MLB 16: The Show Reviews
Big on feature, major in community activity, and strong in replay ability, this year's Show certainly has done well. For Sony, like EA's Madden series, there are few to no challengers to the genre so success lies within their own hands. So the question is, if it ain't broke, will they still try to fix it, or if it is broke, do they still care to fix it?
[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.
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.
MLB The Show 16 could've been a disappointment, just another entry with an updated roster. Fortunately Sony San Diego brought improvements, innovations, and some (potentially) fun experiments to the table. The Show remains the only real player in the baseball simulation realm, and while unfortunate for Xbox owners, and the only choice for PS4 players, it would fare well against any competition that were out there.
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.
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.
For better or worse, MLB The Show 16 focuses heavily on Diamond Dynasty this year. The on-field action is strong as ever, and the bullet time-like Showtime is interesting, but the bulk of the improvements are in Diamond Dynasty-centric additions like Captains and Battle Royale. If you're a curious newcomer who likes baseball, you will find an extremely strong baseball sim; but if you're a returning player, your mileage will probably vary depending on how willing you are to indulge in The Show's card-collecting mode.
For better or worse, MLB The Show 16 focuses heavily on Diamond Dynasty this year. The on-field action is strong as ever, and the bullet time-like Showtime is interesting, but the bulk of the improvements are in Diamond Dynasty-centric additions like Captains and Battle Royale. If you're a curious newcomer who likes baseball, you will find an extremely strong baseball sim; but if you're a returning player, your mileage will probably vary depending on how willing you are to indulge in The Show's card-collecting mode.
MLB 16's appeal lies mainly in tried-and-true features
Another year of subtle improvements and gameplay additions make MLB The Show 16 a must-buy for baseball fans.
The long-running series needed new experiences, and Sony delivered two that will make you spend more time in Diamond Dynasty
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.
The new bells n' whistles don't add much, but when something this good ain't broke why fix it?
MLB The Show 16 feels like the culmination of years of tiny but meaningful improvements that make it the best baseball game on consoles.
The Show looks good, plays great and is deep enough to overshadow moderately unbalanced visuals and a slight void of personality. If you've always loved the series, the fire will still burn despite the minor infractions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
While last year's release felt like the series was plateauing, this year, MLB The Show 16 returns better than ever. The gameplay remains consistently solid, and tweaks and additions to Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty will surely keep people coming back for more.