MLB 10: The Show Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3	Review Rating Legend
Dev: SCE San Diego	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: SONY	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: March 2, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Visually, The Show looks as sharp as ever. All the big names looks like their flesh and blood counterparts and created players have plenty of options and detail available. Animations are smooth and crisp with plenty of variety in nearly all instances. It's certainly nitpicking when a game is as polished as The Show, but when batting, pitching, and sliding animations have dozens of variations it makes the few instances which only offer one or two stick out.

MLB 10: The Show screenshot

It looked a little odd when the bases were loaded and on a fly foul all base runners stopped their run at the same point when the hit was called foul, kicking up their legs in lackadaisical union before trotting back to their original bases. It certainly is a trite complaint, but is a minor suggestion for next year's outing to keep each player looking like an individual instead of an AI-controlled algorithm while rounding the bases.

Music is always up to much debate and personal preference, but there is a solid mix of songs this year. In particular, We Are Scientists' track "Rules Don't Stop" sticks out as the song I've found myself humming away from the The Show. It's a catchy tune amongst a dozen or so other tracks. That being said, the biggest low point in The Show is its announcing. While play-by-play man Matt Vasgersian is a solid announcer, Dave Campbell and Rex Hudler offer little in their color commentary and analysis. They're observations come across as annoying and snide; enough to make it worthwhile to turn all announcing features off. This may be the only area that 2K's series is hands down better than Sony's. Perhaps next year Sony can copy 2K for once, instead of vice-versa, and up the quality of their announcing. It would be a change that seemingly everyone would welcome.

Once again MLB 10: The Show demonstrates what a AAA sports title can do. There are a myriad of game modes, from Home Run Derby to Manager Mode, the ever present Franchise Mode, and the crown jewel of them all, Road to the Show… each offering a plethora of customization options. It's wonderful to be able to tweak the experience to exactly your preferred style of play and the number of ways that can be done is simply staggering. As per the last few years, The Show is not merely the best baseball game this year, but is the best baseball game ever released. Despite improved competition The Show still stands head and shoulders above all challengers. From the hardcore to casual baseball fan, MLB 10: The Show is a must.

By Caleb Newby
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.5

Graphics
Beautiful from the stadiums to the players down to the little animations that hold it altogether.

4.5

Control
Batting can be a challenge, but controls are crisp, responsive, and make sense.

4.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
While the music is good, the announcing is due for an upgrade.

4.8

Play Value
Nothing captures the flavor of Major League Baseball better or in so many ways. Addictive as can be, even for the casual fan.

4.6

Overall Rating - Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

New Home Run Derby and MLB All-Star Futures Game.

Catcher Mode Get into the first-person perspective, choose the pitches, and manage the game.

Full Online Multiplayer and Season Leagues Improved online play and new Online Season Leagues. Save and display MLB player stats and offer 40-man roster functionality.

Vast improvements to atmosphere and gameplay Daytime transitional lighting, greater crowd and player presentations, more unscripted game scenarios, etc.

Custom Music, Fan Yells, and Chants.