MLB 15: The Show Reviews
While still a fun and accurate depiction of America's pastime, MLB 15: The Show does little to move the franchise forward, and is hampered by the same recurring online issues.
MLB 15: The Show smoothes out some issues that MLB 14 had last year. The graphical portion of the game is the biggest improvement with MLB 15 and something you'll see right from the start. In addition to visuals, the game's upgrades and additions in its modes, as well as some unexpected elements, make it a much better experience than last year's title.
Now that the PS4 has been on the market for over a year, SD San Diego has had time to fine-tune the MLB franchise, giving it more sheen to the point that it's easily one of the most realistic sports games on the market. MLB 15: The Show doesn't bring any major additions to the table, but it does respectably tweak the most beloved modes to streamline the experience for pros and casuals alike.
MLB 15: The Show's level of perfectionism is obsessive, making it a necessary pairing for baseball traditionalists.
Sony's MLB franchise remains the undisputed king of virtual baseball games. MLB 15: The Show is a visual stunner and for yet another year the franchise has made a leap into becoming a more authentic Major League Baseball experience. Despite this, the franchise is becoming somewhat stagnant and in need of some real innovation.
I've never been one to buy into the concept that sports video games do not change enough from year to year. I have always felt that if you are dedicated to a series, you will notice the changes. Unfortunately for my positive mind, MLB 15: The Show broke that idea as the game I called the "king of sports franchises" last year, has put out a mostly underwhelming product. There are one or two minor additions that are enjoyable, but the Diamond Dynasty continues to bore despite its overhaul. The King's crown has fallen off with MLB 15: The Show, and only time will tell if Sony San Diego can pick it up come MLB 16: The Show's release.
MLB 15: The Show is remarkable in that it adheres to a method of gameplay that's absent in most sports games. By privileging patience, attention to detail, and creating a system that rewards minor adjustments to the way we play (not unlike strategy adjustments in the real life MLB), MLB 15: The Show remains one of the only sports games on the market that not only has a distinctive and engaging look and feel, but also pushes an admirable ideology that, however subtly, explores how we engage with sports and videogames.
The discounted PS3 and Vita versions might be more dollar valuable as more transparent roster updates, provided you don't mind the technical limitations. MLB 15 The Show is still good by virtue of the systems laid down over the last decade, but it has no ambition. Produced on third base thinking it hit a triple, it wouldn't even bother running in a sac fly.
MLB 15: The Show is the most accurate representation of the sport yet again, but feels more like a roster update than anything else, outside of a few improvements here and there.
It's weird when you feel so unenthusiastic about a game that you know is "good." This used to be a series that I would never miss. These days, I'd probably take a long break from The Show if I could.
Sony San Diego's hardball sim only sees incremental changes this year, but several of them—particularly directional hitting—are welcome. The core game remains solid and even spectacular in places, but online continues to be a total joke.
The only baseball game in town for next-gen consoles is more realistic throughout, from players and stadiums to the inclusion of real-world news event. Importing your saved game from MLB 14 is a leap forward for all sports games, but the bad calls and awful online mode are hugely disappointing.
MLB 15 The Show is yet another title in a series that provides Playstation users with a wonderful and enjoyable series of baseball games.