Sony’s latest virtual simulation of the big leagues, MLB 08: The Show (from Sony Computer Entertainment America for PlayStation 3, rated E for everyone, $59.99), is a joy to play and watch for average and die-hard fans.
What immediately stands out is the passion the developing team has for this game. Almost every load screen and menu drips with facts about the majors, and star players move and look like their real-life counterparts.
More impressive, realism has been lifted to a new level, thanks to an awesome on-field experience that mixes current motion-capture technology with the game’s increased level of artificial intelligence.
What seems so natural in real-life baseball is what makes MLB 08 so special. Watching a player warm up in the batter’s circle, the crowd fighting over a foul ball, the handling of a bunt, a coach interacting with a player who just struck out: It’s all in place.
I’ve probably reported this almost every year about whatever baseball simulation I loved at the moment, but this time I really mean it — MLB 2008 allows the gamer to really appreciate and virtually exist in a professional game.
From the visual side, gone are the days when players looked like zombies. Faces are alive, emotions are not always in check and the fielder, pitcher and batter are not just place holders waiting for a controller to make them react.
The upgrades are best revealed where most solo players really will sink their time — an updated Road to the Show mode that takes a player on the long journey from rookie to Hall of Famer.
I have to give kudos to any simulation that involves me enough to spend more than an hour just constructing an amazing likeness of myself to put into the Road mode. Each facial feature can be sculpted down to the minutest of detail using drag-and-drop graphed point meters and sliders, including wrinkle lines, the bridge of the nose and level of double chin — what are you looking at? I’m working on it.
My newly born Colorado Rockies rookie pitcher, with my ridiculously long last name on his uniform, also had mutton chops and was nicknamed Wolverine, my comic book addiction making an appearance. Best of all, I chose a pitching motion to resemble legend Cy Young. Not too shabby.
My evolving team, even in spring training, was really into the game. During one crucial play, the right fielder made a running catch, crashing through the bullpen doors. He still had the sense to make a throw, trying to stop a computer-controlled runner from advancing to second.
In the Road, the rookie participates in plenty of innings, can be sent back to or called up from the minors and must strive to reach goals and amass points (that can be spent on skill attributes).
SCEA is so proud of its graphics package that it offers its most ambitious replay option to date. Go to the digital tape and review complete games, innings and individual performances with an easy-to-navigate menu.
Only the occasional collision detection issue and stadiums that are not as realistic as I would have hoped keep the visual impact from being perfect.
It’s also important to mention that most features from last year’s game are back. The short list includes robust Franchise, Career and Season modes and a better online component, including tailoring matches to a player’s stored skill level, a perpetual sports ticker and news service.
New, but requiring a degree in analytics, is an enhanced set of pitcher and batter analysis charts to complement pages of pre- and postgame stats.
The entire virtual package is backed up by a blend of the sounds of the game and fairly intelligent commentary by announcers Rex Huddler, Matt Vasgerian and Dave Campbell.
Write to Joseph Szadkowski, The Washington Times, 3600 New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002; or send e-mail (jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com).
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