MLB 12 the Show: Gameplay Review for Hit Baseball Video Game

With the release of MLB 12 The Show for PS3, the baseball season has officially began. That is just how big this game has become within my yearly baseball experience.

For at least the past six years, it has been the pinnacle of the virtual diamond, and this year's version is shaping up just as solid.

Here is a review of the game and its new features.

(With the on-line servers just kicking in at the time of release, I'll just touch on them conceptually as we await the breakdown once the servers handle a full load of gamers.)

Graphics & Animation

In a word, beautiful. I didn't think that this game could look better than it did in 2011, but I was wrong. The player models are mostly the same, but as always, lighting and texturing tweaks make the players and stadiums look so much more life-like. 

Take a look at a few shots of players here:

Player likenesses and stadium renders don't come much better than this. The animation is also stellar again this year. One look at players rounding the bases or giving chase to line drives is proof. The Show delivers the most "is this a real game" comments than any other sports game on the market.

Take a look at these gameplay clips, and you'll see what I mean:

This is easily one of the best-looking sports games ever.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Gameplay and Realism

If you're a fan of The Show, you know it's beauty isn't only skin deep. The gameplay and realism have delivered as well. This year, the gameplay hasn't been altered much, and that's a good thing. If it isn't broken, don't fix it. But I did notice a few weird physics elements in a few of the games I've played.

They were ever so subtle, but I noticed them. 

In one instance, I hit a hard grounder up the middle and the ball caromed off the right side of the mound. That's pretty normal, but the fact that it flew out to mid-to-shallow right field seemed a little arcade-ish.

That is something that can be addressed via patch, and in about 50 innings of gameplay, I only saw about three weird caroms like this. Most gamers won't cry foul with that ratio.

The Show did some new things with ball physics this year, and it is possible that the last few kinks are being worked out in this area.

The other new gameplay additions are as follows:

Motion Controller

The Show 12 now allows gamers to use the Playstation Move to control batting, pitching, fielding and base-running, with a combination of buttons and physical movements.

I'm not much a motion gamer when it comes to my hardcore favorites, but I do believe this genre of gaming is a good fit for baseball.

Zone Plus Analog Batting

This allows gamers to use the left and right stick for hitting. The left stick controls the hitting zone indicator, while the right stick controls the actual swing.

I still use traditional timing settings, but the analog controls add a great deal of intuitiveness to the gameplay and more of a challenge for gamers who are hitting machines.

Pulse Pitching

This is a new meter that allows gamers to control the accuracy of their pitches based on timing and release points. It makes it more difficult to hit spots and adds some challenge to the overall pitching mechanic.

Again, I used the traditional meter. This addition is somewhat of an answer to the MLB2K meter that has received some rave reviews. This is as solid if this is the way you choose to play the game,

Bullpen Management

Gamers can control how long a pitcher warms up in the bullpen when you make the initial call. This is useful for someone like myself. In 2011, I have been known to forget that I had a pitcher warming up, only to find him passed out after throwing the equivalent to a nine-inning game's worth of pitches in the bullpen.

This will help the absent-minded manager in us all.

Overall, I'm happy with the way the game plays and feels. Spending too much time talking about a few physics oddities is like complaining about the occasional walk from Clayton Kershaw. The overall package is still stellar.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Sound and Presentation

Sony has finally heard my cry for more detail and fresh content to the sound package. The sound effects are awesome, and quite honestly, that is the simple part of audio achievement in a sports game. 

The challenge has come with adding fresh commentary to the announcing team that doesn't become mundane for gamers within the first week.

The Show has done a solid job of doing that this year.

Are there still some holdover comments from previous seasons?

Yes, but there is also a ton of new dialogue, and thankfully, much more conversational banter between Matt Vasgersian, Eric Karros and Steve Campbell. It actually sounds like they are in the same booth this year.

From a presentation level, The Show hit a grand slam. They have implemented something called True Broadcast. The game already had solid TV broadcast qualities, but now the next step has been taken and it's impressive.

There are even more cameras, more true-to-life cut scenes after pitches, home runs, between innings overlays, etc. It feels the most like a real broadcast of a sport than any other sports game I've played.

This vide0 shows the presentation off in all its glory:

Rating 10 out of 10

Game Modes and Options

The Show still offers a deep and engrossing franchise mode. Honestly, it had great depth to begin with, so there wasn't a ton that needed to be tweaked. What was addressed was better CPU trade logic.

Teams will make better decisions on deals and will make trades based on what the real-life clubs would actually do.

The Road to the Show (RTTS) mode changes a little this year. Now, your created player will begin the mode as a starter for the AA team of the organization that drafts you. If you select a pitcher, he'll immediately be in the rotation, or he'll be a closer from day one.

It throws gamers into the action earlier and aids in keeping the attention of gamers who drift away without enough immediate satisfaction in their gaming experience.

This season, gamers can also experience every game mode The Show offers in co-op mode, of up to four players. The only exception is RTTS, of course, but now you can experience an exhibition game or franchise-mode game with up to three friends.

There is also a new feature called Simulview. It delivers the on-line head-to-head component for gamers competing against each other on the same television. It allows each gamer to play from his or her own view. 

This can be a bit confusing and distracting, but for some, it's necessary if they can't agree on a view to play from.

With Sony's launch of the PS Vita, there are a few games on the PS3 that have elements of compatibility with the hand-held device. The Show is one of those games. The Show launched for Vita today as well, and it offers cross-platform saves as an option.

For example, if you're playing a franchise mode on your PS3, you can continue that mode on your PS Vita. It's a first in sports gaming compatibility and a option many gamers will love.

As far as on-line, I repeat my disclaimer. The servers are new, so it is impossible to completely evaluate the on-line experience at this point. Speaking conceptually, The Show has added a mode called Diamond Dynasty (DD).

In DD, you are competing in a massive multi-player on-line franchise. Success in this mode is based on your managerial expertise. You are charged with building a team from the ground up, players, team names, logos, the whole nine yards.

You must manage the team to success against multiple players from around the globe.

It is a huge foray into a massive multi-player experience. But if executed properly, it will be awesome for those that enjoy the managerial aspects of baseball as much, if not more than playing the game.

The traditional on-line components are still present, on-line leagues, ranked games, etc. 

The Show offers a good-sized treasure chest of options this year, and they serve as a nice augmentation to the graphics, presentation and gameplay package.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Overall:

I'm blown anyway by the consistency of this franchise. It keeps getting better, and that is impressive since it's been good for so long. This is a must-have for any fans of video game baseball. If you can only have one baseball game for any console, this is the one.

Rating 9.3 out of 10