MLB The Show 2023 | Tribute to the forgotten greats

Beyond a few technical improvements that further refine the game mechanics of MLB The Show 2023it’s the absolutely stunning tribute to eight Negro League players who made a mark in baseball that strikes the imagination.

Since 2021, while the franchise MLB The Show, developed by San Diego Studio belonging to Sony, is accessible to all platforms, this production sits almost without question at the top of the best baseball games. However, the players have had very little new to eat for two years, while we have generally been content to update the alignments with a few technical adjustments.

More custom fields

The 2023 edition, from this point of view, does not revolutionize a winning recipe. The animations are always on point and often give the impression that we are witnessing a real match, with the typical facial expressions of the players who spit, tap the stick and show their dissatisfaction. We are again left with choices from many modes, the most inspiring being the Road to The Show where we create a player from scratch to take him from minor leagues to major league baseball. A real RPG, with dialogues and scenario, with baseball sauce. Franchise mode allows full control of your team, with trading and hiring of all staff.

For ordinary mortals and those who are not pros of MLB The Show 2023, it is the simplest mode of March To October which allows the most complete experience, from the matches in season to the playoffs. It is in this mode that we spent the most time for this review.

We immediately appreciate the three control possibilities, from the simplest to the most technical. The most important art in defense is that of the launcher: we choose all the parameters, among four types of ball with their speed and their direction, and we cross our fingers. A novelty that seemed striking to us is that the outfield players now have more distinctive characteristics, some are faster or more agile, have more or less strength in the arm to relay towards one of the goals.

Players at bat are of course also customized, with some having better timing or more power. What is notable is that we have obviously added a random aspect, where the same move will not necessarily give the same result.

The result of this very successful “gameplay” is that we find ourselves in the same spirit that makes the charm of baseball, a mixture of zen and excitement where all surprises are possible.

forgotten and honored

The big addition for 2023 has not much to do with game mechanics, but with history. We featured eight African-American or Cuban players who marked what was called the “Negro Leagues” between 1920 and 1948, each being entitled to a series of Key Moments referred to here as Episodes. In addition to the essential Jackie Robinson, the first black in the major leagues in 1947 passed a year earlier by the Montreal Royals, we pay tribute to Leroy “Satchel” Paige, Andrew “Rube” Foster, Hilton Smith, Hank Thomson, John Donaldson, John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil and Martin Dihigo.

Some have been forgotten and would have deserved greater recognition. Dihigo, for example, nicknamed “El Mastro” was dominant both as a pitcher and at second base and as a hitter. Each time, an introduction of about a minute takes you from one level to another and the player whose story you followed becomes available in another mode appreciated by connoisseurs, Diamond Dynasty which allows you to play with legends.

The “Negro Leagues” are in their first season in MLB The Show 2023 and San Diego Studios promises a new one every year.

With its dozens of variants on game modes, it’s hard not to find the one that will please any player. While being a baseball fan and connoisseur makes the experience more meaningful, we’ve still managed in this franchise to keep some things fairly simple for beginners. Nothing revolutionary, but well-crafted additions.