‘MLB The Show 24’ Hits A Home Run For Baseball-Obsessed Gamers
“MLB The Show 24” brings gaming action and history to the diamond on Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo.
Major League Baseball’s opening day is open us, and Sony is capitalizing on eyes turning back to baseball by dropping MLB The Show 24, the only officially licensed baseball video game out there. As the only show in town, it’s a good thing MLB the Show faithfully represents America’s favorite pastime and has a reputation for featuring realistic gameplay, a wide variety of modes and, more recently, a heavy emphasis on individual stories.
On the gameplay front, The Show 24 builds on a fair amount of heritage. With several years of being THE baseball game out there, it serves up fun on both sides of the ball. Wisely, Sony hasn’t changed much in that respect, adding new animations and a deeper emphasis on defense in story modes but staying true to the formula, making The Show 24 easy to pick up for veterans and newcomers alike.
Core gameplay stays consistent across the many modes of the game. And there are many. Road to the Show revisits the career campaign that starts in the minors and checks major MLB milestones on its way to a high-profile post-season finish. RTTS also features playable women this year for the first time ever with stories that make history.
Speaking of history, the Storylines Mode returns for a second season to continue the story of the Negro Leagues with a solo campaign that melds momentous baseball gameplay and authentic historical film content. Derek Jeter’s appearance in this year’s game is also a welcome highlight and following his story is a captivating journey through more recent history.
Diamond Dynasty also returns as a quicker way of playing, using cards to fill out a team and then run it through a season full of abridged games. It’s a mode that’s more akin to fantasy baseball. It’s an easy way to get addicted to the game and has featured some fun, oddball pickups since its introduction.
Finally, there’s the managerial slanted Build a Franchise mode puts gamers inside the front office for anyone who wants to fulfill their fantasy of helming a team. That mostly means making director-level decisions but Build a Franchise also features the option to jump into the action on the field at any moment where a key play can make all the difference.
Though developed by Sony, MLB The Show has grown to be a fully multiplatform series and The Show 24 makes its way to Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo. The definitive experience remains on PS5 but also looks great on the XSX and is available day one with a Game Pass subscription, though PS5 owners won’t find it on Sony’s PS Plus subscription service for some reason.
For MLB fans, this is a must-play game and the premiere baseball simulator for the foreseeable future.
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