MLB 09: The Show

 PlayStation 3
MLB 09: The Show Image
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 61 Ratings

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  • Summary: Road to the Show 3.0. Now includes interactive training, new settings, a new steal/ lead-off system, presentations and coach interactions. Interactive training will consist of a set of mini-games designed to improve a player’s ability and performance in various areas of baseball. FranchiseRoad to the Show 3.0. Now includes interactive training, new settings, a new steal/ lead-off system, presentations and coach interactions. Interactive training will consist of a set of mini-games designed to improve a player’s ability and performance in various areas of baseball. Franchise Mode 2.0. Improvements include the long awaited 40-man roster! The latest Franchise Mode improvements will also offer Salary Arbitration, Waiver Transactions and September call-ups. Training/Practice Drills. In MLB 09 users will have the ability to choose from a number of different Training/Practice drills. The drills will be of various concentrations of the game. These drills are a perfect way to polish and improve your baseball skills in The Show. Details & Subtleties. Details and subtleties play a huge role in legitimizing a game and helping you lose yourself in the suspension of disbelief. MLB 09 The Show sinks it's teeth into the details with realistic stadiums and signage, wear and tear on field, dusk to night lighting transitions, stadium Jumbotron animations and even crowd atmosphere - reaching up for foul balls out of play and home runs in addition to crowd rivalries and weather appropriate clothing. [SCEA]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Gaming Age
    100
    For the hardcore fan, the new additions are more than worth the price of admission whether you are utilizing batting practice, adjusting your now expanded roster, or just enjoying new graphical touches such as post game highlight reels. MLB 09 The Show is a significant improvement over last years fantastic effort, and I can just wonder what the boys have up their sleeves for next season. I'm sure it'll be a hit.
  2. GameFocus
    96
    Without any doubt, MLB 09 The Show is a great improvement over last year’s version. Sony’s baseball franchise is setting its stronghold as the real deal in terms of baseball simulations as the gap between them and 2K keeps getting bigger year after year.
  3. Cheat Code Central
    92
    With a ton of varied game modes, authenticity galore, near-perfect gameplay, and extensive yet somewhat glitchy online play, there's at a year's worth of content for you to swing through!
  4. Destructoid
    90
    MLB 09 The Show adheres to the age-old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and that is its greatest strength. Rather than implementing changes in the name of innovation or back-of-the-box bullet points, Sony San Diego has refined the winning formula of MLB 08 in nearly every imaginable way, and they’ve delivered the best version of The Show yet.
  5. Gamer 2.0
    90
    While not a lot has been changed drastically from last year’s game, MLB 09: The Show doesn’t mess with the great foundation and just focuses on fleshing everything out to go after the small things that can make good sports games great ones.
  6. DarkStation
    90
    Sony is truly on a roll with its baseball franchise, it is hands down the best baseball game in the land right now.
  7. Kombo
    80
    For such an all-star season last year, The Show is more about maintaining what worked so well with 2008's edition than rocking the world with massive changes.

See all 27 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. CreativeKhaos
    Sep 11, 2009
    10
    The best baseball game ever. Can it be improved? Sure, baseball is complex, but this game gets the play done perfectly. The Road to the ShowThe best baseball game ever. Can it be improved? Sure, baseball is complex, but this game gets the play done perfectly. The Road to the Show is a blast and the pitcher-batter interface is the best there's ever been. All thi ans unbelievable graphics too. I loved the addition of practice mode. I really wanted to be able to work on being able to pick up certain pitches better. This is a game that will suck up a lot of my life, and i'll love every minute if it!… Expand
  2. RyneD
    Mar 10, 2009
    10
    MLB 09: The Show is a dramatic update to the series. The gameplay is as tight as ever (aside from the baserunning in RttS mode) while MLB 09: The Show is a dramatic update to the series. The gameplay is as tight as ever (aside from the baserunning in RttS mode) while incorporating substantial improvements to the lighting and animation. Legacy issues still exist (e.g. players passing thru one another) but they do not detract from the overall feel and look of the game.… Expand
  4. marky
    May 5, 2009
    10
    This game is sick. It takes baseball video games to a whole new level. I can't stop playing this game.
  5. JoeB
    Mar 4, 2009
    9
    After reading how great the previous MLB:The Show was, I was convinced to take a shot and buy 09. I was not disappointed. This game is top After reading how great the previous MLB:The Show was, I was convinced to take a shot and buy 09. I was not disappointed. This game is top notch. Looks beautiful and controls well. The depth and detail is amazing. Some aspects seem like they would be difficult to master but that makes it even better to me. There were some minor bugs that prevented a perfect score but this game lives up to the hype. Must buy for baseball fans.… Expand
  6. DavidG
    Mar 13, 2009
    9
    SWEET! The "Road to the Show" addition is a great way for beginners to learn. There is only one thing I can see wrong with the game - the SWEET! The "Road to the Show" addition is a great way for beginners to learn. There is only one thing I can see wrong with the game - the audience detailing sucks. They made additions to this game, which far exceeded my expectations, but for Christ's sake, make the surrounding audience a bit more realistic. PS3 can handle it. GTA series is a prime example of perfect secondary detailing.… Expand
  7. Jonathan
    Mar 6, 2009
    9
    This year's offering is by far the best baseball game available since EA's MVP 2005. Road to the Show mode is incredibly well done. This year's offering is by far the best baseball game available since EA's MVP 2005. Road to the Show mode is incredibly well done. If you are looking for a good baseball sim, this is your choice. Please avoid 2K's game this year, and any other year for that matter. It would be more prudent to not buy a baseball game than to get 2K. The Show is the way to go this year and for the future.… Expand
  8. ScottErickson
    Oct 16, 2009
    5
    I have been playing this game for months now almost daily and I still cannot hit the ball very well. This game is impossible to get good aI have been playing this game for months now almost daily and I still cannot hit the ball very well. This game is impossible to get good a batting. I seems to me that the only way to be somewhat good is to create a player that has full 99 ratings, and it still is hard to hit. I have been playing on ROOKIE also, and it is still BS how hard it is to bat.… Expand

See all 18 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best PS3 Game of 2009
46
#46 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2009