MLB '07: The Show May Be the Best Baseball Video Game Ever Made

I am not what you would call a "gamer". I dabble but in no way am I an expert on the entire scope of the video game world. For the most part I am off and on with video games. I will get excited about a new game, purchase it, play it for a week or so and then put it on the shelf. Usually selling it a few months down the line. There is one time of year when this all changes. Right around the time the Pitchers and Catchers are reporting to spring training for the MLB.

Since 1991 I have bought at least one baseball video game every year, sometimes two or three. There have been ups (Tony LaRussa Baseball 1992 for Sega) and there have been downs (Early PS2 and Xbox baseball games). Up until now I was a huge fan of MVP baseball 2K5. That is what i considered the best baseball game of all time. Very realistic and great gameplay. Since losing the rights to publish games using real MLB players I had to search out a new game. Last year I tried MLB 2k6 by 2K sports. It had some great concepts but overall was a bit of a dud. This year Sony stepped up to the plate. They finally did it the right way. Instead of trying to create a new baseball game with new features they tweaked all the best aspects of past games and put it together.

I like my baseball games to be as realistic as possible. I want to go on losing streaks like all good teams do and I want to have 4 run come backs in the bottom of the ninth like teams do. If it ever happens in real life I want it to be possible or me to experience that in my game. In the past I would start playing and it would be a challenge but after ten games I would find myself messing with the gameplay sliders to make the games a bit more challenging. Over twenty-five games into the 2007 season and I still find myself struggling against tough pitchers and a game behind the Mets in the standings (I am always the Braves).

A huge part of what makes this game so realistic is it's use of confidence. Baseball is a very emotional game. In order to perform you need to be on an even keel and be able to handle your ups and downs. By making a players confidence effect not only overall performance but right down to seperate pitchers in a pitchers repetoire it really allows for a realistic outcome based on pitcher/batter match-up and situational hitting. In other words your ace is going to have much better control over his stuff and won't let one lucky hit effect his next pitch. On the other hand your rookie fifth starter may lose command of his pitches if he gives up a couple hits in a row.

That pitching command system works directly with a great hitting mode where you are able to guess pitch type and location. It make you pay attention to your pitchers and try to pick up a pattern which then forces the pitcher to mix up his pitches more.

Once the ball is put into play you will be happy to watch the fielding animations. I have never played a baseball game where over 20 games in I still watch all the cut scenes and replays because i am still seeing such perfect and new animations. In the past, I would be rapidly hitting the X button after each play trying to get past the replays.

Behind the scenes this game is also more deep than any platform baseball video game I have ever played. In franchise mode you are not only in charge of your team's lineups and rotations for your MLB and Minor League teams but for t of the teams finances. You hire and fire managers and scouts, add more hot dog vendors and make the price of parking higher or lower. They set it up in a way that all of these options are not overwhelming at all but like a fun mini-game inside the main game of finishing high in the standings.

The only way this game could get any better is by having the player models be a bit more realistic. All the players look 20 pounds lighter in this game than they do in real life. I will gladly take this trade off though for the gameplay.

Best baseball game ever.