MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

[JibJab 24]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Just got the game and played a few exhibition games and some RTTS. The day night progression is very nice, but the thing I'm most impressed with is the field degradation. That's downright amazing to me.

[magoo1967]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I just finished my first game, and I'm pretty impressed so far. As expected, the retail game definitely plays better than the demo. Framerate is much smoother, everything just looks better. I played as the Yankees vs the Mets at the new Yankee Stadium and I got my butt handed to me on a platter. I played on All-Star difficulty, I'm definitely not ready for HOF yet, and forget about Legend (I probably won't play much on that level at all). Sabathia got lit up and I lost 9-3. Santana was pitching a no-no against me until 2 outs in the 6th. I gave up most of the runs early and it was mainly because I was very rusty at pitching & fielding. I blame my lack of hitting mostly on Johan's expertise. It probably should have been more like a 6-3 game if I was in "video game baseball shape" .

It's hard to have too many impressions based on one game, but I definitely liked what I saw so far. Here are some quick initial thoughts...I saw a few hit types that I don't remember seeing in 08 at all (mostly by the CPU). I ended up with a total of 5 hits and all three of my runs came via the long ball (solo shot by Cano and a 2 run jack by Teixeira, both off of relievers). I noticed a number of nice new fielding animations & also heard lots of fresh commentary (along with some older stuff of-course). The crowd & stadium looked spectacular. I loved how they showed Cano turn and acknowledge the fans during the traditional Yankee Stadium roll call. The game was stopped twice in consecutive innings late in the game due to beach balls on the field (same cut scenes as last year), probably because I was getting blown out. I laughed when the crowd started chanting "boooring" when I was down 8-1 (I don't really remember them doing that last year, but I'm not sure).

Can't wait to play the heck out of this game over the next few days (& weeks, & months). I quickly checked out the batting practice mode and it was pretty cool. I like how it plays your music through the PA while you hit. The pitcher seemed to take forever between pitches though. The sound editor stuff looks great, but I didn't fool with any of it yet. The way you manage your roster moves is different this year and I got a bit confused, but I'm sure it's just a matter of getting used to it. I didn't touch Franchise mode at all. I couldn't log into SportsConnect, each time I tried it kept saying that I need to do an an update, then when I hit "ok" it comes back with a "log in failed" message. (the servers probably aren't up yet).

That's all I got for now. I realize that most of what I said was already mentioned, but these are just MY initial hands on impressions. I hope to post more after I dig a little deeper under the hood of this baby. Must get sleep now.

[Artman22]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

My "Then and Now" was catchers. Strange thing it played catchers twice. I haven't seen any other TaN. I only turned it on twice though so....


I can't tell you guys all the nuances of the game compared to 08 since I got 08 late but I'll tell you the hit variety is on the money. Some things I noticed that do bother me or should I say a thing I noticed was about 3 times I forced a popup behind home but way off to the right and I was unable to move my catcher to attempt to get it. All 3 times the ball landed on the grass so I'm sure I could have got it or at least got a good shot at getting it. I might be missing something but it just seems the catcher just sits there waiting for the ump to give him a new ball.

Also they said, I believe it was them, that they have these new jumbotron movies for strike outs , home runs etc. But you never really get to see them. You usually just catch the last second of it or never see it at all.

Those issues aside the game is great. Played Yanks vs Rays and jumped out on them 6-0 early but I couldn't produce any runs after that and the Rays rattled off 7 unanswered and won. I messed up by pulling my starter to quick in the middle of the 6th. I think I should have let him keep going even though he was getting in trouble. Bruney did good but I then pulled him way to quick and thats when it all fell apart.

Man the same thing happened to me as well earlier as far as a come back. I was playing the mess i ean mets lol. I was trashing them with A.J. I had 8 strikeouts and he only gave up 2 runs. Since he was tired in the 7th i took him out and brought in Damaso Marte. What was that for????!!!! The mets started rocking him. They ended up scoring 6 runs in the 7th inning. I gave David Wright a nice little 94MPH fastball to the dome for starting that rally lol. This game is a lot of fun. I'm having a blast with it so far. The game did something funny though. It called beltran delgado. I was like WTF? lol... Overall It's a real good game and it's way better then 08 to me. The graphics are breathtaking

[Artman22]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

All the air you can breath and then some.
Nothing from what I can tell. I didn't look at the booklet or any paperwork so maybe there's something inside but I didn't see anything on the front cover or on the plastic.


I'm doing the Road to the Show and I'm thinking maybe I should have lied HEAVILY about my age. Seems like "Retirement" is my only goal. I'm going back to my High School days and being a pitcher. I gave up a run but otherwise I went 3 innings and did pretty good. Gave up a few too many hits but got out of trouble, UNFORTUNATELY I got drafted by the Padres. I was hoping the Yankees would pick me up but they probably don't know I exist.

Game is fun guys.


I actually got on base, as a pitcher, but had no idea what I was doing. The ball was hit so fast I was just caught out there and didn't help one bit trying to stay out of a double play. Fortunately the guy hitting was pretty fast but like a dumbbleep I scrambled back to first like a little girl and almost ruined the whole thing.

You should have been a coach in RTTS mode

[Blzer]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Okay, so I got eight hours of this game under my belt, and it is damn phenomenal!

I really don't know where to start, I wish that I took notes on all of the little things that happened in my games! I also got a great kick out of all the things you can do with audio in this game (heckles, walkup music, etc). I played multiplayer with my friend like forever, and we just had a blast!

Honestly, I really don't know what to say haha. These impressions kind of suck, I expected to put like a crap load of things in here.

[Kashanova]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Is this a responsiveness issue, or just a "not used to the controls" issue? Meaning, do you find it too sensetive or too sluggish?

too responsive for sure.

[Kashanova]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Kash is this your first year playing the game?!

nope I have 08 also

[Jeffrey99]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

UNFORTUNATELY I got drafted by the Padres. I was hoping the Yankees would pick me up but they probably don't know I exist.

So you actually get drafted this year? That's cool. How long is the first contract for? Is it still only 1 year like last year?

[dbrandon]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

What is the roster size?

Thanks

[kt-od]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Just saw some pictures of a Marlins/Astros game.

Still seem like the MLB style guide hasn't updated the Astros jersey's. The number on the front is still wrong. You would think that it would be correct by now. I mean they even updated the Red Sox new jerseys.

Oh well, a little jersey imperfection isn't going to keep me from playing the heck out of this game.

[~Guru~]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

well it has now happened in the retail version

my fielder goes into a canned animation to shag an easy fly ball and i cant move him from the circle and the ball bounces next to him which leads to 2 runs scored..horrible

and this only happes when there are runners on base

incredible....

[brunnoce]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

thank god for auto fielding

[Blzer]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

well it has now happened in the retail version

my fielder goes into a canned animation to shag an easy fly ball and i cant move him from the circle and the ball bounces next to him which leads to 2 runs scored..horrible

and this only happes when there are runners on base

incredible....

I only had that once, but it was big. I was in left (and I play with only the region indicator, but I can tell just by the camera following the ball) and there was a line drive hit to my right (my player's left). I go toward left center and notice it will be landing on the right-ish side of the landing reticule and hold onto Right to get over there. Once he reaches the shaded region, he stops and poses to catch it. I try to move him but he won't, and to my dismay it just passed by ten feet to the right and all the way to the wall for a triple and two runs scored.

[~Guru~]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I only had that once, but it was big. I was in left (and I play with only the region indicator, but I can tell just by the camera following the ball) and there was a line drive hit to my right (my player's left). I go toward left center and notice it will be landing on the right-ish side of the landing reticule and hold onto Right to get over there. Once he reaches the shaded region, he stops and poses to catch it. I try to move him but he won't, and to my dismay it just passed by ten feet to the right and all the way to the wall for a triple and two runs scored.

exactly.....this happened a few times in the demo and now it happened in the retail version...

and it happens mostly when there are runners on base

SCEA has to fix this for next year...the fielding in this game is borderline comical...

give the user control....people talk about ohhh but what about the animations...yea what about canned results...is a joke..

[DickDalewood]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

exactly.....this happened a few times in the demo and now it happened in the retail version...

and it happens mostly when there are runners on base

SCEA has to fix this for next year...the fielding in this game is borderline comical...

give the user control....people talk about ohhh but what about the animations...yea what about canned results...is a joke..

Wow that really blows. I've never EVER had this happen though, is it because I play with all indicators on maybe?