MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

[claystone]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I just have to say...WOW. Why can't they make a football game like this?

SCEA, great job. If only you guys can make a football game. We don't need the real NFL teams to enjoy the game.

[ehh]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Ehh...Was the computer pitching like '08 where if the attack the SZ early, you beat them at their own game and swing early...Then if you get enough hits, they switch it up and throw more balls?

To a certain extent but I was playing on default HOF so if they missed the zone it was pretty much by the less than the width of one baseball - they'd barely miss (even Tim Redding) unless it was a curveball in the dirt. I was swinging at most pitches because of this, plus using the L-stick I was able to make solid contact even if it was on the black or just off. Redding simply wasn't throwing balls and I was having trouble getting hits off him even though he was all over the zone for eight innings. I ended up winning 3-1 on three solo homers though, I think I had five total hits. I think he had something insane like 60 pitches and only 7 were balls. If I'd pull the "I'm gonna take pitches until I have two strikes" he would zip two pitches right over the plate, lol. I was like, "Did they add a mind-reading feature to '09?"

One other thing, and sliders should fix this, I'd like to see more user foul tips and weak foul balls, not just the pop-ups that land in the stands when your timing is off. It was hard to draw a walk because most pitches I made contact with were put in play while the CPU could foul off several pitches and work the count in order to draw walks.

[vernond]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Man rought first franchise game. Royals (me) vs White Sox i'm getting no hit through 6 a drop a bunt down with Crisp for my only hit of the game. Get chewed by Hudler for baseball etiquette breaking up the no no with a bunt. Lost 4-0 on hof.

[slthree]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I just have to say...WOW. Why can't they make a football game like this?

SCEA, great job. If only you guys can make a football game. We don't need the real NFL teams to enjoy the game.

If this team made a football game I would gladly pay a hundred dollars for it, sight unseen.

Some mod should close this thread immediately, because, nothing we write can do this work of art justice.

[Marino]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Just won my first game, and well it was quite epic. Hiroki Kuroda pitched a 1 hit shutout against the Reds striking out 7. Manny homered twice and Dre once.

[blinkfan77]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I just came here to toss my $.02 in. This game is in so many ways, simply amazing. I've played one game so far and I'm just so impressed with everything. Thank you SCEA.

[braun4mvp]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Just pitched an amazing game with Lincecum. CG, 4 H, 1 R, 15K's. Struck out the side in the 5th and the 9th. Won the game 4-1 against the D-backs. This game is something else. So glad i got a ps3 last year.

[ojperez_22]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Ok im on the fence. I really liked 2k9 demo and hated 2k8. I played the show last year and really had trouble hitting. Mostly play online and every friggin pitch looks like a strike and a fastball. At least in the 2k9 demo you really can tell a ball from a strike. I also wish that you could use pitcher view for online at least for pitching. Does everything else override these things?

[dkrause1971]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

To a certain extent but I was playing on default HOF so if they missed the zone it was pretty much by the less than the width of one baseball - they'd barely miss (even Tim Redding) unless it was a curveball in the dirt. I was swinging at most pitches because of this, plus using the L-stick I was able to make solid contact even if it was on the black or just off. Redding simply wasn't throwing balls and I was having trouble getting hits off him even though he was all over the zone for eight innings. I ended up winning 3-1 on three solo homers though, I think I had five total hits. I think he had something insane like 60 pitches and only 7 were balls. If I'd pull the "I'm gonna take pitches until I have two strikes" he would zip two pitches right over the plate, lol. I was like, "Did they add a mind-reading feature to '09?"

One other thing, and sliders should fix this, I'd like to see more user foul tips and weak foul balls, not just the pop-ups that land in the stands when your timing is off. It was hard to draw a walk because most pitches I made contact with were put in play while the CPU could foul off several pitches and work the count in order to draw walks.

Right now this is really my only beef with the game. I just feel walks shouldn't be harder than homers to get. If i don't swing at the first two pitches they seem to be strikes. If they miss its seems to be barely.

I searched for articles on balls/strike percentages and the best pitchers Umps were between 60-65%. I know i swing at some balls but it seems like 70-80% are strikes or so close i have to swing at them.

Are you guys making any slider changes yet? maybe pitch speed and strike %? otherwise i really enjoy the game. Or any tips on taking more balls or getting the CPU to throw more.

[theaub]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Yeah I'm definitely seeing CPU pitchers pound the zone.

[Garrett67]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

On default HOF, I Hit 5 homeruns in my first game, 3 by Gary Sheffield.

I can see I will have to lower contact/power again this year but that isn't a big deal.

RTTS, I love the new settings and the over look of the mode. Unlike a regular exhibition game, I cannot hit squat in RTTS. I'm 0-11 right now with 4 K's LOL

[dkrause1971]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

On default HOF, I Hit 5 homeruns in my first game, 3 by Gary Sheffield.

I can see I will have to lower contact/power again this year but that isn't a big deal.

RTTS, I love the new settings and the over look of the mode. Unlike a regular exhibition game, I cannot hit squat in RTTS. I'm 0-11 right now with 4 K's LOL

I wonder if its mainly just Sheffield that is overpowered? In my 3 homers he has hit two of them. The last one was a grand slam in the bottom of the 8th to help me win 5-4. Was pretty neat.

[Garrett67]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I wonder if its mainly just Sheffield that is overpowered? In my 3 homers he has hit two of them. The last one was a grand slam in the bottom of the 8th to help me win 5-4. Was pretty neat.

Could be I suppose, especially since he is sitting on 499 HR's.

Time will tell though, I could have just been lucky in my first game.

[ty5oke]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

PNC is a thing of beauty in this game. I might have to be the pirates in my franchise, might be the only stadium I can stand playing 82 games in.

[VitaminKG21]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Played my first game, a 3-1 loss to the Phillies in 12 innings. I was the Giants and Timmy v. Hamels was a proper pitching duel. Both went eight and gave up one run, Hamels K'd me 11 times (ouch) and I struck out 9 with Timmy (on classic). Utley got me in the 12th with a walk-off two run blast off Noah Lowry.

All in all a great game right out of the box with no changes made to any sliders. It will take me a few games to get my timing back at the plate, but even so, a lot of fun.

A couple cool things I noticed:

- Aaron Rowand comes to the plate in the 2nd and gets a nice ovation from the Philly crowd. He tips his helmet and has a nice little chat with Ruiz behind the dish. Very cool.

- I warm up Affeldt and Wilson in the 9th and between pitches I notice out in the bullpen a lefty and righty are both warming up in the correct spots in the bullpen. Later when I get Wilson back up (I had a few chances to score late and missed them) I saw him warming up solo again. Love that.

- My only beef in the game was the fact that they managed to get JC Romero's motion 100% spot on and somehow found a way to make Lincecum's just a titch off.

I know he's the poster boy for 2K9, but c'mon SCEA, you can do better than that. That little hop at the end to get into fielding position a la Mike Hampton??? Timmy doesn't do that and you know it.