MLB 19: The Show

MLB: The Show is one of the best sports games year after year, but since the sport isn't very popular over here in Europe a lot of people, unfortunately, miss out on the game. Those who do are in for a treat, however. Last year's game took one step forward, but two huge steps back. It was a poor experience online, lacked content and there was a focus on microtransactions. The question ahead of MLB 19: The Show was whether Sony San Diego had listened to their fans and improved the game.

The short answer is: yes. This year's edition is very good, but there are still things to improve. We're very happy to write that the disliked souvenirs from last year are gone. These caps, shirts, signed baseballs and more were needed if you wanted the best players in Diamond Dynasty, The Show's version of Ultimate Team. If you, as an example, wanted the best version of Cal Ripken, then you needed to trade in thousands of Baltimore Orioles' caps and shirts. How did you get these souvenirs then? By buying packs, of course. But this economy is gone this year, which is really nice.

The previously mentioned Diamond Dynasty is without a doubt the most generous Ultimate Team mode in the world of sports games. Many times better than the counterparts from EA and NBA 2K. It feels more generous this year and you will be able to get a good team without spending any money. You will level up by playing games and earning XP. You will then unlock new players at some levels and it is not uncommon that you will receive one of the best players. It is really a step in the right direction as sports games are getting more and more greedy with their Ultimate Team modes.

So, what has been done to make the game new and fresh? Sports games have a tendency to get stuck in the same old story. Well, two new game modes have been introduced and both of them are a lot of fun. Moments gives you the opportunity to play and experience some of the biggest moments in baseball history. For example, you will get the chance to play as the legend Babe Ruth during some of his greatest career highlights. Among those is probably the most famous baseball moment ever, when Ruth in a tough game steps up, points out in the stands and smacks a home run. This is rendered in black and white in the game, to make it feel as if you're watching an old filmed version of said moment. There are four different Moments for now, but there might be more added later on.

The other new game mode is called March to October and can be seen as a lighter version of Season Mode, which was removed with last year's game. You get to pick a team and play through some of the most important games during a season. You will get thrown into the season opener, with more than half of the game already simulated, to secure that important first victory. If you succeed, your team's momentum will increase, which will give your team a bigger chance to win the upcoming, simulated games. After a few games it is time to play again, and this time you might have to enter at the end of the game and turn a losing game into a win. The goal of this game mode is to win the World Series, and it's both entertaining and challenging. It is in this game mode that you will be introduced to a new voice, that of the reporter Heidi Watney. She will update you about your team's progress every time you start a match. And since we are talking about voices, the commentary team is still good with a lot of dialogue, but some phrases have a tendency to repeat.

After you have played through March to October, you will then continue to play with the same team in Franchise Mode. This mode is the biggest disappointment in the game, not because it is bad, but because it has been the same for many years now. Don't expect anything new this year either. If this is the mode you are going to spend the most time in, then there is no need for you to buy this version over last year's. The same can be said about the career mode, Road to the Show. What's the least amount of new features a developer can get away with? It is really close to that this year. It's the same old story, you attend a scout day, get your draft stock up, get drafted and try to get from the AA team to the MLB. The differences this year are quite minor. You can now pick a player type which will get you bonuses on match days. For example, if you choose the Captain role, you can unlock a skill that makes you a better hitter at home. There are four different player roles and in a skill tree, which looks like your typical role-playing tree, you will be able to unlock new skills. There are also new mini-games when training. It's mostly down to pressing the correct buttons when you are lifting weights and other types of training. Fun for a while, but can get repetitive if you play the career mode for a long time.

On the baseball field, MLB: The Show 19 is excellent. The focus this year is on defence and fielding, and it shows. The players have been quite sluggish (no baseball pun intended) during previous years. It took a long time for them to pick up the ball and throw it after an error or mistake. Something you could easily exploit. It doesn't happen at all this year, or at least very rarely. If a player now drops the ball or is able to knock it down, they will react instantly and will get an out anyway. Players' fielding stats are therefore more important than ever. If they have a high rating, they will react a lot faster and throw the ball with high accuracy to first base, for example. So you might have to think twice before you put a player in the team who is an amazing batter, but who couldn't catch water if he fell out of a boat. And there is still no better feeling than sending a ball up into the stands.

MLB: The Show 19 is a great baseball game. Everything is working like it should on the field and we really enjoy playing matches. Unfortunately, and it's a big one, the overall rating is dragged down by the lack of new features in Franchise Mode and Road to the Show. These are two big game modes and they deserve more love. The two new game modes, Moments and March to October, are, on the other hand, great additions and we hope that they will remain and evolve in the years to come.