Developer: 989 Sports
Publisher: SCEA
Genre: Sports
Region: NTSC
Format:
Release Date: 28 Feb 06

Score 10 (Best) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (Worst)

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Overview

Well everyone, are you ready? The 2006 Baseball season is upon us and there is a lot to be excited about this season. But of course with the new season comes its video game counterparts and the first one out of the game is MLB 06: The Show from Sony. Sony has been improving their series each year, and hopes that it can knock one out of the park this year. So how did MLB 06: The Show for Sony's Portable device manage to do? Read our full review to find out.

Gameplay

For those who haven't been closely following the Sony's baseball game series in the past few years, it is really what I would consider a growing process. Each year the game has progressively gotten better and better, and I knew it was just going to be a matter of time before the game manages to compete with the big boys in the baseball world. This year Sony has decided to add a little “bling” to the title, by entitling this game MLB 06: The Show. So the big question is, can the game live up to the title?

There are a lot of new features in MLB 06: The Show, most of which are not by themselves huge upgrades but their combined effect is pretty impressive. I should start with one of the new modes - King of the Diamond Mode - which is basically a party game of baseball. I won't get in the process of trying to explain everything about this mode, other than to say it is a really enjoyable and really well created mode that I found to be a great diversion. Much like the mini camp in Madden, it just helps give you something entertaining to play outside of the main game of baseball. What is really neat about these modes is the fact that the PSP was given basically the same great and complex game that the Playstation 2 received. So for those who think they are getting a washed down and simplified version, guess again.

The game still features both a career and franchise mode, which are just as deep as last year, if not more so. One new feature that I really enjoyed was the game time decision, which adds a whole new layer to the game. I say this because basically some scenarios pop up before a game and it is your job as the head guy to make the call and decide whether or not you want to change the lineup or make some game time decisions. It is additions like this and hundreds of other small upgrades to the games system that really do wonders for MLB 06: The Show. I have to say that the franchise mode may not on the surface seem all that deep, but as you progress you can see that there has been so much work put into the small avenues of this game that really make it feel like a real baseball simulation.

The gameplay of MLB 06: The Show is actually a lot more in tune with older ideas rather then going to some of the newer conventions found in EA and 2K Sports titles. For example, batting is not done with the analog stick but rather uses a tweaked version of the older timing system, which does take some time to get used to in this game but still is a lot of fun. Pitching and base running have had some changes done to them, and all of which have been for the better. I have to say that the gameplay mechanics that are involved in MLB 06: The Show are just as smooth and as effective as you could hope. I have to say that playing this game is just a treat because everything flows together to make one comprehensive and interesting game. A lot of the new features in the game still do take some time to get accustomed to, but for the most part you will find that MLB 06: The Show performs as well as anyone could hope.

In the end, I feel just as strongly with the PSP version of MLB 06 as I did with the PS2 version. The years of trial and error have finally produced a very complex but enjoyable baseball game that just makes for one heck of a portable experience. With both depth and great gameplay mechanics, you will be heart pressed to find a better baseball game on the PSP.

Graphics

Visually the PSP version obviously can't take everything the PS2 version has to offer, but it comes quite close. The only thing that is really less ambitious in terms of the visual quality of the game is the level of detail found in the PSP version. But with that being said you have to remember that this is a portable game, and when you take that into account the animation and the just ease of playing this game are much greater accomplishments then that of the PS2 version. So in the end the look of the game may be crisper on the PS2, but that is not to say that the PSP version isn't impressive because it is.

Fun Factor

I had a feeling that Sony was going to do everything they could this year to compete as much as possible with 2K Sports. For the most part I think Sony succeeded in making 2006 a very tight race. The presentation in the game has really helped make the experience a lot more enjoyable. And to say that Sony has put in a lot of new features into the mix is an understatement, considering the fact that there are so many little changes that have accumulated to one great simulation experience. For those who are in love with the analog stick sort of gameplay, then this game may not be as fun for you. But the old school gameplay combined with some new ideas makes MLB 06: The Show a great and enjoyable experience.

Overall

I knew there would be a year where Sony would manage to get a sports game done in beautiful fashion and the year is obviously that of 2006. Because MLB 06: The Show is just the best all around baseball game this year. The PSP version manages to bring everything that the PS2 version has to offer, and really pack in a great baseball experience. If you are in the market for a baseball game look no further than MLB 06: The Show.

Gameplay
9.0

Graphics
8.0

Fun Factor
9.0

Overall
9.0

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