MLB The Show 25 Overview
Over recent years, mlb the show has achieved remarkable commercial success, especially after expanding to multiple platforms in 2021. This move helped solidify its position as a top-selling title in the sports genre. Despite this success, the franchise hasn't been without its flaws. Fans have expressed disappointment over the stagnation in modes like franchise and road to the show, as well as concerns about the limited live content updates within diamond dynasty.
Addressing these issues was crucial for San Diego Studio (SDS), who needed to demonstrate that they valued player feedback and were committed to improvements. The question remains: did they succeed in elevating the series, or has the quality that made it a staple in baseball gaming for over twenty years begun to fade?
As we delve into mlb the show 25, one of the most noticeable new features is the introduction of the ambush-hitting system. This mechanic enhances the batting experience by allowing players to adopt real-life hitting tactics, such as waiting on pitches on specific parts of the strike zone—inside or outside.
To activate ambush-hitting, players can tilt the right analog stick toward their target zone before the pitch is delivered. When swinging in the designated zone, the player's PCI (plate coverage indicator) and timing windows function similarly to those on a lower difficulty setting, making contact easier. Conversely, in other zones, the system increases the difficulty, simulating a more challenging hitting environment akin to playing on a higher difficulty level.
In MLB The Show 25, certain gameplay features evoke mixed feelings, especially the guess pitch or power swing mechanics. While these options are accessible during gameplay, I rarely found myself leveraging them due to their high risk and limited reward. The potential to earn a bonus exists, yet the tradeoff often results in frustrating outcomes, such as a perfect pitch in the zone ending up as a groundout instead of a home run. This disconnect diminishes their appeal, making their usage infrequent.
A more engaging approach would be to allow players to ambush pitches across the entire upper portion of the strike zone, rather than restricting ambush zones to inside or outside pitches. During early at-bats, I tend to look for pitches elevated in the zone and pass on lower strikes, even if they are called strikes. Expanding the ambush mechanic to cover the entire upper zone would better mirror strategic batting approaches used by many players, enhancing gameplay depth.
Hitting overall feels somewhat subdued in this installment. While the difference isn't drastic enough to hinder playability, it is noticeable. I observe fewer instances of exit velocities exceeding 100 mph on well-timed swings with precise PCI placement, reminiscent of the issues present in MLB The Show 22. This trend is particularly evident in Diamond Dynasty's competitive mode, possibly due to the lower-rated players available at launch. As player ratings improve over the season, this issue might lessen. Nonetheless, currently, hitting feels less satisfying compared to MLB The Show 24.
Defensively, the importance of player reactions has been amplified. New animations now depict how players respond after contact, with reaction ratings dictating the speed of their movements. The higher the rating, the quicker the response, which can be crucial in turning potential hits into outs. A colored arrow indicator displays the reaction quality, and witnessing a perfect jump from a shortstop reinforces the value of focusing on defense when constructing a team.
Additionally, the number of secondary positions available to players has decreased this year. This shift increases the value of utility players capable of covering multiple positions, especially in franchise and Diamond Dynasty modes. Coupled with the heightened emphasis on defensive attributes, teams will need to prioritize defensive versatility alongside offensive power when assembling their lineups.
Road to the Show mode also received notable updates after several years of minimal changes. The most significant is the introduction of the new amateur experience, where your journey begins during your senior year of high school. You participate in two or three high school games, aiming to lead your team to a state championship. Throughout this process, you’ll attract interest from various universities and MLB teams, adding depth and narrative to the career mode.
After completing your senior year, you have the option to commit to one of eight officially licensed universities featured in the game. Following this decision, you'll participate in the MLB Draft Combine before progressing to the MLB Draft itself. Once the draft results are in, you'll need to choose whether to sign with your drafted team or opt to attend college, giving you an opportunity to re-enter the draft in hopes of improving your selection.
Opting for college allows you to compete in three or four games, aiming to secure a national championship. The game accurately represents the style of play at this level, including the use of metal bats that produce impressively high exit velocities. The satisfying ping sound when you connect with a ball on these bats adds to the game's addictive feel. Additionally, high school games are simulated as seven-inning affairs, which reflects the typical length of many youth leagues across the country.
A fresh progression framework has been introduced to enhance player development, allowing users to utilize tokens to manually upgrade their attributes. This feature addresses a long-standing need within the mode, empowering players to take control over their athlete’s growth rather than passively watching automatic adjustments occur on the screen.
In addition, perks and equipment have undergone significant revisions. Perks now activate under specific conditions, offering various bonuses when certain criteria are fulfilled. Players can invest tokens to upgrade these perks, increasing their frequency or adding extra benefits. Meanwhile, equipment provides a modest percentage boost to the perks’ effects, further customizing the gameplay experience.
The simultaneous implementation of these features has transformed Road to the Show into a more authentic baseball RPG. Player choices now carry weight, influencing both progression and overall journey, resulting in heightened replayability with numerous paths to explore. This revitalization rekindles the enjoyment reminiscent of the early days of the mode, specifically MLB The Show 17, and sparks anticipation for future expansions from SDS in this direction.
Reflecting on last year's updates, I noted that although changes to franchise mode appeared subtle, they significantly boosted my engagement. I feel similarly about the updates in MLB The Show 25. Once again, SDS has introduced a groundbreaking feature unique among sports franchises. While the new free agency system deserves mention, which is indeed impressive, the elements I find most compelling are the new storylines, league news, and farm report features available during game load screens.
The league news provides updates from across your league, highlighting milestones, top performers, and major achievements. The farm report offers a current overview of your minor league teams, displaying recent scores and key statistics. Additionally, your top 30 prospects are listed with brief insights into their performance, draft details, rankings, and MLB arrival estimates. I had long hoped for such a system, and I am incredibly pleased with how it has been realized.
Game Features Overview
The storyline menu stands out as my top choice among the three options. It presents a curated list of narratives involving both your team and the opposition. These storylines might include scenarios such as a team on a winning or losing streak, a crucial division rivalry, or individual player streaks—hot or cold. By selecting a particular storyline, you trigger commentary that discusses that specific context before the game begins. Complementing this, a visual graphic appears on the screen, illustrating the storyline to enhance the experience.
One of the standout features in recent years' sports games is the ability to select and listen to various storylines from your league, and this installment continues that tradition with remarkable success. Engaging with new narratives that I haven't encountered before has been genuinely enjoyable, and the enhanced graphics accompanying these stories make the experience even more immersive. It truly brings the league to life, giving players the sensation of watching a real MLB broadcast unfold.
Additionally, the introduction of a revamped free agency system marks a significant improvement to the franchise mode. This new approach echoes the familiar prioritization mechanics found in recent editions of franchise or March to October modes. Players can now target up to three free agents simultaneously, managing their pursuits strategically. Each week, you'll have opportunities to negotiate contracts with players who show genuine interest in joining your team. The system incorporates a complex web of logic and numerous factors that influence a player's motivation to accept an offer, adding depth and realism to the free agency process.
The latest system overhaul addresses two key issues that plagued free agency in previous editions.
Firstly, it eliminates the tedious daily checks during the offseason, allowing players to monitor free agency just once a week.
This change significantly streamlines the process, making offseason management more efficient and less time-consuming.
Secondly, the new system encourages strategic decision-making by narrowing focus to high-priority free agents.
Players can no longer sign any free agent at will; instead, they must evaluate which players are realistic targets for their team and allocate efforts accordingly.
This adjustment adds a layer of depth and realism, making team building more thoughtful and engaging.
These enhancements have notably increased enjoyment within franchise mode.
However, some persistent issues remain unaddressed.
Despite SDS claiming to improve trade logic for four consecutive years, the results have been disappointing.
Trade decisions still seem flawed, with young stars on favorable deals being traded away unnecessarily, and in-division trades continuing at an alarming rate.
Moreover, the trade offers generated by the system have become increasingly bizarre, with some deals so outlandish they make the Mavericks trading Luka Doncic look like a calculated move.
Throughout my gameplay experience, I've encountered numerous offers involving high-rated players, often in exchange for underperforming contracts. For instance, I received a trade proposal from the Yankees offering Aaron Judge in exchange for three players—Jack Flaherty, Colt Keith, and Jake Rogers—each with overall ratings below 80. This humorous yet frustrating situation seems to reflect the game's attempt to realistically simulate how poorly some general managers, like Brian Cashman, manage trades. Interestingly, I’ve used this exact joke before in a previous MLB The Show 22 video, highlighting that trade logic issues have persisted across multiple versions.
Fortunately, developers are likely to address these quirks through upcoming patches. In the meantime, players have options to mitigate these problems, such as disabling CPU trades entirely or adjusting the trade frequency slider. I recommend activating these settings to improve the overall experience until the trade system is refined.
Despite these trade logic flaws, I encourage players not to let them deter you from exploring the franchise mode. The recent updates to free agency and storytelling mechanics significantly enhance the mode’s realism and immersion, making it more engaging than ever.
In terms of Diamond Dynasty, the most notable change this year is the removal of sets and seasons, replaced by a continuous power creep system. This means the mode now begins with lower overall cards, and as the year progresses, higher-rated cards will be introduced. This approach has generally been well-received, but its success will depend on the quality and variety of additional content added throughout the season.
Additionally, two new modes have been introduced to Diamond Dynasty. The first, Diamond Quest, is a single-player adventure featuring a procedurally generated game board. As players navigate this board, they encounter moments and boss challenges. Successfully completing these challenges grants perks, while failures result in penalties, adding a strategic and unpredictable element to the mode.
Game Mode Enhancements
Embarking on the Diamond Quest adventure, players will discover hidden treasures scattered across the game board. The primary objective is to amass as many rewards as possible while overcoming various stadium challenges. These challenges consist of quick three-inning games that must be won to progress through the quest. Successfully completing a stadium challenge allows players to retain their collected rewards and provides a chance to unlock the ultimate prize for that particular board. However, a defeat results in losing all accumulated loot, forcing players to restart their journey from scratch.
For enthusiasts like myself who primarily engage with Diamond Dynasty offline, this new mode offers a fresh and exciting experience. It balances fun with difficulty, often pushing players to their limits. I personally experienced moments of intense pressure, breaking a sweat during a tough challenge. The thrill culminated when I hit a decisive home run to clinch victory, prompting an enthusiastic shout that I hadn’t felt while playing MLB The Show in quite some time.
Additionally, there’s an upcoming game mode that will debut next month—Weekend Challenge. This competitive multiplayer feature will be accessible at the conclusion of each ranked season. Players will participate in six matches, with each victory rewarding progression along a special reward path. The final rewards are influenced by your ranking at season’s end; higher ratings unlock superior prizes. This mode promises an engaging way to test skills and earn exclusive rewards, adding another layer of excitement to the Diamond Dynasty experience.
This year, Diamond Dynasty shows immense promise, especially with the introduction of fresh game modes and the revival of the power creep mechanic. The ongoing live content updates will play a crucial role in shaping the mode’s overall appeal throughout the season. At launch, players are greeted with a substantial amount of content, catering to both online competitors and offline enthusiasts. Additionally, the game offers numerous free rewards, reinforcing Diamond Dynasty's reputation for rewarding dedicated players. Maintaining consumer-friendly and engaging live content, whether playing solo or with friends, will be key to its sustained success.
In terms of presentation, MLB The Show 25 continues to excel with stunning visuals and polished graphics that truly stand out this year. The scorebug and in-game graphics are notably impressive, enhancing immersion. The commentary team features familiar voices, Jon “Boog” Sciambi and Chris Singleton, who return to provide insightful and lively commentary during matches. Fans can also choose from two new public address announcers, allowing for a customizable audio experience each time they start a game, adding a personal touch to the overall presentation.
The most noticeable enhancement in MLB The Show 25 is undoubtedly the revamped UI design. Having previously criticized the interface last year, I now must acknowledge the significant progress made this time around. Several key menus have undergone a complete redesign, marking the first major updates in quite a while. Notably, the marketplace section within Diamond Dynasty and the quick manage interface in franchise mode both feature fresh, modern aesthetics. The overall layout is visually appealing, with a clean and stylish look that makes navigation more enjoyable. Additionally, the fonts are clear and easy to read, contributing to a more user-friendly experience. The team responsible for the UI clearly put in considerable effort, and their work this year truly stands out.
During my time with MLB The Show 25 on the Xbox Series S, the game generally performed smoothly, although I did encounter occasional freezes primarily when navigating the Diamond Dynasty menus. Fortunately, these hiccups were infrequent enough not to detract significantly from the experience, and SDS has already released an update to address many of these stability issues.
What truly stands out about MLB The Show 25 is the comprehensive overhaul across all game modes, marking a rare occasion where every mode receives substantial updates in a single year. The enhancements to fielding mechanics introduce a new strategic depth to team management, while the refined user interface and polished presentation elevate the visual appeal, making the game more engaging to watch and play.
However, there are some areas that could see improvement. The hitting mechanics currently feel slightly inconsistent, especially in competitive settings, which can impact gameplay fairness. Additionally, the franchise mode's trade logic remains problematic, often resulting in questionable trades that disrupt immersion.
Despite these concerns, MLB The Show 25 remains highly recommended for baseball fans. Fans of Diamond Dynasty and Road to the Show will find it a compelling day-one purchase. For franchise players, I suggest adjusting settings to limit CPU trades or disabling them temporarily until a patch is issued. Given the extensive content and updates this year, I believe MLB The Show 25 has the potential to be regarded as one of the series' finest entries.
Overall score: 8.5 out of 10
With a wealth of fan-requested features across modes and impressive presentation quality, MLB The Show 25 stands a strong chance of becoming one of the most celebrated installments in the franchise's history.
Pros:
- Innovative rookie experience and progression system in RTTS
- New storylines, league news, and farm report menus in franchise mode
- Return of power creep in Diamond Dynasty
- Enhanced importance of fielding attributes
Cons:
- Frustrating trade logic issues in franchise mode
- Slightly low exit velocities that could be improved
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