MLB ’06: The Show – PS2 – Review

MLB ’06: The
Show is not a showy game, per se, but rather a game that focuses
squarely on its presentation. You’re not just playing America’s favorite
pastime; you’re watching it. That sounds like a strange comment to make about
a video game, but it’s a key factor in this sport’s immersion. Significant
plays, positive or otherwise, are highlighted with a quick flash of the two
teams’ logos. The logos draw toward each other with a distinct "whoosh" sound
– a sound that is instantly turned into one of The Show’s trademarks.

The camera
angles used in the automatic replays are very much like those used on TV:
expected but effective. During plays you will see angles that are a bit more
unique, following the ball in a way that could be described as being artistic.
Rather than staying with the ball or switching to a typical TV-style view, the
game will occasionally use a view that makes no sense. "Where’s the ball?" I
wondered. I kept staring, anticipating its fall.

Sure enough it was there in
the distance. Technically this might not be the optimal view, but video games
have the luxury of being more creative than other entertainment mediums. By
giving us something different to view at all times — whether it’s a new
graphic effect, a new visual style, or new camera angles – the developers are
able to hold our interest. And give us something to excitedly tell our friends
about.

The Show has
what is without question the deepest pitching system ever created. Each and
every pitcher in the game is made unique with a different power/accuracy
meter. The meter is how you set up your pitch; it must be hit twice in order
to throw the ball successfully. First the meter winds down to the bottom – hit
the X button as close to the line as possible for best performance. Next you
have to line it up with the bluest portion on the opposite side. It’s an
easy-to-learn, tough-to-master system that requires good timing skills.

But wait –
that’s not what makes this system deep. Using the left analog stick I can
throw the ball anywhere I want. The on-screen grid helps point you in the
right direction. The ball icon is only visible for a brief time before its
thrown. It feels like you’re throwing blindly at first, but venture too far
off the grid and you’ll notice something – the controller is shaking. That
means you need to back off. Letting go of the left stick snaps the ball back
into the center. Bear in mind that the precision of your throw depends on the
meter as well. If you botch the meter and throw toward the center, the ball is
going to tank. Your opponent is likely to see that coming and stand still to
avoid a strike.

On the other
side of the spectrum is the batter who, with its own precise control scheme,
can hit homeruns like no one could in any game before it. All you need is the
X button (square for a power swing) and the left analog stick. Push it in any
direction to swing in that direction. This is a vital move that you’ll have to
learn to use well in order to succeed.

Being able
to guess the pitch is a nice feature. Doing so successfully shows you exactly
where the ball will end up. However, I had better results watching the
pitcher’s actions than I did trying to randomly guess what he was going to do
next. By watching his arms I could figure out how high or low he was going to
throw and adjust my swing accordingly.

King of the
Diamond is a grand-scale, action-emphasized mini-game. Four tiers; four
challenges. This is the mode designed for anyone who’s ever wanted to sit
around all day and hit homeruns. Car-sized diamonds, balls, crowns, gloves,
hats, and baseball bats take the place of fans. These pieces are more than
just fun; hit them and you’ll add extra time to the clock. That’s right sports
fanatics — King of the Diamond is timed. The goal is, of course, to hit as
many homeruns as possible. Standard baseball rules are simplified. Bases are
ran automatically with each successful swing. Player boards (static standees
with the pictures of players on them) function as a negative barrier. Hit one
and you’re out. Luckily your players can bat with as many outs as they wish.
Turns are ended when the 2-minute clock runs out.

You’ll get
to pitch, too, and your overall success depends on your ability to kill time.
Things you wouldn’t normally think about when playing baseball start to take
precedence. For example, the time it takes a for a ball to be hit out of the
park. It doesn’t matter much in a regular game – the most important thing is
that it happened. Run your bases and eat up the glory. In King of the Diamond
it’s not that simple. Time is on the side of your opponent, not yours. You’ll
be counting the seconds during fly balls, and wait till the very last second
to pitch.

Review Scoring Details for MLB ‘06: The Show

Gameplay: 8.5
The grandest of
grand. MLB ’06: The Show does more than show the competition a thing or two
about creating a great baseball gaming experience. It reinvents baseball with
original features that are as fun as they are innovative. Baseball has never
been my favorite sport, and yet I was excited and looked forward to playing
more of this game. It’s a simulation title that’s paced like an arcade game.
Technically the presentation falls in line with a simulator as well, but the
in-game hints, fact-filled load screens, and easy-to-learn control scheme are
clearly not what you’d expect from a game with the much depth.

Graphics: 7.0
Great
presentation, but overall the visuals are rather bland. There’s no denying
that the player animations are great. However, was there ever a time when they
weren’t? That’s one area this series has excelled at. Where it hasn’t excelled
is facial detail, facial expressions, uniform detail, environments, lighting,
and a number of other graphical areas. Case in point: this doesn’t look like a
sports game released in PlayStation 2’s sixth year.

Sound: 8.9
In addition to
music and sound effects, sports games have another sound element to worry
about: commentary. MLB ’06: The Show comes through for us with great, reliable
commentary that’s rarely repeated. You will hear the same thing twice, that’s
true of all games (and that will never change unless you have the announcer
sitting next to you while you play). But you’ll rarely hear the same thing
twice in a row. Furthermore, the lines are amusing, they relate to what’s
going on, it’s easy to follow, and it almost always makes sense.

The sound
effects are a little generic, so let’s pass over those and go right to the
music: excellent stuff, but not enough of it. EA’s sports games generally
include soundtracks exceeding 20 songs – Burnout 3 had over 40 songs! This
makes The Show’s music lineup seem small. Like I said, the songs are good, but
as with Sony’s basketball game, you’ll hear the same tunes over and over
again.

Difficulty: Medium
Do you know how
to use a game controller? If so, you can learn to play MLB ’06: The Show. It’s
that simple.

Concept: 9.0
It’s all about
the controls. The presentation is wonderful and stands out from the crowd, and
the game modes are better than what the competition currently offers. But as
always it’s the gameplay – which his dictated by the control style – that push
The Show to victory.

Multiplayer: 8.5
32-man
tournaments for online play; two players can battle offline. Play exhibition
or rivalry games, or get right to the action with King of the Diamond. Headset
functionality is supported, and for those of you looking to stay up-to-date on
your favorite sport, The Show’s online news service lets you grab the latest
MLB headlines anytime you please. Detailed roster updates are promised each
week.

Overall: 8.5
The Show is THE
baseball game to get. It’s got the best batting and pitching controls, the
most entertaining mini-games, and the most replay value. Its season mode is
one of the best among the sports genre, and as far as the presentation goes
there’s just no comparison.