is intenase this year, it's dynamic. If there's a blow out, they might leave early. Also, you'll see Yankee fans in Fenway and vice-versa, as that's how it really is. Sony has made this as close to reality as possible. Also, the fans dress for the weather. I was playing an early April game in Chicago, and the announcers stated it was 43 degrees. Everyone in the crowd had hats, sweaters and jackets on. For a game in late May, it was t-shirts and shorts.
The lighting is another VAST improvement this season. The game actually has lighting that transitions throughout the game. It doesn't just go from light to dark, it follows a real nights subtle changes. Also, the lighting will hit players at certain angles that mimic a real sun, so the shadows will make a difference this year.
Add to all this, online leagues and Road to the Show 3.0, and yes you have a perfect baseball game.
Thank you Sony.
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