Annual Review – MLB The Show
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Annual Review – MLB The Show
I usually wait until the end of the first Weekend Classic or the end of the first Inning Program to write my annual review. Not sure if anyone will care to read it, but I like getting my thoughts out anyway, so here it goes.
TL;DR
Content is strong and well-paced (A-), but gameplay is still inconsistent and frustrating (D+). Rewards and modes feel weaker than past years, especially collections and Diamond Quest. Overall, it’s the same experience as previous years—a solid but flawed game (C) that’s more enjoyable when played casually rather than competitively online.
Content — A-
I love the way they’ve spaced out content this year, and the programs are very quick and easy to complete. It feels like there’s been a real variety of cards used in the game, and you could make a case for several different players at most positions. There isn’t much of a clear “meta,” outside of the usual switch hitters like Ozzie Albies.
The only thing keeping this from being an A or A+ is how quick and easy the multiplayer program was to complete, it just felt a little too fast and I think it was dumb that events are time limited.
Gameplay — D+
I’m not shocked that gameplay still feels random and varies game-to-game based on opponent connection, stadium, and other factors. After playing about 11 ranked games over the past few days, it’s once again been a frustrating and inconsistent experience.
One game feels super crisp where timing is great, and the very next game, with the same roster or even the same stadium, it feels like I’m swinging underwater with no chance of getting a hit. Some games turn into a fly-out simulator no matter how good your contact is.
Pitcher confidence continues to be a major flaw. With how long ranked season games take, the rewards just aren’t there during the regular season. Weekend Classic rewards are a huge W, I went 3-3 and felt rewarded, but even in games I won, the experience was frustrating and not that enjoyable.
At this point, I play video games to have fun, and playing online is very rarely fun.
Miscellaneous Pros
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I like how they handled Team Affinity as a year-long system instead of constant card dumps.
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The parallel mods have also been a fun way to experiment with different cards.
Miscellaneous Cons
- What happened to Diamond Quest? It was such a fun and rewarding mode last year. Now we’re into the second Inning Program and there’s still no good Diamond Quest map.
They take a long time to complete and aren’t very rewarding. It feels like the mode has basically been removed. I’ve only completed one so far and don’t see much reason to do another anytime soon.
2. Collection Rewards
Honestly, this feels like the weakest group of Live Series collection rewards we’ve had (not counting the year with 95 Pedro and Palmeiro).
Pedroia hasn’t been great. Chone Figgins doesn’t really play up to his ratings since contact hitters aren’t that strong. I’ve heard mixed reviews on Campanella. With defense being important, Manny Ramirez doesn’t feel like a huge impact player.
Félix isn’t close to Roger Clemens, and while I’m excited to use Pujols and Tulowitzki, they still pale in comparison to some past rewards.
Overall Grade — C
This is about what I expected. It’s roughly the same grade I’ve been giving the game for years, and not much has changed.
Part of it is on me, I had my best year ever playing online last year, made World Series, and was locked in all year. This year, I just can’t get into that same rhythm or focus.
At this point, I’m looking forward to finishing the Live Series collection and playing more casually online. Honestly, the less I play online, the more I enjoy the game overall, especially the collecting and grinding aspects.
It kind of stinks, but it feels like the player base has just gotten too good, or pitching is still too random
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@bjd10048_MLBTS the player base has gotten too good, because there are not enough online rewards. When the best online rewards are flawless br, and ws ranked and basically nothing else besides the multi player program that everyone finishes in less than a week. You are only going to get the sweats aka good players jumping online. This is absolutely were they went wrong. Bring back online rewards. Years past everyone would jump online because they had stat progression rewards online. You could jump into br and get rewarded even if you sucked, same with events, same with ranked. These people over at sds are not the greatest thinkers. Makes me wonder if they got rid of the good staff a few years ago.
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I get that the whole BR flawless rewards was meant to be the one shining reward for the best players. But, everyone else needs a reason to play too. I don't know why they're so resistant to giving a reward path that gives you a reason to keep playing BR. I don't love the programs and multiplayer program being so quick - like, the whole point is to have something to grind on...at least put a wheel spin at the end?
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@AppleLemon560_MLBTS they had all this just two years ago!! Br rewards, event rewards, ranked rewards to grind for. Now its just sweat to win or you get no rewards. Do something to get more players going online!! Wheel spin at the end would be a start.
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Some games turn into a fly-out simulator no matter how good your contact is.
Pitcher confidence continues to be a major flaw.
This is so true and correct. Best and most accurate part of your review. Pitcher confidence needs to be eliminated. It makes Diamond quest and other modes so unplayable and online to the nth degree.
Pitcher confidence seems to make the ball be made of what’s a shot-put made of - lead or some super heavy thing
Then on the opposite side of the coin if your pitcher has low confidence your outfield and position players just seem to make errors out of nowhere and they’d be diamonds it doesn’t matter. It’s almost as if pitcher confidence is the most important stat
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pitcher confidence and energy is why every game begins with four innings where I feel like I'm playing pretty well, and I'm getting nothing....I'm behind 2-1 or 1-0....and I have to wait until the 6th inning when I finally put an inning together against a pitcher who has lost confidence (and most players don't know when to pull a pitcher)....and suddenly three home runs.
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pitcher confidence and energy is why every game begins with four innings where I feel like I'm playing pretty well, and I'm getting nothing....I'm behind 2-1 or 1-0....and I have to wait until the 6th inning when I finally put an inning together against a pitcher who has lost confidence (and most players don't know when to pull a pitcher)....and suddenly three home runs.
Yep
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Such a dumb mechanic in the game. I just have such fatigue from the same ol’ faults in the gameplay.
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I just hate that we have to work around everything. We’ve played long enough to learn how to play around it - instead of them maybe fixing it
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Servers are down lol. New grade: F
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I get that the whole BR flawless rewards was meant to be the one shining reward for the best players. But, everyone else needs a reason to play too. I don't know why they're so resistant to giving a reward path that gives you a reason to keep playing BR. I don't love the programs and multiplayer program being so quick - like, the whole point is to have something to grind on...at least put a wheel spin at the end?
I remember when you used to be able to get almost every reward through stat progression. You could either do them in ranked, or offline with essentially a 25%-50% “up charge”(needed that many more of the required stats).
That of course was back when you could play the “Yetis”- who were essentially a grind team. Why they did away with that I’ll never know.
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@Sarge1387_PSN preaching to the choir man. No clue why they took away all the online grinding rewards. Plain stupidity by their new staff at sds.
