Game Review of MLB 11: The Show

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Does MLB 11: The Show knock the ball out of the park, or does it leave players crying foul? Find out in this video game review.

Major League Baseball is just getting into swing, and that means that baseball fans can simulate their favorite teams and players on their gaming consoles.  MLB 11: The Show offers a great avenue for baseball fun and simulation, and this newest edition of the franchise comes with plenty of gameplay improvements.



The implementation of pure analog controls on MLB 11 will be a draw to some gamers, and a deterrent to others.  If you enjoy a challenge, the analog controls will definitely provide it.  On the other hand, if you are looking for some arcade-like baseball fun, the analog controls will have you quitting in no time at all.  This innovative control system has been injected into the three major phases of the game: pitching, fielding, and hitting.  It really keeps you on your toes, and adds a good sense of realism to the game.  The learning curve is definitely steeper than many sports games, but you at least have the option of doing some practice drills before you take on real opponents.  This is one game where practice really does make perfect.

Depending on who you ask, pitching may be the toughest to master when it comes to the analog system.  It's great in theory, as it gives you complete control over your pitches.  Executing the movements in reality, however, is something that takes a while to master.  To pitch, you pull your analog stick back. This begins the pitcher's windup.  Once the ball in the pitching meter nears the line, you push the stick forward to release the ball.  You can direct the pitch's placement by moving the analog stick around in a controlled manner.  The better your pitcher's rating, the easier it is to place the ball where you want it.  The fact that you have so much control over your pitches makes you feel more immersed in the gameplay.  Button mashing is no longer the focus.  Now you are actually forced to think and be more strategical when you are on the mound.

The use of the analog controls in fielding is pretty straightforward.  It is also the simplest of the bunch.  Moving your players around is easy, and so is throwing.  You can throw to different bases by holding the right analog stick in the direction of the corresponding base.  Although this may seem simple, there are a few things to consider.  The longer you hold the stick, the harder the throw.  Sure, this will help you throw out a runner if time is of the essence, but it could cause you to make a wild throw as well.  You do get some on-screen meters to help you gauge your throws, but you don't have much time to really analyze them when the ball is in play, so their helpfulness is rather limited.  The accuracy of your throws and how well you move around in space is not only influenced greatly by your analog skills, but also by your player ratings.  If a player is a bad fielder in real life, good luck in getting them to make great throws or snag hard to reach balls.



Hitting may not be as intricate as pitching, but still takes a while to learn.  Hitting on MLB 11 is similar to pitching in that it is basically broken down into two separate motions.  You pull back on the analog stick to begin your stride.  As the ball approaches, you time yourself and push the analog stick forward to swing.  Hitting in itself is tough to master, but when you throw in pitches of different speeds and locations, it becomes that much harder.  One nice option is that you can change your swing to a contact swing to lessen the chance of striking out.  The analog system does seem to work well in the area of hitting, but there is something missing.  This may be considered nitpicking, but making contact at the plate is not as exciting as it should be.  There's not enough pop off the bat when you make contact to give you the adrenaline rush that's necessary.  Sure, the sound of the ball hitting the bat is great, but the hits themselves seem weak.

Next: MLB 11: The Show Graphics >>
 

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