Initial impressions of The Show
March 4, 2008 by pastapadre
Given that much of today will be spent playing 2K8 I wanted to drop off my early impressions of MLB 08: The Show. Having played through a few standard games as well as some Road to the Show mode I’ve gotten a good feel for things. Overall, as most people have found through the demo, the true baseball experience is delivered. The gameplay is very good, commentary excellent, and graphics significantly upgraded. Granted there have been a handful of bugs pointed out (the walkoff scoring error being one witnessed in the video I posted) but all games are going to have some of those.
I like that the pitching seems tougher this year. 2K8 went and changed the mechanics in part to make it more difficult to locate pitches but I think The Show has accomplished that without having to make such a drastic change. It definitely adds to pressure situations and results in a more realistic pitch count. I’m still getting the hang of hitting but I love that you can protect the plate and all the foul balls as well as the good hit variety. Fielding wise I haven’t fully gotten comfortable with the controls or timing of yet (such as diving). Trying to get throws off sometimes seems to take too long.
Just as a side story I played a buddy of mine and on the first pitch he through I crushed a HR with Ichiro. I guessed the pitch and location and was all over it. It was amusing that I went deep on his first pitch with 08 (plus it being done by Ichiro) so I’ll always have that on him. It was an unexpected and exciting moment as the camera immediately focused on Ichiro rather than the ball.
While I’ve still got a long way to go with it I’m already hooked on the Road to the Show mode. They’ve expanded on what you can do as well as worked on fixing up the goals and advancement logic. To this point though it doesn’t seem all that different from last year outside of the more reasonable goals. I still wish there was an on-screen display of the situation. It bothers me that I’ll get a hit and then have no recollection of how many outs there are. But I love this type of mode, and since you can get through each game in about 5-8 minutes it breezes along giving you the chance to actually progress through your player’s career.
Having weekly roster updates again is something to look forward to. It even sounds like they’ll be making more ratings adjustments for each update than ever before. It’ll be a nice change of pace to have that consistency and ratings that are reflective of the current real life player performances.
The Replay Vault is a nice addition but not much more than that. After the game ends you can view replays broken down by inning, player, or team. However since you can’t do anything with the replays (such as save or upload them) I doubt many people will find value in this.
That brings me to the online play which is absolutely horrid. After last year’s problems there was hope that it would be fixed up this time around but that is definitely not the case. The lag is crippling to the point where you either quit the game or it turns into swing and pray. This isn’t so much a PS3 issue as it has proven to be game specific. They have some nice online features which unfortunately end up being essentially useless if you can’t play the games. It’s possible it will improve but given their track record in this area I wouldn’t count on much. This is really disappointing and is going to push me towards playing 2K8 more with the exception of when I want to play RTTS mode. I may give it a shot on Thursday for the Online Baseball Night but expect to spend the majority of the time with 2K8 given the current situation. Quite simply if you own a PS3 and online play is important to you it now has to be considered (if choosing between the two games) that 2K8 may be the way to go.
Of course, as I’ve documented before several times, reviewers don’t bother with online play. Check out this inexcusable excerpt from the IGN review:
Online play, which was pretty good last year, is definitely stronger thanks to SportsConnect, which has received some new features….With updated scoring and leaderboards, as well as weekly roster updates, online matches are definitely improved events, and they run without any hitches.
The overriding feeling for me is that The Show presents a genuine baseball experience. That is something that SCEA should be commended for. Hardcore baseball fans will find the gameplay to be realistic and enjoyable and RTTS mode is a lot of fun. However the terrible online experience drags the game down. I’ll have more thoughts on the game later this week.
Pasta, Do you know when you will be getting your copy of MLB 2K8? Im at work all day and I would like to get to see some of your impressions of the game. Thanks, man keep up the great info.
I knew it….dangit
Hey Pasta, good look with the pros and cons on both games. Both 2k and Sony appear to have two solid offerings & I will be eagerly looking forward to your 2k8 impressions before I scoop it later today…thx again, this has been one of the first gaming sites I open up to on my cpu for sports info lately!
I played MlbDaShow on PSP for last 3 years and was hooked.A coolass guy hooked me up a little early last night!I played one full game and my need for a solid baseball offering has finally been met,eventough it cost me about over 600$!For what I’ve been anxiously waiting for,3 years’ since EAS MVP05.Last year I expected 360 to supply me with good baseball,but that wasn’t the case!This year I decided to get both, but im holding the trigger on 2k because they always let me down unless its basketball.I’m been really concerned with Mlb2k8 because there website has been crap!no updates,one lousy freaken weak trailer,no demo,no reviews!I mean I could’ve done better promoting, maybe even being part of making MLB2k8, that is what im going to school for anyways.That team that makes MLB2k should feel wrong robbing people and not producing something they should take pride in.All this arguing over whats better makes no since to me.I just want everybodys baseball gaming to be fulfilled.It sucks that I had to go out and buy a PS3 because of 2k issues,but I knew what I was paying for.Something thats been missing in my vast library of games,something that hits me in the heart because of my deep love for the beauty of baseball. I’m not saying I’m not getting 2k8.I’m just waiting on any word because it all seems like another half ass effort on 2ks behalf.What I don’t like is whenever I’ve read a Brinkman interview or anything it seems he comes across as unconfident to me because he talks about the “3 year plan” and how they’ll do this,that,pattywack for 2k9!I mean 2k8 wasnt even out yet and hes talking about 2k9!They have no excuses this year they’ve had plenty of time!Pasta I enjoy your website and keep up the good work, oh yeah and im waiting on your thoughts on 2ks offering.Thanx for yor time guys.
Pasta, can you tell us exactly which camera views are available in Manager Mode? Thanks.
Have you had a chance to look at any of the sim stats for a franchise … I saw some screens at OS for MLB 2K8 and they seemed fined except in pitching, where SPs didn’t have enough IP, not good enough K/9 or BB/9 … also, the assists seemed way out of whack … any thoughts on the Show and its sim engine?
thanks for the review pasta. this seems like the game for me because i think online play is such a waste of time.. in all games. it takes away from the overall work put into getting games to what they used to be; epic. but whatever, i guess thats how the mind works these days. anyways thanks again for the review i will be checking this game out shortly.
I’m not fussed on online play. I’d rather play my own season, and RTTS. But, I’d still have liked the option. Hopefully it is cleaned up in due course.
As a PS3 owner, this is without doubt the game of choice.
2K have put on a review embargo until AFTER their game drops. I wonder why.
Just got it. wanted to get mlb 2k8 as well but might now now.
MLB 08 the show is about one or two years from prefection. i mean prefection.
That why I go to you Pasta and not dumb IGN on sports game reviews. They don’t know jack but good review all in all.
I appreciate the time you spend reviewing games for us so that we can make a good decision on what to buy. Believe me, there are plenty of people that serve with me (Army) that frequent this site. Most of the other major game sites such as IGN, Game Stop, etc, are all banned from viewing on a government computer……besides, your reviews are better than theirs!
I just played The Show on PS3, and while there were a few instances of lag, it wasn’t bad at all. I wouldn’t say it took away from the game. It was a well played game. I lost 3-1 Cleveland (me) against Boston.
Maybe things are getting better, or I just got lucky and got a one time good connection.
dear pasta
i found your webside just a few days ago.
believe me, you are doing an excellent job.
im a swiss gamer and therefore not so familiar with baseball like you us people.
but im fascinated with this sport and “the show”.
thanks for your work and greez from switzerland.
By the way : i shall play with the rays even if they are not in the 20 leading position and how is the online playing with the PSP ?
Pasta - Some are saying that Sony maintenance has improved the online quality of The Show (PS3). If you get a chance, you may want to try that out and report back.
cdj wrote:
yup I’ve heard some reports of that, I’ll be trying it out more tonight.
I’m playing the show on the PS2 so I knew it would be much less glamourous. Not a problem for me. However, it has frozen twice already today in the post-game menu where the options are “player of the game, “box score,” and “exit.” (and apparently a hudden button that says “freeze.” Pushing buttons is futile. No way to save.
I’m enjoying the gameplay and RTTS greatly, but losing a combined four hours of gameplay today for some stupid-ass freezing bug that plagued me in 05 makes me ANGRY. WHY CAN’T THEY FIX THIS???? And the starting catcher had just gone down with an injury two games ago. Finally, the AA job was mine! I’m off to go kick my TV and throw crap at the wall. Grrrr.
This game is great. I love it.
Pasta, love your site. I will be a proud PS3 and MLB 08 owner by the end of this month. Can you please post more game videos for MLB ? Playin as (or against) the Yankees would be especially appreciated !
hey everyone.. so far this game is everything i hoped it would be and more. i now know why i got the ps3. still just a few minor problems so far.. well really only one but it effects both rtts and franchise. The contracts for all the players are all way off. The years are all off by alot for almost every single player. Pasta, do you know if this will be corrected in a future online update? Thank you.