MLB 08: The Show

My husband thinks this is the BEST baseball game ever made because you can start from the minors & work your way up, manage, etc.

Having never played any of the previous MLB series games, but having played the fantastic MVP Baseball 2005 nearly 2 death (best baseball game ever), I bought MLB 2008: The Show mostly because I needed updated rosters, but also because the reviews were better than 2K Baseball. Immediately I was drawn 2 the Road 2 the Show feature, an RPG-like feature that lets you create your own character, build their stats through the minors, & before too long live out your dreams in the majors. The fun value of this is quite high, but the logistics are a little sketchy, which is how I'd review the game as a whole.

I'll give some examples. The Hitter's Eye allows you 2 predict which pitch you think will be thrown & where. Unfortunately, once you master this (and it doesn't take long), hitting on the most difficult level becomes a breeze, & pretty soon your whole team is batting .300 plus. Then there's the ability 2 make forced trades & editor individual players 2 better match their real-life stats. While I did enjoy tinkering with the players, you can only do so before you start a season, not during. And good luck trying 2 make trades during the season - you've got 2 sacrifice your best players 4 a trade 2 go through, because you can't convince anyone that a young player is a "prospect."

And then there are a ton of flaws, bugs, & little annoyances scattered throughout. A few of the bigger ones: The Rays still wear uniforms that say "Devil Rays" (despite getting the new name right everywhere else). The stadiums have incorrect or completely made-up backgrounds (Seattle, where I'm from, has a few random generic buildings behind Safeco Field instead of the easily recognizable Qwest Field arches & the tall, black Columbia Center, & there are many more stadiums with similarly generic backgrounds). And stealing bases or tagging up & running is virtually impossible 2 do with the game's convoluted controls (the only way I can tag & run is by tagging/running everyone on base, not one base at a time, so sack flies are very difficult 2 execute). What happened 2 just using the arrows on the controller as bases, & tapping the appropriate base 2 indicate a steal? Example: man on first & third, don't want 2 steal home but do want 2 steal second, so instead of sending both runners you just tap the "up" arrow & steal second. Problem solved.

In the end, the game can be very fun because you win all the freaking time on the hardest of difficulties, & it can be very frustrating because it's not very realistic & flaws & errors aboud. The fun does tend 2 win in the end, barely, & I have played the game through twice (once in season mode, once in Road 2 the Show). I just wish they'd put more time into making it a cohesive & realistic experience than an arcade game, which is what this ultimately feels like.

I bought this 4 my son 4 his birthday back in Aug. & he hasn't played any other game yet & it is almost Oct.

I brought this game 4 my husband, he loves it. He plays it everyday, he plays it so much I'm starting 2 regret buying this game...lol

It's one thing that really bugs me about this game besides the fielder stopping before throwing the ball. I play with The Angels on hall of fame mode & 4 some reason i cannot hit home runs well enough with Vladimir Guerrero. I mean he's supposed 2 be my big power hitter & i use power swing & contact swing on pitches down the middle & they will not go out. Other than that the game seems realistic. Anybody have any solutions or does Vlad just not have that much power.

MLB 08 THE SHOW is set 2 provide fans with the most realistic baseball experience 2 date with innovations such as a more immersive Road 2 The Show mode, enabling gamers 2 play both offense & defense from the created player's perspective. Providing players with some additional performance incentives, the MLB franchise introduces the Progressive Batting Performance feature, which will both reward players 4 superior performance & penalize them 4 hitting slumps. Specific 2 each individual batter, players will be rewarded with slight contact bonuses, or punished with slight decreases in contact, based on how that batter performs beyond his "natural ability." MLB 08 THE SHOW introduces SCOUT (SportsConnect Online User Tracking), which allows you 2 set & store your game preferences on the MLB server, & enables the system 2 look 4 a Quick Match with opponents that fits similar competitive criteria. Exhibition Mode/Quick Game - Gamers can select their favorite team & compete against the AI 4 a quick game on the go Historical Greats - Offers Historical Greats, giving them the opportunity 2 go against the legends of the past Release Point Pitching with Confidence Meter - The ultimate pitcher/batter interface returns Playmaker Fielding- The fielding interface brings the player attributes together with the user's skill level Multi-Branch Fielding - Branch Point Technology goes 2 a new level as gamers can now take full control of fielders & break out of any animation in the process User Controlled Slides - Players can now control base runners in attempts 2 advance and/or score MLB Authenticity - Presents fans with finer details & nuances that make the game America's past