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'Show' 2014 update knocks it out of the park [Boston Herald :: ](Boston Herald (MA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 18--We play the same baseball video games every spring. It's inevitable: There are new versions every year, and they rarely change. 2K Games' "MLB 2K" series is gone, though, leaving Sony's "MLB The Show" the only game in town. The "MLB 2K" games were the only MLB games on Xbox platforms, so if you like serious baseball, you'll need a PlayStation to play ball. That's a bad call for Xboxers, but at least we are left with the right series. "MLB The Show" has always been better than "MLB 2K." It offers a deep simulation of the nation's pastime for serious baseball fans, but can also be custom-tuned into a simple arcade-style basher. With multiple modes, including local, online, single and multi-player, it scratches whatever kind of baseball itch you might have. "MLB 14" doesn't change much about the core game. It's still a challenge if you play on the veteran level. You'll have to be able to recognize pitches and time your swings correctly, using either the face buttons or joysticks, depending on what hitting style you choose. The pulse, meter and classic pitching styles return. If you were dropped into the middle of a game, you'd only know it was this year's based on the roster changes. The noticeable changes come in the Road to the Show mode, which has always been the best reason to play "The Show." You can now base your character on any active major leaguer, importing their stats and characteristics. Instead of immediately entering the draft, you have three games to prove your potential, and even if you're a seasoned "Show" pro, you're not guaranteed a good performance. You can even return to school to hit the draft a year later with better stats (but a higher age). Road to the Show now influences the franchise mode. You can use Player Lock to play as a single player. You also can have every at-bat start a few pitches into the count, and carry your season from the PS3 over to the handheld Vita. All three are time-savers, which can be crucial when trying to work through a season. "The Show" remains impressive, but if you have a PS4, wait for that version in May. If you only have a PS3, though, don't worry: "The Show" is still fantastic. ___ (c)2014 the Boston Herald Visit the Boston Herald at www.bostonherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |