The new guest of today's review column allows us to take a closer look at baseball and sports. MLB The Show 21 is the baseball game developed by Sony and for the first time in its 15-year history to Xbox consoles. So, is MLB The Show 21 a good enough game to attract players in areas where baseball is not popular, let's answer it together.
Since baseball is not a well-known sport in our country, the game is not known much. But in areas where baseball is popular, the MLB The Show series is a very popular game and is widely praised for successfully bringing the sport to the game. My personal baseball experience is limited to going to a game in Japan and watching cartoons on TV. There is also the movie "Field of Dreams", which was broadcast on television at the time, I still love that movie.
Pros
+ Road to the Show mode
+ Easy to learn gameplay styles
+ Pinpoint Pitching system for master players
+ Visuality and atmosphere
+ The online side does not force you to buy packages
+ Crossplay and Cross platform feature
Cons
- We cannot create stadiums in the previous generation
- Minor frame issues
- Sometimes there is a picture / sound drift
- RTTS mode only has audio podcasts (PS4 / Xbox One)
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBox One, Xbox Series X
MLB The Show 21 has enough content to please baseball fans. Up-to-date squads, one-on-one stadiums of the teams, lower division teams and a great atmosphere reminiscent of a real baseball game. With its presentation, music and successful visual features, we feel like we are watching a real match, not a game. Although the long-term followers of the series say that there are few improvements, everything is very good for Xbox users who are new to the series or for the first-time PlayStation players like me.
MLB The Show 21 has various modes. The first of these is the "Road to the Show" mode, where you create your own player and go professional. After creating your character, there is no option to start playing in a position you want. In the conversations in the game, some questions are asked and choices are made according to your character. Normally, such modes start from small teams and try to attract the attention of a team and try to be selected, but with The Show 21, it is possible to go directly to the team you want. Of course, there is also a chance to be selected for a random team. The feature of playing both shooter and non-shooter positions, which was not available in the previous games of the series, is also included in The Show 21.
You can choose 3 different "Archetypes" for our character and you can also make "Perk" choices that will strengthen your various characters. It is also possible to customize the character's equipment. With all these features, you can turn a single player into a special player who can play in different positions in each match and use different equipment. It is also possible to move your created character to Diamond Dynasty mode.
The story progression is carried out with podcast programs as well as interviews before and after the match. The point I stuck with about these podcasts is that we can listen to radio programs on Playstation 4 and Xbox One consoles only with audio. We watch it as a video on the new generation consoles Xbox Series S / X and Playstation 5. An interesting choice.
Diamond Dynasty, the game's online combat mode, is already a popular and well-functioning mode, so this year there are no major updates. Working in the logic of Fifa Ultimate Team (FUT) and NBA 2K My Team, Diamond Dynasty allows you to buy packs and build your team with the cards inside. Unlike other games, the rosters can stay strong for a long time in MLB The Show 21 and it is possible to be a part of the struggle without spending money, as it has a development feature.
Franchise, the first of the other two modes, gives you the opportunity to play 162 matches that take place over the course of a season. March to October is a game mode that gives you control at the most important moments of the matches and the rest of the events happen automatically.
A Real Baseball Game Atmosphere
MLB The Show 21 gameplay is prepared to appeal to both newcomers and experienced players. The game, which has Casual, Simulation and Competitive difficulty levels, also has the option of "Dynamic Difficulty", which increases or decreases the difficulty according to your performance in the match. Casual is the ideal option for a newcomer to the game, while online challenges take place on Competitive difficulty. If you want to play with other players, I suggest you prepare yourself.
You have a few different options in the throwing and hitting parts of the game. In addition to the modes that allow even novice players to shoot / hit easily, the Show is pleasing to experienced players with the Pinpoint Pitching system added this year.
One of the most important features added to the game this year is the Stadium Creator. It is possible to make a highly detailed stadium with Stadium Creator, which allows you to create your own dream stadium. We are reviewing the Playstation 4 version of the game, but just out of curiosity, I had a bit of trouble downloading and creating a stadium on the Xbox Series S. You arrange everything from the soil on the field to the wall coverings and the placement of the castles. It is also possible to share these stadiums with other players and download the stadiums built by them. The fact that the feature is only in the new generation may be due to the high level of detail it contains.
The game does a very good job visually. The differences between the new generation version and the PlayStation 4 / Xbox One versions are not overly high, and a careless viewer may think you are watching a real baseball game when looking at the footage. The animations of the actors are very realistic. In terms of performance, the Playstation 4 does a fine job. Although there are frame drops at a few small points, it is possible to play the game without any problems.
The game does a pretty good job in terms of sounds. It keeps the atmosphere of the match beautifully alive. The most striking complaint was that the Sound of the Show feature, which is normally a popular feature of the series, is only available on the Playstation 4 version. The feature that allows you to customize the music played at certain moments of your player has been removed in both the new generation versions and the Xbox One console.
Result
MLB The Show 21 is a sports game that is not very well known in our country and is naturally underestimated. As someone who has no understanding of baseball, it would be a lie if I said that I did not enjoy the hours I spent in the game. Over time, as I increased the difficulty and started to do some of the automatic movements of the game myself, the pleasure I got from the game started to increase. But someone who does not understand this sport at all may not be able to adapt to the game by just doing the trainings in the game. (Until I researched some things on the internet, I never understood what happened in the matches I played, for example).
For players who love baseball, I can say MLB The Show 21 is the best baseball game available on the market. It offers a lot of options in terms of customization, creates the atmosphere, and its gameplay appeals to all kinds of players. Moreover, it supports both crossplay and cross progress system. As consoles from different generations can struggle with each other, you also have the chance to continue the progress you have made on the Playstation 4 on your new generation Xbox console.
I can recommend MLB The Show 21 to players who love baseball and want to buy a sports game and play it for a year. But if you are not into sports games or baseball, this game is not for you.
Although MLB The Show 2021 allowed even the most novice gamer to somehow comprehend and play the gameplay, it never managed to completely absorb me. At the time, I used to think that I played baseball by taking a stick and hitting the tennis ball that came in my hand, but actually it may be because I have no interest in this sport. Take a look if you have the opportunity to try it, but if you are not interested in baseball, it is very difficult to get your money's worth. As someone who has little interest in baseball, I have a certain score to the game, if you really like baseball you can add 10 more points.
