NextGen Player Review: MLB '09: The Show

Ladies and Gentleman its spring time again and that means the return to America`s favourite past time, Baseball. Along with the grapefruit league you`ll find Sony`s latest installment of the MLB The Show series.

This game brings a little something for everyone offering six different game play options:

• Exhibition play - for a quick game that will not effect your season
• Manager Mode - think you can get your team to play better then the real coaches, it`s almost like watching the game on TV.
  
• Rivalry Mode - play a double or triple header and see who comes out in the best of series
• Franchise Mode - can you manage your team all the way to the big dance, take control of everything from the line up, to the business plan on making your team profitable
• Season Mode - think you have the endurance to play 162 games - this is your chance to prove it
• The Road to the show - build a custom character and fight for your spot on the roster of your favourite team.

With so many options your going to find more value in this game then you can shake a bat at... (rim shot). Stadiums so real you can smell the potato chips, hot dogs and body odor of the guys sitting at first base. Spending most of my review time in the exhibition and manager modes, where after several full games, I`m still trying to get the controls down. Finding the right pitch, while keeping them in the strike zone but not in the batters sweet spot, or alternatively connecting at just the right time while watching that fastball buzz on bye. It is not as easy as you would think.

The MLB online system is fantastic offering several great features:

• Player Card - Track your points and your career online stats
• Leagues - Become the Commissioner of your own league and challenge others
  
• Leader Boards - real time statistical tracking of the best players on the MLB network
  
• Community Center - Manage your in game mail and message board participation, upload and vote on Sliders (user generated game settings).
• Headline News - Stay up to date on current events in the MLB hourly feed updates on real games happening around the league

Be prepared for long gaming sessions when firing up MLB `09: The Show, as these virtual games can take just as long as the real thing. I can honestly say I have enjoyed my time and I look forward to the many hours in the future where I will see you at the ball park. Now it is time I head off for the seventh inning stretch and catch the end of the game.

Pluses:

• Realistic announcers and commentary
• Fantastic replicas of stadiums
• Online services are packed with good stuff
• updated real time roster and news
  

Negatives:

• Controls are a bit sensitive
• Scheduling time is important due to potential length of game

NextGen Player gives MLB '09: The Show a...