'MLB 14 The Show' Review: Expert Roundup, New Features and More

The new video game MLB 14: The Show was released April 1 for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita, and the excitement over one of the anticipated baseball games is through the roof once again.

PlayStation 4 owners will have to wait until May 6 to pick up their copy. The game is exclusive to the PlayStation systems (sorry Xbox owners, 2K Sports is not releasing a baseball game this season).

After signing a monster contract with the Detroit Tigers, first baseman Miguel Cabrera also has the honor of adorning the front cover of the game this year. The Canadian version of the game will feature Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie.

With last year’s edition of MLB: The Show receiving critical acclaim, the expectations are very high for this year’s game. Here is the latest expert review roundup, new features baseball fans will enjoy and all the vital information needed.

Release Date: April 1 (PS3 and PS Vita) and May 6 (PS4)

Systems: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vista, PlayStation 4

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Game Modes: Single Player and Online Multiplayer

Price: $59.99

Expert Reviews

With serious excitement surrounding the release of both editions of the game, Henry Gilbert of GamesRadar talked about the differences between the PS3 and the PS4 versions and how impressive the graphics are for the latter:

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We recently got to see MLB 14 The Show in action on both the PS4 and PS3. Maybe it was seeing them side-by-side, but the game was one of the best looking PS4 titles we’ve seen to date. Even if you don’t care about playing as pitcher or catcher, you have to give the game credit for its incredible facial hair.

"

When asked about the transition to the more powerful PlayStation 4 console, Sony San Diego’s Ramone Russell talked up the newest release:

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Last but certainly not least, this year brings the debut of MLB 14 The Show on PS4. The PS4 is the most powerful gaming console ever made. There’s so much horsepower for us to take advantage of to make the most realistic, best-playing, most authentic baseball video game ever.

"

Bleacher Report’s video game expert Brian Mazique talked about the impact of the fundamental changes of the game, such as the ability for gamers to transfer stats from one edition of the game to the next:

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I feel like I should have been a part of a WWE crowd when this feature was announced. I wanted to chant “this is awesome!” For the first time in sports video game history a franchise is allowing you to carry your saves over from one version to the next. Unless you’re a hardcore sports gamer, you don’t understand how great that is. For years, sports gamers have been playing through one or two seasons, building a little sports universe of their own, only to wipe the slate when the new version comes out.

"

While there have been complaints in the past about buying upgrades and purchasing additional items in the game, Sony has addressed these issues with a universal system, according to Eddie Makuch of GameSpot:

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MLB 14: The Show also promises to simplify its microtransaction offerings by rolling everything into a universal currency system the developer is calling Stubs. Sony made clear that everything in MLB 14: The Show is attainable through gameplay and players never need to spend a dime.

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While the release will have even more experts reviewing the game—look to trusted sources like IGN, Kotaku and Metacritic as they post reviews—all of the previous experts have set the stage for baseball fans to enjoy the latest installment of the series.

New Features

Year-to-Year Saves

One of the biggest issues gamers face each year is the inability to carry over stats into the next year’s game. For fans who want to build a long-term career as a player in the game, carrying over the stats from MLB 14 to MLB 15 will be an incredible addition.

For years, fans were forced to build a career in one version of the game and abandon all of the hard work when the next edition hit shelves. For fans of The Show series, that will no longer be an issue.

Both EA Sports and 2K Sports should be taking notes; this is a genius idea.

Quick Counts

One of the biggest issues baseball fans have is the length of a game. With each taking up so much time and there being so many games in a season, it’s hard for video game enthusiasts to play through an entire season.

That’s not the case with Quick Counts.

Sony has developed a system that starts each batter with a pitch count before you ever step up to the plate (i.e. one ball and one strike to start the at-bat). This should help cut the time of each game down considerably.

Stubs

The move to virtual currency is one of the biggest trends in video games these days, and MLB 14: The Show follows that trend by incorporating what Sony has called Stubs as its version of the microtransaction system.

Players are rewarded for their success in certain game modes, and gamers will be able to purchase upgrades and improvements with the earnings. This is a smart way to streamline the upgrade system while still adapting to the everchanging industry.

All stats and information via TheShowNation.com.