| Al's Ramblings | |||
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Thursday, April 24, 2008 (4/24/2008 11:45:00 AM) - Jason Christopherson Since Al will be away, I'll take this opportunity to review MLB 08: The Show for PS2. I'm not sure what difference there are with other formats, but I can't imagine the game play is all that different. My intention was to get this review out there a while back, but I just didn't get the chance to play the game much. The game has been out for a couple of months now, so I realize that if you were at all interested in it you probably would have picked it up already. With that in mind, we'll keep this review short and sweet for those that might still be on the fence. Also, if anyone has individual questions I invite you to shoot me an email and I'll do my best to answer (I apologize to one reader who already sent me a question. I can't find the email anymore, so please re-send it if you get a moment). There is nothing out of the ordinary as far as game play options. All the basics are available, from exhibition games to Home Run Derby. One game, called "King of the Diamond", is still a bit of a mystery to me. I didn't do much with the franchise mode, either. The game play itself is quite good. I found it extremely challenging at first--even in rookie mode. Experienced gamers probably won't have the same problems. Then I found the "sliders" option. Through trial and error I was able to find the right levels that made the game more fun and less frustrating. You are basically able to customize the game play to whatever style you like. Although I don't have a ton of experience with other games, I was never able to achieve the correct hitting "balance" until MLB 08. I'm extremely impressed by this feature. Some of the other nice game play functions include batter and pitch analysis, which allow you to see tendencies. Along those same lines you can opt for a "suggested" pitch and location, but even as a beginner I wasn't a fan of this feature. In the season mode there is something called PBP (Prior Batting Performance?) that reward you with better contact if you have been performing above average previously. If you've been awful (my hand is now raised), then it will show the batter's confidence level. The last thing I wanted to mention about general game play is the ability to toggle off the between pitch "fluff" and quicken the game a bit. Too bad a similar feature isn't available from FSN. The signature game, Road to the Show, is somewhat frustrating. Which probably accurately simulates the feelings of real-life minor leaguers, so I guess that's the point. There doesn't seem to be any special reasons for promotions and demotions. I completely outplayed AA (yeah, that's where I ended up out of Spring Training--wanna fight about it?) and achieve most of my goals while every other catcher in the organization tanked for the season. Yet, there was no promotion. Quick play mode applies here, obviously, but it has its glitches, too. For example, I would fast forward to my next play and it would be catching a pop up or taking a throw from the outfield. I knew as a catcher that if the situation didn't have me batting it was likely going to have me catch a pop up or try to throw somebody out stealing. It would have been nice to have an "offense only" quick play mode. Biggest positives: 1. Detailed sliders 2. Extremely good play by play. Sorry Al, I miss Matty V! In most games you hear the same lines over and over again (I meant VIDEO games, but for some reason Bill is popping in to my head right now), but not this one. It really sounds like a true game is being played. 3. Pitcher tendencies and swing analysis--you can see just how bad you missed that last pitch. Biggest negatives: 1. Load time. Hopefully this is better on PS3 or PSP, because the wait time is simply way too long. It really takes its toll during Road to the Show play. 2. I had a difficult time figuring out where the pitch was coming in, but maybe this will come with time. I'm doing my best Braun impression--I don't think I've walked yet. 3. Fairly limited "juke box" gets old quickly. 4. Load time. Yep, it's that bad. Overall, I definitely recommend MLB 08: The Show for those that enjoy actually playing the individual games. The load time made Road to the Show less fun than it could be, but it's still a good way to whittle away the day. I'd have to reserve comment on the franchise mode, though I would guess the load times might hinder that as well. Al will soon be announcing another way to win one of two copies of MLB08TS for PS3, so please stay tuned. 4/24/2008 11:45:00 AM |
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