Since 2006, MLB The Show has been a driving force in bringing a new generation of baseball fans into the game. Like many other sports franchises, the San Diego studio often fine-tunes The Show’s game modes to deliver a more polished offering, but last year’s MLB The Show 21 changed the game’s face. Although developers are limited to having each game ready within a year, they manage to tweak or add new features that often have a positive impact on the player base. The release of MLB The Show 22 was a prime example of a game that changed enough to keep its fans happy but failed to recreate the magic of its predecessor.
In the months leading up to launch, MLB The Show 22 gave fans the impression that some changes were inbound. While somewhat true, certain modes of the game have been enhanced, and the radio commentary team has been overhauled. This year’s titles are starting to seep into what MLB The Show 21 offered a year ago when it looked at the differences in appearance. Still, the game welcomes newcomers and seasoned players alike, and offers a variety of experiences through its many gameplay options.
Both offline and online modes can be played for hours at a time, and Diamond Dynasty mode remains one of the best campaign experiences on any platform. On the surface, MLB The Show 22 is another baseball game that offers satisfying gameplay, intricate detail, and beautiful visuals to keep players engaged for long periods of time. However, the downside is obvious and can turn off some veterans of the franchise.
All the modes from last year’s game are featured in MLB The Show 22, but the “March-October” mode gets some much-needed depth. The San Diego studio turns the once-fleeting experience into a multi-season game mode where players can take over a team and play in clutch moments, while using the offseason to sign free agents and upgrade their clubs before the new year .
If players want to get more involved in a more detailed atmosphere and manage the ins and outs of their teams in a more hands-on way, Franchise Mode is more complex than March to October. Meanwhile, Road To The Show takes players into the world of MLB and creates a roster of players and challenges them to rise and become the latest big legend.
The success of MLB The Show 22 lies in the two main playable components of the game, the : pitching and hitting. Here, players will spend most of their time in almost every game mode, and each side of the coin offers a realistic and satisfying approach. Whether a player is playing the game for the first time or has years of experience, the pitch controls can be set in a variety of ways for maximum comfort. Players entering the first game can choose the pitch style they want to throw, aim for the ball they want, and release. Those looking for a more strategic placement of power and control will likewise be pleased with the depth of control.
The hitting aspect of the game is as refreshing as it has been in past installments, and it all comes down to timing. A new feature in MLB The Show 22 allows the player to anchor the swing position, putting complete control in the hands of the player. Playing on rookie difficulty will give those new to the team some freedom to adjust to timing issues, since pitchers will mostly throw their fastballs into the strike zone. Playing dynamic difficulty changes the difficulty of the game based on the player’s performance, letting the player get used to the pace of the game by going through the easiest difficulty first, and letting the game decide if they’re ready for the next step.
Diamond Dynasty mode is still the one that players flocked to at launch. The combination of online and offline features allows players to gain experience by playing the game and doing it well, and XP rewards players with series packs and other perks over time. Players can use these items to build their fantasy teams to compete online, or simply stay offline and continue to gain experience through daily and weekly challenges. The daily clutch challenges are straightforward and on the easy side, including tasks like hitting a certain number of batters or hitting a home run to win a game.
Like most sports games right after release, MLB The Show 22 has a ton of bugs and issues, some of which have been fixed in recent patches, while others still exist. Some of the more notable issues are “magnet glove” issues, where guaranteed home runs are sucked back into play, or system glitches that cause players to freeze to the plate after a strikeout. While humorous at first, it’s odd how some of the questions made it past the technical testing phase. It’s only a matter of time before the San Diego studio fixes the problem with a future patch, but for now, players are still suffering from growing pains.
Although the new commentary team is refreshing, and new voices have joined the judges for the first time in four years, there are also shortcomings. After playing the game for more than 30 minutes, players realize how limited and shallow the script is. The “swing and miss” chants are ones players dread hearing, while other emotions become repetitive after a few innings. While the deliveries of newcomers Jon “Boog” Sciambi and Chris Singleton are largely on point, and the excitement is believable, it’s hard to get over troublesome issues related to the scripts they have to work with.
There’s room for improvement in future patches, but MLB The Show 22 is an enjoyable experience no matter how it’s played or how new a player is to the franchise. There’s nothing like hearing the crack of a bat on a perfect swing and watching the ball fly out of the park. For seasoned players, these small improvements will go a long way in the near future, bringing the game closer to actual sports and giving players a real sense of being there.
MLB The Show 22 is available on PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant obtained the PS5 code for this review.