S&S; Review: MLB 12: The Show

Title: MLB 12: The Show
Format: PS3, PS Vita
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: San Diego Studios
Price: $59.99, $39.99(for Vita)
ESRB Rating: E
If you're a fan of baseball and you also own a PS3, you probably know The Show series pretty well.  This franchise has been known for its mind-blowing sense of reality, making you feel like you're actually at Fenway Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon.  MLB 12 is just another shining reason to own a PS3.
Presentation:
Every year the visuals in The Show improves quite a bit, with a number of noticeable and minor changes.  It will take time to notice these changes though.  The lighting in stadiums have received a big improvement for example. If you know your home ball park, you will notice the authenticity instantly.  The ball physics have took quite a leap as well.  When you make contact with a fastball by Justin Verlander, the ball will react accordingly and realistically.  Animations are once again as smooth as ever, transitions move seamlessly from one to another.  The stadiums themselves are extremely detailed, little nuances bring the home field to life.  I have read that the 3D in the game is great, so if you have a 3D TV, take advantage of the option.  Commentary is still behind the 2K series, but new lines make it seem fresh.  Crowd noises and stadium sound effects are great, which has always been a standard in the series.  Another year, another great looking and sounding baseball game.
Core Gameplay/Multiplayer:
The big new feature in the game is the new pitching scheme.  Instead of using the standard pitching meter, the developers added a pulsating circle that impacts accuracy and power.  It resembles the old 2K pitching meter, before they added the ridiculous Street Fighter style of pitching.  Its faster than the meter pitching, and in my opinion, better.  The new Diamond Dynasty mode resembles the EA Sports Ultimate Team mode.  You can collect cards to create a your own pack of baseball stars.  The Franchise and Road to The Show modes are pretty much the same, but have a few improvements.  The trade logic has been improved and your RTTS player finally receives the respect he deserves.  You won't be sent down to triple-A even when you're batting .398 like in previous games.  The other big feature in the game is the ability to transfer your saves to your PS Vita.  You can take your franchise team or RTTS player on the road with you, which has always been a heavily requested feature.
Final Thoughts:
MLB 12: The Show is another great game of baseball, pushing the level of authenticity even further than before.  The new game doesn't push the envelope to far, but the ability to transfer files is a big addition.  Great visuals and air-tight gameplay make this the best baseball game available to-date.
Final Score = 8.25/10 Email: sameo452009@gmail.com Twitter: @iSamKulii
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