MLB The Show 23 [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

Ever since I first played Super Baseball 2020 on the Mega Drive in my younger years, I’ve had a lot of love for baseball video games. Admittedly, I don’t really follow the sport in ‘real life’, but I’m always eager to hit the diamond when it comes to gaming. Naturally then, I was more than happy to check out MLB The Show 23, the latest release in San Diego Studio’s long-running sports series that gives the action even more meaning this year with the introduction of the new story mode focusing on the Negro Leagues.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Before diving into some of the new features included this year, it’s worth noting that the core baseball experience of MLB The Show 23 feels great, with multiple control and difficulty options in place to suit both casual players and those who want a die-hard accurate experience. Admittedly, a lot feels the same when compared to last year’s entry, but there are changes returning players will appreciate – whether that’s the more realistic approach to fielders’ stats affecting their success or the refined batting presentation for players to better their shots and find more success. It is very much a case of ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’, though perhaps long-time players may better notice the finer tweaks made to this year’s entry. Either way, it’s still a lot of fun and manages to capture the baseball experience in a satisfying and realistic manner, even if there aren’t any revolutionary changes to the gameplay.

Let’s talk about some of the big new features, most notably the new Storylines mode that celebrates the Negro Leagues. Narrated by Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick and presented in a historical documentary style, this mode has you playing through a series of moments from the perspective of different Negro League stars as you learn more about the personalities of the players, what made them click, and the impact they had on the sport.

It’s nothing short of brilliant, with the mode presented in an accurate manner that captures the period of time perfectly with stadiums, player kits, and the onlooking fans all feeling like they did all those years ago. Not only does it offer a whole new way to experience the gameplay, but it teaches players a ton too – like I said, I’m not fully versed with the sport outside of gaming, but I was utterly engrossed with everything the mode had to teach me about both the individual players as well as the Negro Leagues as a whole with its documentary-style presentation. Sports titles have offered their own story-driven experiences in the past, but this has been one of the most intriguing and enjoyable that I’ve played.

“Whilst a lot of the core gameplay does remain the same in MLB The Show 23, the additions across the different game modes ensure that it’s definitely worth your attention.”

Whilst I’d highly recommend all players check out Storylines, MLB The Show 23 offers plenty of other modes to suit your baseball needs. Want to build you own player and see them make their way through the Minor Leagues all the way through to the MLB? Road to the Show is the mode for you, with gamers able to develop their own baseball star as you look to become a legend of the sport. Admittedly, I would have liked to have seen more added to the mode to revamp the experience a little, but it’s still a fun way to have a more personal experience with the game. Plus, you can scan your own face into the game this year via the mobile app, so you can REALLY feel like you’re the star of the show. Just don’t expect to see many changes if you played through the mode last time around.

Franchise returns too, allowing players to manage their team and handle every aspect of how it runs. Again, not too much has changed to really revamp the mode, though the updated draft system does add more tension to your efforts given that there’s a ‘Fog of War’ that hides some player details so you don’t know if a signing will work out well for you. An enhanced scouting system adds to the drama, with both features adding a stronger element of risk-versus-reward when bringing in new players to your team. I haven’t played Franchise enough to see the full repercussions of this yet, but it does add an extra element of excitement that wasn’t present in last year’s release.

Finally, there’s Diamond Dynasty, which is best described as MLB The Show 23’s take on FIFA Ultimate Team. Players will collect cards of players from past and present and build their own dream team, which they can then use to play against the AI or online opponents in order to build up their collection. What makes it even more interesting this time around is that each season of the mode works with specific card sets, meaning you’ve got to build your team around specified requirements that change with each in-game season. Whilst this may sound daunting, the generosity in which high level cards are rewarded means players can build a top quality team to compete with minimal fuss – there is an emphasis placed on re-shaping and revamping your team with each season and card set, but that’s what makes the mode so interesting to play. It also supports ranked co-op online play this year, which I know will keep a LOT of gamers happy. Diamond Dynasty offers that whole ‘baseball card collecting’ thrill that resonates with a lot of players and was my most-played mode in last year’s entry of the game, and I can see that being the case this time around too.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Whilst a lot of the core gameplay does remain the same in MLB The Show 23, the additions across the different game modes ensure that it’s definitely worth your attention. Storylines alone had me captivated with the depth in which it explores the Negro Leagues and the way it captures each significant moment with the varying players, but even returning modes like Franchise and Diamond Dynasty offered enough differences to make them feel exciting to re-visit. Sports sims are often guilty of simply re-treading familiar territory and not always doing a whole lot to make it worth dipping in each year, but I do feel like MLB The Show 23 is a more fleshed out and enjoyable experience when compared to its predecessor.

Developer: San Diego Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://theshow.com/