MLB 16: The Show Reviews
Another year and another good outing for SCE San Diego Studio. MLB The Show 16 has some great improvements for Road to the Show, but some problems still persist. Baseball lovers will definitely enjoy the game.
[T]he baseball itself is as good as ever, and one of the better modes, Road to the Show, is far less clunky this time around.
Not every change is perfect, but MLB The Show 16 is the first entry in a long time that sees the series take an impressive step forward. If you've been off the field for a while, now is a great time to step up to the plate.
Another year, another outstanding sports title
Another year of subtle improvements and gameplay additions make MLB The Show 16 a must-buy for baseball fans.
MLB 16's appeal lies mainly in tried-and-true features
The new bells n' whistles don't add much, but when something this good ain't broke why fix it?
Once you deduce how to use the multifarious forms of interactivity, The Show is wonderfully calming when the rhythm of pitching becomes zen-like. As the controller beats like a frantic heart when the bases are loaded, the physiological feeling of vibration sends you inside yourself.
MLB: The Show 16 is one of the best baseball games I have ever played.
It is nice to see that the team over at Sony San Diego has been given enough rope to try new things. The resulting product has once again shown why the MLB The Show series is still one of the best sport simulations in the industry.
Not only did I get to bat and run bases (my favourite part of baseball), I also got to do some position-specific fielding – sometimes calling on a neat feature called Showtime that let me pull off plays worthy of a highlight reel – and make quick tactical decisions based on the runners and number of outs. I felt like I was playing second base, and the strategy demanded of that position – which I'd learned decades ago playing ball as a kid – came rushing back to me.
MLB The Show 16 is a fantastic sports game. The gameplay is as fun and immersive as ever. I shouted at the umpire over close calls and pumped my fist at each home run, just like I do when I'm at games or watch them on TV. The new features take away from the realism, but I love that they're optional.
Yes, MLB: The Show 16 is more of the same in a lot of ways. However, new features like ShowTime and modes like Conquest give this entry enough new toys to feel like a meaningful improvement over last year's entry. If you're a fan of the series, this year's version is worth checking out unless you're suffering from the most severe of digital baseball boredom.
Sony's undisputed king of virtual baseball games suffered a slight set-back last year but the franchise is back in fine form in 2016.
Whereas NBA 2K16 found a way to take a step back last year with additions that didn't feel wholly meaningful, MLB The Show 16 is a shining example of exactly how to make a great game even better.
The long-running series needed new experiences, and Sony delivered two that will make you spend more time in Diamond Dynasty
PS4's biggest sports exclusive delivers a moonshot home run, thanks to perfectly balanced fundamentals, astonishingly lifelike presentation, and little details that few rivals – past or present – have come close to getting right.
While the gameplay is similar to years past, the new modes add a ton of previously unfound variety. The Road to the Show mode has finally been updated and is guaranteed to hook longtime players. On top of that, Diamond Dynasty no longer feels like an afterthought, and is instead one of the most joyous things about the game. After a slip and fall last year, Sony has managed to make sure MLB The Show 16 lands directly on its feet.
MLB 16: The Show is one of the best sports games you'll ever play. I haven't seen fit to hand out a 9+ score for one of these titles since 2011, and I really thought last year's entry wasn't anything special. They're all great games, don't get me wrong, but this is the first installment of The Show that absolutely feels like a full, complete, and rewarding package that hits just about every sweet spot.
MLB The Show 16 continues to find innovative ways to push the series forward by adding new features and improving on old ones. Some new problems have arisen, however, and old ones—most notably the horrendous stability of online play—continue to persist and hold the series back.