MLB 06: The Show
Gameplay:
MLB 06: The Show has a variety of different gaming options that includes both single and multiplayer options. This review will cover all of the different modes, discuss the actual game play, and address some of the drawbacks to the game. The game includes a variety of AI control options to turn on AI assistance/control for fielding, base running, manage configurations for player AI and CPU AI in regards to pitch speed, error frequency, etc., and four difficulty levels.
Exhibition is the basic single player mode. You can select two teams to go head to head, as well as configuration other options like pitcher selection, stadium selection, lineups, etc. The quick play is similar to exhibition, but it automatically picks everything for you and matches two strong teams against each other. In both exhibition and quick play, none of the stats from the games played are recorded. In the season and career modes, the entire batting and fielding statistics are stored in a game save file.
Career mode is a simulation where you can create a player in your image (or someone else's) by defining all of the vitals: batting/field statistics, physical appearance (body and clothes), batting style, fielding style, etc. Once created, the game mode begins with spring training. While in spring training you play through a multitude of games and try to show off your talents with the hope of being given a contract. It is a fun mode that allows you to work your way up from the minors to the majors.
While in career mode, you have the option to play each game in its entirety or you can fast forward through portions of it. The fast forward option comes in very handing because you can fast forward to the points when your character is at bat. The fast forward option is available in all of the other single player game modes. It is also important to note that while in this mode, you only have control over your player when not in a game. Between games, the entire management of the team is handled by the computer. You can interact with the manager and team by making complaints, meeting with the press, making requests to the lineup or trying to boost morale. You also earn training points based on how well you played in the last game that can be used to boost your stats and make yourself an even more valued team member.
Season mode is the converse to career mode. Season mode is the traditional mode found in sports game of any genre. You are the team's manager and you control all of the various aspects regarding the team from the lineup to trades. The other two single player modes, King of the Diamonds and Home Run Derby, offer alternative game play for when the career and season modes aren't cutting it any more. King of the Diamonds is a two-on-two match. Two pairs of pitchers and batters go head to head. Each inning is regulated by a clock and your goal is to get as many points as possible by placing the ball in the right places on the field. Home Run Derby is a simple mode that allows you to pick different batters to try to get the most home runs.
The multiplayer options allows for head to head action via ad hoc and infrastructure wireless modes. The infrastructure mode is of interest here. It offers similar options to what most online capable games have (buddy list, instant messaging, leader boards, player profile, etc.). The online game options include King of the Diamonds and exhibition. You can match up against both PSP and PS2 players. The online mode also supports an RSS-like feed to get the latest MLB information. View it or download it to read later.
The actual game play is quite addictive and fairly easy to pick up. The controls for batting and fielding are pretty straightforward. If you are used to sports games, then it shouldn't be hard to pick up. Despite the low learning curve, the controls are, however, not perfect. The drawbacks of the controls are mostly due to the PSP's lovely configuration. When pitching, the analog joystick is used to determine where the pitcher should aim in the strike zone. Unfortunately, it is frustratingly difficult to get pinpoint precision with the analog stick. Even with a lot of practice, it doesn't get better. Positioning the ball in the strike zone is a major pain. Good luck.
There were also occasions while on the offensive (I'm not sure if this is due to the AI or my mustered fingers with the controls because it still randomly happens) I ran into problems advancing runners. Sometimes they just stop and other times they advance when I advanced a different runner. Just a few minor quirks.
There are also some noticeable problems with the AI control. Sometimes if you hit the ball down the field, the computer will not react at all. What should have been a simple single or grounded out turns into an in-base homerun. There are also instances when the announcers read off incorrect stats for the current batter (i.e. saying so and so hit a home run, when it was the previous batter). The load time between games is also pretty bad. You can expect to sit for a couple minutes for a game to load. Fortunately, once the game begins there is almost no delay.
Overall, MLB 06: The Show offers portable gamers a variety of gaming options to play simulated baseball as a ball player in career mode, as the team manager in season mode, regular head to head action against the CPU or another player via wireless multiplayer mode, or one of the extra gaming modes Home Run Derby and King of the Diamonds. Fans of baseball (and even those who are not) should get a lot of time out of this game.
Graphics:
The graphics for this game are fairly good looking. The character models offer a good level of detail. Many of the big names in baseball have character models that portray them well. However, while the character models look pretty good, the environments are very plain. The crowds have almost no detail. They are 2D and look like cardboard cutouts.
Audio:
The sound in this game is adequate. The sound effects are fairly generic and get old pretty quick. The game is supplemented with a musical soundtrack, which is good and in-game commentary from Red Hudler, Matt Vasgersian, and Dave Campbell. The commentary adds realism to the game play, except at certain points. Sometimes the commentary is out of place. For instance, the commentary does not always properly reflect the events in the game and their excitement for a particular play is delayed.
Conclusion:
What I really liked about MLB 06: The Show was the career mode. I found it a lot of fun to make a player in my image, run him through spring training, and try to land myself a solid contract with the Seattle Mariners and later land a 20 million dollar contract with the Oakland A's. Overall the game play was generally fun (sometimes frustrating), but all in all good times.