- [Ryan] Sony's MLB The Show series
has been coasting on its past success for a few years now,
but the 2019 version has finally broken that slump
by introducing some substantially improved modes
on top of the usual fine-tuning and polish.
(cheering)
One of the areas that sees the most improvement in 2019
is defensive play.
How capable a player is at fielding in his position
has never been easier to spot,
thanks to color-coded fielding icons.
The effects of a skilled fielder are more pronounced too.
A top-ranked outfielder shows you the path
the ball will travel,
guiding you to exactly where you need to be.
Meanwhile, a subpar fielder makes you do some guesswork.
This visual aid is a good way to bridge the gap
between the athletes' abilities and your own skill.
At the same time, some smooth new infield animations
chip away at the longstanding problem
of clunky fielder control.
There are now more instances
where infielders botch a ground ball attempt,
only to organically recover and get the out.
One of The Show 19's standout new modes
is March to October,
which is designed quickly get you through a single season
by blending simulated games with key playable moments.
After a nice 2018 recap video, you and your chosen team
are immediately dropped into the late innings
of 2019's opening day.
You gain or lose momentum depending on your performance,
which impacts how your team performs in the simulated games
that tick by until the next key moment pops up.
An adequate variety of situations, from salvaging a series
to having a productive game with a specific player,
make March to October a fast-paced and fun addition,
though it's currently a little shallow
and not as dynamic as other season modes.
(mid-tempo music)
Meanwhile, Road to the Show sees several new upgrades
and continues to be the best way to play MLB The Show.
It's slowly turning into a true RPG sports experience.
Archetypes return, along with a new personality system
that intertwines with the existing dialogue choices,
player relationships, and a perk system.
While it verges on being needlessly complicated,
personality does a nice job of connecting
these various abstract aspects of a player's career.
Additionally, dynamic challenges make things
a little more interesting.
At various points in a career,
you're provided with a set of increasingly difficult tasks
to choose from, and if you're successful at it,
you gain a boost to a related ability.
Coupled with a new set of simple mini-games
for improving your athletes' skills,
aspects like dynamic challenges, personalities, and perks
have moved this mode away from a pure baseball simulation,
but not from a fun experience.
Disappointingly, Franchise Mode sees only
a few minor upgrades.
Contracts now more closely mirror real life,
both in years and money.
Also you can now resign players in the middle of a contract.
That's nice, but not exactly game-changing.
Moments is a new mode that's closely connected
to the excellent Diamond Dynasty card-collecting game
and is among the most attractive additions
to MLB The Show 19.
It's a set of challenges themed after various moments
throughout baseball history.
We start out big, offering challenges based on Babe Ruth,
Willie Mays, and the 2016 Cubs World Series run.
Some nice historical video footage sets the stage
for each individual challenge.
It's a pleasant surprise to see the Babe Ruth chapters
are appropriately rendered in black and white,
and these objectives aren't always easy.
Hitting a home run in one at-bat, even with Babe Ruth,
will likely have you hitting the Replay button over and over
but it's satisfying when you connect.
Across the entirety of MLB The Show 19,
new graphical elements look and sound great.
Improved score widgets offer more relevant information
than before, such as the current batter's hitting line
for the day, and dynamic camera angles kick in
when you select your pitch.
Every so often, new sideline reporter Heidi Watney chimes in
with interesting and timely commentary.
She's a breath of fresh air
next to the three-man play-by-play announcer team
that's carried over from last year,
who have a tendency to repeat themselves.
- [Announcement] And opposite field
as he lines this down the line and right.
- [Reviewer] This year, online head-to-head games
have been very smooth in the days after launch,
which hasn't always been the case with this series.
There are occasional delays, but it's a relief
that they don't impact the ability to hit or make plays.
MLB The Show 19 continues the series' slow march of progress
with a bigger step this year than last.
Fast new modes, refined defensive gameplay
that distinguishes between top-ranked players and weak ones,
and a deeper Career Mode
make this the most compelling version
since MLB The Show 12 added the original Diamond Dynasty.
For more, check out a ton of March to October gameplay
and our rundowns of new features and changes
to Road to the Show.
And for everything else, stick with IGN.
- [Announcer] Now a big swing,
and this ball is crunched out to deep center field.
And good-bye, this one ain't coming back!