Re: MLB The Show 26 Impressions

[countryboy]

Oliver Marmol isn't in the game again this year. His replacement wears eyeblack....

Talk about a player's manager. Willing to wear the war paint alongside his players....

[JDL375]

How is Aaron Boone not in the game? He’s been in every game since 2019! And the Yankees first base coach was given 99 which is Judge’s number! This game is a mess.

[bronxbombers21325]

I don’t know what it is. I’m hoping that it grows on me but so far I’m just not enjoying it all that much. Not sure what the problem is for me.

[Armor and Sword]

Not every sports game, a few coaches are missing in Madden and NHL just added them last year.

And it’s not up to SDS, it’s up to the manager to get included. Unlike the players covered by the MLBPA to be in game, each individual manager needs to be licensed and work with SDS to get scanned (or a likeness). If they haven’t done that, SDS can’t put them in the game.

They say his name in the booth (Aaron Boone) but his likeness is not in on early access. Not SDS’s fault. Hopefully he gets patched in later when they come to an agreement for his likeness.

But they used his name in the booth when I took a pitcher out of the game.

[bkrich83]

Played one game last night on default legend for both hitting and pitching, zone hitting/pinpoint pitching.

Seems like a more refined version of previous versions. CPU bullpen usage seemed to reflect today’s game more, no relievers going 2 to 4 innings. CPU attempted a few stolen bases on me. Hitting seems really rewarding on this level. I still think pinpoint pitching may be too effective vs. CPU.

I started a quick franchise and simmed a few games as well, it was nice to see both my setup relievers being utilized.

Being able to turn off the no doubt home run cam finally is huge for me. I know it’s a little thing but this was way past due.

I’m not a fan of the UI change to use the up button to go to a menu to get to any of my management functions (substitutions/bullpen).

Of course this game comes out and we’re leaving town tonight, so I probably won’t get in much more game time until Sunday night or Monday, but I like what I see so far.

Sent from the Operation Sports App

[ZachenFoot]

CPU bullpen usage seemed to reflect today’s game more, no relievers going 2 to 4 innings.

This is so encouraging to hear, I'm a CPU vs. CPU player and it felt like no matter how much I tweaked stamina and manager hook the game could never get this right. Awesome.

[snaz16]

My old man hands likes that you now have the option to have the pitching cursor in meter pitching hold automatically to where you set it if you let go of the L3 (or is that R3?) stick. I did turn pitcher control and consistency down by one notch tho to offset it just a bit to compensate or my newfound better control.

Thats nice. My seventy year old hands can sometimes get the shakes when I put the stick in certain positions.

[slthree]

I'm just going to post my impression and then I'll go back and read everything else. I haven't read a single post in this thread so it's possible I get flamed after I give my impression

I had no interest in getting this game because I get it every year and over the past few years it's just felt the same to me, a little stale

But, I've always said if I can afford it, I'm going to support developers that I like and I definitely like these developers

Pre-ordered the deluxe package and figured I was probably just donating for the sake of donating

But, I love this game. I'm in shock that it feels different to me, and maybe it's only me. It's less glossy, less polished. To me it looks more grounded, earthy, realistic. That may not make sense to anybody but me 🤷♂️

I see the ball much better in my default hitting view. I have no idea why because I'm a year older

I think I've detected something with the defensive players but it might just be in my head. It used to be that when the ball was hit my defenders were kind of locked out of me moving them for a split second or two and then I was able to take over

I feel like I can move them much quicker now, like right from the beginning. It's hard to explain

Also, I don't know if it's related to the new defensive settings or not, but I've seen a few balls go over outfielders heads extremely realistically.
It used to be, I could tell immediately if it was a homerun or if it wasn't a go off the wall or if it was going to be caught. I've had two surprise doubles on balls I thought were going to be caught.

I wonder if that's related to the new defensive ratings of moving forward and moving backwards. Maybe you guys who have been following all the reveals would know better than me.

Because I hadn't seen any reveals ahead of time this might not be news to you, but I was shocked to learn ABS was in the game. It's been so much fun

Not sure if this impression is helpful because it's hard to quantify how something "FEELS".

IT'S THE BEST VERSION IN MY HUMBLE OPINION FOR SEVERAL YEARS

[MizzouRah]

After more time with the game, it's yet again clear that SDS listens to its fans and makes tweaks/improvements all over, at least in franchise mode.

Love the different HR replay cameras, the end of the 5th inning highlights, the closer walk ins, bullpen usage is again improved, lineup logic looks solid, CPU uses ABS, etc, etc...

Thanks again SDS for bringing your masterpiece to Xbox. There is no sports game that a company listens more to its fans than you do.

[SportsGamer89]

It appears that once again this year the CPU will not attempt a 2nd pickoff move to keep a runner close. So if they throw over once unsuccessfully, then you can just take an extra step lead without fear of being picked off.

Hoping that maybe I just haven't seen it or they patch it.

Bummer

Yeah I created a house rule for myself for pickoffs. If I lead off and he throws over, I can no longer take that extra step. I will also still try to steal without it.

[LoadStar81]

For the Amateur section of RTTS:

High school games do look better, but I am utterly at a loss to explain how. You'll have to see it in motion, or play it. But there's a je ne sais quoi improvement to how those look.

The dialogue scenes for recruiting in high school, have been moved to the phone. You'll get a few brief looks at your character talking to some of the recruiters, but the actual (and rather one-sided) conversations are done via text. Maybe that's just 21st century recruiting for ya?

If you get an invite to the Draft Combine (not always guaranteed), you'll get a set of drills, and one live game. The extended preps schedule makes up for the two fewer Combine games, and that makes more sense than spending a lot of time in a big league park in the prologue.

Jessica Mendoza doesn't get a ton of material to work with in the CWS. She does well with what she got, though.

CWS championship winners' sequence needed a bit more oomph. I know it's just a prologue, but...

After your first CWS, your decision whether to go back for your senior year, or enter the MLB draft, is binding.

After getting drafted, there's a new sequence where your character actually signs the contract, then gets to look around the big club's field for a bit. Don't skip it. It has no business slapping that hard.

Do not, not, NOT ignore your phone! Inbound messages can sometimes have "hidden" goals that you shouldn't miss.

Overall, the prologue is no small production this time around. Proof of the pudding will, however, be in the main "professional" loop.

[SmashMan]

Anyone else not get PitchCom? It's not something I'd leave on but I thought I'd check it out once. I tried switching settings but still nothing thru controller or TV speakers.

Aside from that, I just had a little time to play this morning so I only got a couple innings in. Very, very early impression is that gameplay is probably as good as ever. CPU successfully used ABS, which was cool to see. Of course I didn't have the same success challenging a call from ol' Clyde Washington.

Regional presentation looked nice, can't wait to see other cities' and check out the main The Show theme. I had two FanCams and one UmpCam in the first three innings. Not sure if that was luck of the draw or they increased the frequency for that stuff. FanCam I get often enough but UmpCam has been rare for me since they added it.

Felt a difference in fielding right away. I didn't make it to a ball in the gap with PCA that I definitely would've last year. That's my test. 😂

[Cod]

The umpires actually look and dress like real umpires now! No more giant feet, they wear weather appropriate attire, etc.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Anyone else not get PitchCom? It's not something I'd leave on but I thought I'd check it out once. I tried switching settings but still nothing thru controller or TV speakers.

Aside from that, I just had a little time to play this morning so I only got a couple innings in. Very, very early impression is that gameplay is probably as good as ever. CPU successfully used ABS, which was cool to see. Of course I didn't have the same success challenging a call from ol' Clyde Washington.

Regional presentation looked nice, can't wait to see other cities' and check out the main The Show theme. I had two FanCams and one UmpCam in the first three innings. Not sure if that was luck of the draw or they increased the frequency for that stuff. FanCam I get often enough but UmpCam has been rare for me since they added it.

Felt a difference in fielding right away. I didn't make it to a ball in the gap with PCA that I definitely would've last year. That's my test. 😂

I tried it thru the tv then the controller but found it irritating and it subtracted from my immersion so I switched it to Visual only, no Audio for me.

[SmashMan]

I figured it out, and it was (…drum roll…) user error. Don’t know when I did it but I had the controller speaker turned down in the PS5 settings. Tried PitchCom audio for an inning and that was enough for me, haha.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Thats nice. My seventy year old hands can sometimes get the shakes when I put the stick in certain positions.

It's great for my hands and I used to get stick drift with my old PS4 controllers after they were about a year old, so it affected my placement but thankfully none of my PS5 controllers have declined to that state. And if they ever do, I won't have to worry about it messing my pitches up with this new feature.

Thanks SDS!!