What's Hot and What's Not With MLB 09: The Show

[sbmnky]

It's much more polished and a completely different experience. I understand the point your making. The demo doesn't do the actual game justice - it's a supreme "upgrade" over last year.

If your stuck playing '08 and you never played '09, you'd be extremely happy. But if you tasted '09 (not the demo) and then had to play '08 again, you'd be sad!

Hope that helps.

[sirwoodz]

man...those "NOTS" are weak!!! lol.

They need to update the one button thing, but hell, sometimes I play 2k9 with the one button hitting on if i'm being lazy...

no single a teams? oh man, where's my kleenex? please...but like somebody already said, the only way this game will not get a high as a score that it got last year is if reviewers do argue that is essentially the same game as last years.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: What's Hot and What's Not With MLB 09: The Show

Spending $60 wasn't the argument. The concept of how much different this game is from MLB 08 was the actual question being asked. Again, I just shot the question out there to get some objective thoughts as to just how much the 09 version has changed from the already exceptional 08 version.

I'm not criticizing the Show 09 at all- please everyone understand that. If someone sticks with the Show 08, will they really be missing that much this baseball season?

Probably so...if they're a big baseball fan. The franchise updates alone, add enough life to the game for it to be worth it, IMO.

There are numerous tweaks and improvements to the batter/pitcher confrontation, hit variety, fielding, etc. Pitchers now miss spots more, and the running game has been given some love as well. I just named numerous things improved without touching the lighting and other visual effects, presentation (including custom chants) etc.

This is more than just a retread. I think the issue for you here (Which you made apparent by an earlier response) is that the control scheme is the same, meaning how you play is essentially the same.

You're looking for a "new" gameplay experience rather than refining the current one. That's not going to happen often with a game that's not bad...and when it does, it usually leads to disaster. You might be better off with 2K9 if you're looking for constant change

So, for what you claim to be looking for (essentially controls, right?) YOU might be better off moving on and perhaps waiting until next year, as there are rumors floating that they may be adding some new control schemes into the mix. It may not be worth the money to you right now.

I personally think you're mistaken in the sense that a game doesn't need to change it's "feel" from year to year in order to be worth a pick-up, but that's me. I just don't understand belaboring the point.

There was another thread about this. "Is it worth it" questions are subjective. You seem to be convinced it's not for you, yet you continue on trying to get people to convince you it seems.

[Danny305miA]

I'll take the goodwith the bad but the only thing with the whole MLB 2K9 and MLB The Show is that MLB 2K9 improved way more in its own game then the Show did, ofcourse they had way more things to improve but they made a pretty big dent in the gap between the two games kause last year no one could argue that 2k9 was better but this year you can actually make an arguement with the two. Cant wait to see what the show does to answer the improvements that 2k did this year. Go FISH!!

[DubTrey1]

Not broken don't fix it - only improve on what is there is good for me. SCEA has done a great job of building on to an already great foundation. Additions listed in the post here can be explored in years to come as long as features and additional options are not removed or broken in the process.

[ffyfe7]

I would pay $120.00 for this game. :wink:

We have to pay $120.00 in Australia so I am paying double really

[dorismary]

Re: What's Hot and What's Not With MLB 09: The Show

I would have paid double a month ago but now only regular price .

[mrnickyb]

Re: What's Hot and What's Not With MLB 09: The Show

And don't forget that you have a major difference this year simply because there are two brand new stadiums in Major League Baseball. I want to be able to play in the new Yankee and Mets stadiums, something I can't do in '08.

Also, I love that they added batting practice. It might not seem like much to some but I loved batting practice in High Heat and I look forward to using it in the Show.

Also, 40 man rosters can't be underestimated. It's an important, and realistic addition...

[nefanman]

I guess you needed to be "fair and balanced" and do this with 'The Show'. I downloaded 2k for PS3....what a bad game. In my opinion 'The Show' is the greatest sports game available, probably of all time. It truly shows off the power of the PS3 system.

In regards to what it is missing, my only thing would be the Homerun Derby (maybe). I have to say the Derby was played very little by me in games of the past. EA did a really nice job in '05 with the franchise mode, A ball teams were included. Again, for sim franchise pursposes I would like but how much does one play as their hometown team. We have a AA-Eastern Lg team where I live and I probably play a handful of games. This years game is the bomb!!!

The one feature I was hoping they were adding is the add your own face feature to the game like Tiger Woods Golf does. It would be cool to really get yourself into this game, esp in The Road to the Show feature.

I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning waiting for this one. While I guess nothing is completely perfect in everyone's eyes.....this game has got to pretty close. Hoping that someone is doing a midnight sale on Monday...I would be there.

[BedBug]

They should have mentioned the commentary as being a NOT because it is AWFUL.

[Pared]

Re: What's Hot and What's Not With MLB 09: The Show

If someone sticks with the Show 08, will they really be missing that much this baseball season?

Being that this article is for sports gaming enthusiasts on a sports gaming website, the answer to this question should be obvious.

The additions catapult this game past most others. How can someone find a reason to not justify the purchase of one of the most solid sports games available?

High praise for '08 included, '09 is just that much better.

[Sleeper]

Re: What's Hot and What's Not With MLB 09: The Show

HOT for '09

• Custom batter walk up music
• Much improved lighting compared to last year
• Appears to have more variety in hits (especially for extra bases)
• More dynamic crowd animations and models
• Player in game faces seem to have been improved

NOT SO HOT for '09

• Fielding camera is like a flying saucer that flies along to the action as opposed to a static camera that zooms in on the action. The latter would look more like a TV broadcast. Hopefully next year they can add a TV broadcast fielding camera on top of the existing Low, Medium and High views.

For me, the good definitely out-weighs the bad. Bring it on!

[Player9]

I would seriously hate this game if they change the batter/pitcher interface to something gimmicky like 2k9

It's so perfect right now, smooth, and a lot deeper than it seems. It makes for better human vs. human duels when turning off the pitch location icon and strike zone

hi,i agree with pbz06. If the pitcher/batter interface change is a bad move! Head to head (in the Show)is great without the meter and strikes location zone.I don't like the lock at batting in the show, isn't simulation.When I played vs computer in the past,the MVP series with the meter was apropiated because was challengin to control a fatigue pitcher.But the show is fine too.I 'm sure that some baseball games was great, MVP,High Heat ,Ken Griffey jr and now The Show.The baseball's 2k series needs more things to "catch" me.I will play the demo again to try to feel the best of the game.i bougth 2k baseball game in the past and lost my money except for play the manager mode for some weeks with intensity.The cover athlete was Giambi.Remember this game?I played a lot of sports videogames.Be happy!

[lunkergrabber]

the day light would have been cool but lets face it this game is the best baseball game since MVP baseball. I actually played 21 seasons on 2008 version and it was cool to retire. I would like to see 3 things:1 is when you retire make it cool, and make it so that I can creat a new player and start a new career in the year my other guy retired...2. is let me continue my 2008 saved games on 09, like transfer my stats over..I know with new players on new teams would be tough so I would just make it like your transporting your guy in as a free agent on the off season 3. hrs i like watching where my hrs land...but sometimes its tough to get the angle over the fence make the camera go out there...