MLB 18: The Show Reviews
The strength of the MLB The Show series has always been its authentic gameplay, which traditionally does a fantastic job capturing the essence of baseball. The 2018 version of The Show continues that trend, creating the most realistic baseball game to date. However, the nuanced gameplay and visual changes don't quite make up for the lack of innovation – or removal – of MLB The Show's core modes.
The online play is clearly where Sony wants people to spend time, but just connecting to the servers proves problematic
MLB The Show 18 controls like a dream, and is the best-looking baseball game ever made.
MLB The Show 18 remains one of the most beautiful and polished sports sims around.
There are a few desirable features missing when you compare The Show 18 to other sports video game titles, but if we were to judge the features and core gameplay that are present, the latest entry to the series maintains its impressive hitting streak.
MLB The Show 18 is another fantastic baseball experience, and a game where high quality has become routine. The gameplay is the same, for the most part, but the game's modes have all been vastly updated with improvements, additions, and overhauls to the way progression through each mode is accomplished. These improvements are welcome additions to a game that flirts with stagnation in spite of its perennial brilliance.
MLB The Show 18 touches up some places and refines others. Despite missing online franchise, The Show 18 slings a complete game, even if it has a couple of problems on base.
MLB The Show 18 is, for our money, the best sports game on console right now. Whether you love baseball or not, this is a flexible simulation that can appeal to both beginners and veterans alike, with some of the best presentation you'll find on the PS4. On paper this may not sound like a substantial step forward for the series, but the under-the-hood improvements mean that it's the best playing, best looking version yet. We're not sure where Sony San Diego goes next with this series, but we say that every year, and it continues to smash our expectations out of the park.
Diamond Dynasty is simply the best “Ultimate Team” mode in all sports franchises thus far.
It's hard to improve a game which is already the best in its own genre, but SIE San Diego Studio achieved a good result with a few, but meaningful, changes. MLB The Show 18 offers an even more solid and consistent experience than its predecessor, although the devs cut off a couple of game modes. The new most important core element is the brand new progression system in the Road to the Show career, which offers the chance to live the tough dream of a mid- to late-round draft pick prospect.
Review in Italian | Read full review
MLB: The Show 18 delivers the best video game baseball experience ever, and new additions and tweaks to old game modes make this a baseball lovers dream, from first pitch to last out.
MLB The Show as a franchise could easily let itself crumble due to the non-existent competition, but it hasn't and it's continuing to chug along. The improvements this year are great, but depending on your tastes may not be applicable.
Despite some missteps, MLB The Show 18 remains the best baseball game on the market.
Some fans may feel aggrieved at the removal of certain modes. Season mode is now completely absent, meaning you'll have to battle through the entire 162 games if you want to complete a year in Franchise Mode, and some of the creation options have been stripped out of the game entirely.
This 2018 episode is still an excellent baseball game, but it doesn't change al lot compared to last year's edition... MLB The Show series would definitely need a serious competitor to surpass itself.
Review in French | Read full review
It's really too bad that MLB The Show 18 launched in its current state. Nearly everything about the game, from how it handles difficulty to making sure every part of baseball feels dynamic, is handled brilliantly and is the result of years of hard work coming together. That amount of polish makes it all the more jarring that Sony has failed to get the online working right after so many iterations of this yearly series. It very well might be the best baseball game ever made, but it has to come with a huge asterisk at the moment.
MLB The Show 18 offers a ton of options for new players to craft their own experiences while still giving veteran players the level of depth they'd expect from the latest entry in a series that's been totally refined over the years. Some of its modes might seem a little dated, and only time will tell if MLB The Show 19 can finally be the game that makes Franchise mode a little more exciting to manage, but Road to the Show's new RPG mechanics and The Show 18‘s overall great gameplay will give players new and old plenty to enjoy.
MLB: The Show 18 is an incredible game with as much depth as you are willing to handle. It has incredibly intuitive and nuanced controls, entertaining commentary and a swathe of freedom that allows you to traverse the immense depth of the game as you feel comfortable doing. This is a game you can enjoy whether you're a hardcore baseball fan or someone looking for something new in the sporting genre that isn't FIFA 2018.
MLB The Show 18 is another notch in the successful belt of the MLB series from San Diego Studio. It has better mechanics, more meaningful modes, a gorgeous presentation style and it just feels like what you would imagine a baseball game should feel like.
Tons of content, extremely pleasant gameplay and homage to baseball history. It's a shame that the quality is not accompanied by fresh ideas to justify buying this year's entry.
Review in Polish | Read full review