MLB 08: The Show

Another year has passed and in the months leading up to spring ball, SCEA is preparing to launch the 2008 iteration of its baseball franchise on the PS3.

In anticipation of the early March release, SCEA sent out preview versions of the game, and while there still is some work left to do before the game ships in early March, this has to rank as one of the best-looking iterations in the franchise to date.

More than merely mimicking batting stances or on-field mannerisms, the players in The Show ’08 look like their big-league counterparts. And should you decide to create your own player for a run in the career mode, the customization options are very deep. You can spend a good hour tweaking everything from brow bone protrusion to the angle on the corner of the mouth.

MLB 08 features a host of new features. There is the new Progressive Batting Performance that will reward players with contract incentives should they perform well. An indicator comes along to show if the batter is performing well, or heading into (or mired in) a slump.

Sliding mechanics are deep and while you can use the SIXAXIS just fine, the right analog stick provides many options that give a more realistic flavor to the game. You can move the thumbstick left and then down to execute a hook slide. There are several variants and while they won’t always avoid the tag, it just feels much better and looks more realistic.

Road to the Show, the career mode, has received a bit of a facelift as well. Players are given specific goals as far as training is concerned (with some on-field incentives), and that really puts the onus on the players to perform well if they wish to receive promotions. Typically, a new career player is relegated to Double A ball, but with the right training, can be elevated quickly. To achieve the goals, you perform well in the games, successfully completing tasks given (which might mean executing a double play or successfully performing the batter's part in a hit-and-run play), and then apply the experience points where the manager thinks you need the most work. Sure, we all want to be power hitters that can fly like deer around the basepaths, but that is not necessarily where the manager wants you to improve. Why does a second baseman need arm strength? Well, wait until you are plopped into right field and then you will understand why.

Online will be a little more robust as well, with the SportsConnect Online User Tracking (or SCOUT) that enables players to set and store game preferences on the MLB server and use them to look for Quick Matches with other online players with similar settings.

The announcing chores is handled nicely by the veteran team of Matt Vasgersian, Dave Campbell and Rex Hudler. Some refinement will likely be in place by the time the game ships, just to tighten up the broadcast-quality narration. The game also sports a solid musical track, featuring a nice range of songs from classic to modern rock, hip hop and country.

Graphically, though, this is the best MLB to date. The animations are rock solid and the environments and players are very well done. Drive a ball into the stands down the left field line and you may see fans reaching up to catch it. Running catches, dives and the like are rendered out very well.

The MLB series is a favorite and this year’s edition looks like it will surpass previous releases in the franchise. Entertaining and challenging are two of the hallmarks of the series, but SCEA has really amped up the graphics to make for a more appealing game.