MLB 13 the show review: Best sports game franchise?

[the_tyrant]

Yesterday I was playing Metal Gear Solid until my Vita died, than, I went to a buddies place to play the new MLB 13 the show. When I got home, I popped the game card out of my vita to play more MLB, until my vita died again. This is how good the game is.

So I decided to write up a quick review on it, well, we all know that the game itself is solid, but just how solid is it? I'll just say it like this, I don't even bother to watch baseball, yet I love the game. This is probably the best sports game out there, actually scratch that, Dead or Alive Xtreme beach volleyball is better. So this is the second best sports game out there, easily crushing the Fifas, Pro Evolutions, Maddens, and NHLs.

A good sports game has to capture the excitement and complexity of the real sport, than build on it with some effectively done "gamey" elements. MLB 13 the show does it perfectly, with an effective abstraction of baseball, built on a very solid technical foundation.

Gameplay wise, MLB the show is good, very good. the way the developers translated hitting the ball with a bat is extremely effective, with multiple choices and options on how you can choose to do it. I personally like the simple timing + button pushing pitching and hitting, but it is possible to play it full analog (with the stick), or even with move controller (swing it like a baseball bat). Pitching can be done with the buttons, or in full analog mode (you can't throw the move controller this time)

There is a varied selection of "campaign" mode, with modes such as Road to the show, franchise, and etc. You can follow the career of one player, or a whole team. There is also a new beginner mode, designed to ease new players into the game.

However, the game is still unfriendly to new players, especially if you aren't familiar with baseball. There are way to many features and an endless list of possible choices. Whereas with some sports games, everything is pretty self explanatory for players who aren't familiar with the sport (WWE games are easy to understand, just beat the guy up, MLB is much harder to understand)

technically, MLB the show is solid. The graphics are good, with no major noticeable slowdown or dropped frames. The voice acting is pretty good, with lots and lots of recorded lines. There is also a save transfer system between the PS3 and the PSvita, so you can continue playing your game on the go.

Fundamentally, MLB 13 the show is a very solid sports game, if you have a PS3 or a PSvita, and you like sports games, you need to play this. If you are a PC gamer, or a Xbox 360 gamer, than unfortunately you are stuck with the abomination that is MLB 2k13.

Verdict: second best sports game of all time