MLB The Show 18

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 101 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 101
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 101
  3. Negative: 32 out of 101
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  1. Wootif
    Apr 3, 2018
    3
    This game isn't about baseball. This game is about constantly reminding the user that they should be spending (real life) money to escape the Skinner Box they've created. The absence of any alternative baseball games leaves us with a poorly implemented, uninspired mess.

    Franchise and season modes have been removed, leaving only Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty (which requires a PS+    This game isn't about baseball. This game is about constantly reminding the user that they should be spending (real life) money to escape the Skinner Box they've created. The absence of any alternative baseball games leaves us with a poorly implemented, uninspired mess.

    Franchise and season modes have been removed, leaving only Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty (which requires a PS+ subscription). In order to progress in Diamond Dynasty, the game is constantly funneling the user into buying trading cards and equipment with Stubs (which can be bought with microtransactions).

    The gameplay itself is lackluster and feels like a downgrade compared to games released even 10 years ago. When fielding, the camera can't be controlled and the ball often leaves the screen, becoming incredibly tedious to track down. It's impossible to control the 'sense of urgency' for a throw, as your players will occasionally meander around for 2-3 seconds before throwing the ball (even if a runner is bearing down on first).

    Hitting is more "pre-ordained" than ever before - awful swings where you should not have even made contact often result in home runs, while perfectly timed swings result in weak grounders or popups.

    The pitching mechanics are the same as previous installations and aren't worth mentioning.    … Expand
  2. DirtDog13
    May 2, 2018
    4
    A once proud series strikes out with a runner on third.

    Being the only actual MLB game (No, RBI Baseball doesn't count) it should be fairly easy for San Diego Studios (SDS) to put out the best baseball game each year. For the first time in the series, it feels like SDS phoned it in. The game looks and feels really well done. The player models and uniforms are exceptional and the    A once proud series strikes out with a runner on third.

    Being the only actual MLB game (No, RBI Baseball doesn't count) it should be fairly easy for San Diego Studios (SDS) to put out the best baseball game each year. For the first time in the series, it feels like SDS phoned it in.

    The game looks and feels really well done. The player models and uniforms are exceptional and the slight improvements to graphics prove you don't need an overhaul to make a noticeable difference in how the game looks and feels.

    All the right modes make their way back, except season mode. Season mode was a nice touch, but SDS decided to pull it along with the online Franchise. While alone this wouldn't be enough to worry, but along with the other issues in The Show 18, it only seems like laziness.

    Here's the real issues: The "improvements" made to any mode other than Diamond Dynasty are broken, inefficient, or don't make a difference.

    RTTS, the series' flagship mode, is repetitive. Progression is broken and flawed. Rather than allow players to make their player a 99 overall in every attribute, SDS has introduced player archetypes with attribute caps that vary amongst the archetypes. For instance, a "Plain Filthy" pitcher can put some serious movement on their pitches that, one would think, would lead to more strikeouts, yet because of the archetype's low K/9 cap (the ability to generate swings and misses) it doesn't matter. As an example of a "Plain Filthy" pitcher, Greg Maddux is used. While Maddux wasn't a 200K/Year guy, he still amassed 3,371 strikeouts in his career. The game's limits on its player archetypes significantly hampers players.

    Franchise mode is nearly broken. The "phases" improvement is useless. Rather than going to the calendar and simming to the draft, you click a button and sim to the draft. It doesn't make things quicker. In fact, it makes it longer to do the same task in previous games. This is because a bug which was eliminated years ago makes its return. The CPU will always attempt to "fix" your roster, even if roster management is set to manual. That's right, we are back to the bug from the early mid 2000's. The CPU will sign, re-sign, call-up and demote players as it sees fit. This means, during free agency, players are forced to move a day at a time to make sure the CPU doesn't sign players. If the CPU does manage to sneak a signing, players are forced to choose between keeping a (more than likely) below average player or cutting the player and keeping the dead weight in salary.

    If the CPU signs too many players, it can put the player in an impossible spot budget wise. This alone nearly breaks franchise mode. Roster management is supposed to be the highlight of the mode, but SDS utterly fails. Again, it seems like laziness that led to this point.

    And, for the umpteenth time in a row, there is no jersey number selection screen. Now, this isn't a major issue, but when taken in context of the rest of the issues in '18, it is more than annoying. It's nothing more than laziness on SDS's part.

    Now let's talk in-game issues. When playing a game in "Hybrid" mode, cut scenes that show real-life clips of a city cause the game to loop and forces the player to close the application. It took less than 10 games for this to happen multiple times, showing SDS didn't even attempt to test their game.

    At times, fielders refuse to bend over to field ground balls right next to them. Again, this is an issue from years ago that was removed but has once more made its way into the franchise.

    If this installment is any indication of how SDS plans to treat the series moving forward, there needs to be a real discussion of what's next in sports gaming. There is little attention to detail as numerous bugs and mistakes make their way back into the franchise. The Show 18 is a lazy, half-done game and clearly shows SDS is moving towards the Madden/FIFA/NHL strategy of only putting effort into its pay to win mode. If this is going to be SDS's effort moving forward, a change in leadership is needed.    … Expand
  3. Cubster1980
    May 25, 2018
    4
    Looks good plays bad. Random results in pitching and hitting. Slow players, and no online franchise.

    Diamond Dynasty is loot box hell. RTTS went to archetypes instead of letting players play the way they wan't. Garbage animation fielders seem like they really want to show how cool they look pushing off the wall. Even when a normal human being trotting to a fly ball could stop, they    Looks good plays bad. Random results in pitching and hitting. Slow players, and no online franchise.

    Diamond Dynasty is loot box hell.
    RTTS went to archetypes instead of letting players play the way they wan't.
    Garbage animation fielders seem like they really want to show how cool they look pushing off the wall. Even when a normal human being trotting to a fly ball could stop, they need to go the extra 8 feet and push off the wall.

    It's the only baseball game, so enjoy the suck if you need some baseball.    … Expand
  4. Roadeyez
    Apr 28, 2018
    3
    Perfect example if it not broken don't change it, programs, fielding and pci placement a mess, water down pack luck with a lovely paywall to boot makes Madden 18 look like a Gem, worse Game investment in my career of Gaming.
  5. Jknowlton
    May 22, 2018
    1
    These game gave me anger issues. Often it doesn’t care what you do, it will screw you over in the worst way possible and will make you mad that you ever played the game once, much less multiple games. AVOID AVOID AVOID
  6. ach0z3n
    Jun 22, 2018
    0
    Decent game by 2005 standards... series in DESPERATE need of competition. Game honestly isn't fun. Gameplay is an almost 20 year old engine that has been patched to the point of complete randomness. The only reason they get away with this is the fact they have an exclusive deal with MLB. This game is just a frustrating random pile of 2005 garbage. DO NOT spend money on this.
  7. jacklman
    Nov 12, 2018
    0
    This is the biggest money grabbing scam of a sports game I have ever played. They want you to pay money for a decent online experience. If you don't pay for a team, expect to get your butt kicked by a stacked team of all immortals. Also, the game will freeze in the middle of the game and will give you a loss no matter what- even if you're winning. If you try to contact SDS(the creator)This is the biggest money grabbing scam of a sports game I have ever played. They want you to pay money for a decent online experience. If you don't pay for a team, expect to get your butt kicked by a stacked team of all immortals. Also, the game will freeze in the middle of the game and will give you a loss no matter what- even if you're winning. If you try to contact SDS(the creator) about your loss, they will ignore you. You can place the pci perfectly on the ball and swing perfectly and still pop it up. It truly doesn't reward you after games getting 46 OVR rated players after throwing a perfect game. You can open up a million packs and maybe never pull a diamond. I spent two weeks trying to get three finest players and got two of the same **** JT REalmuto cards that they butchered along with Freddie Freeman who is unusable compared to immortals. The game has made me mad more than I have enjoyed it. So this is my farewell on never playing another San Diego Studios game again. TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11… Expand
  8. buddahpa
    Mar 27, 2018
    5
    Season and online franchise modes removed!!

    Good: Plays a great game of baseball. Presentation/visuals look fantastic. Bad: SDS (developers) had many live streams leading up to release and never mentioned season mode being removed. I found their lack of transparency disturbing, and underhanded. No changes were made to franchise mode, other than reworked UI (menus). Also found out    Season and online franchise modes removed!!

    Good: Plays a great game of baseball. Presentation/visuals look fantastic.

    Bad: SDS (developers) had many live streams leading up to release and never mentioned season mode being removed. I found their lack of transparency disturbing, and underhanded. No changes were made to franchise mode, other than reworked UI (menus). Also found out that roster sharing is having issues. The same issue that was reported last year, and clearly not addressed. This means that those people who spend countless hours doing all levels (MLB, AAA, AA, A), and trying to upload to the Vault, are unable to do so. Now awaiting response for resolution to the issue.

    Summary: It's truly a great game, but MLB 18 is really a polished version of MLB 17. There are some ball physics which are a nice addition and do shine, but their lack of creativity or just listening to the requests by many customers (same requests for multiple years go unaddressed), is very disappointing. They seem to have done the minimum this iteration, and it shows. Making a $60 purchase is a lot for some, and keeping MLB 17 and skipping this year may be the best decision. I'll leave that up to you...    … Expand
  9. ShadowPeter
    Mar 27, 2018
    10
    MLB The Show 18 - 9.5/10

    It is true that baseball isn't a very popular sport in Europe, i'm not a big fan either. But even so, I have a baseball cap from the famous American baseball team, the New York Yankees. But going to what matters, will this MLB The Show 18 be higher than last year's version, which already had good reviews? From what I have seen and experienced, my answer is this:    MLB The Show 18 - 9.5/10

    It is true that baseball isn't a very popular sport in Europe, i'm not a big fan either. But even so, I have a baseball cap from the famous American baseball team, the New York Yankees. But going to what matters, will this MLB The Show 18 be higher than last year's version, which already had good reviews? From what I have seen and experienced, my answer is this: no doubt.

    I liked the attitude of San Diego that dares to sting us with an introduction full of good moments and shows the reason of the North Americans to adore this sport. I will start talking about the news of this MLB The Show 18 in relation to the previous one. Nothing more than joining the useful to enjoyable. We have more options on player customization on Road to the Show, whether the real player or not, we have new camera angles, we have more player emotions and more fan reactions. The Road to the Show, in addition to the improvements in customization and now being more Role Playing Game, also received another addition. When we are going to create a new player, we have to choose an archetype, each with its limitations and benefits. The use of the in-game currency to improve the attributes of our character has been removed from this game. Now, to improve our character in this 2018 version, it's based on the success we're doing on the field and during training.

    Diamond Dynasty also had improvements. We now have a flexible program system in which we must choose the missions to play and in an attempt to obtain legendary cards and immortal legendary cards. Yes, you are correct, this game has more legendary cards than the previous one. The online has also been improved, although it still has a bit of lag, but it still doesn't compare to the 2017 version and I admit I had a good time in multiplayer. Unfortunately the online Franchise mode has been removed, but don't worry, the offline version is present in this MLB The Show 18.

    Now reaching the ball with the baseball bat is easier and the physics of the ball are better. The animations of the audience and the players have also been given extra attention and the stadiums are excellent. The truth is that the game is difficult for those who understand half or less than that, the rules of baseball.

    Retro Mode and Home Run Derby are also present. Home Run Derby is a tournament of, well, Home Runs and retro mode is basically meant to delight those who love to see and experience nostalgia for baseball games of yesteryear. The soundtrack is also on point; bands like Daft Punk or Imagine Dragons are present in this game. Anyway, just good things in this MLB The Show 18.

    In short, the SIE San Diego Studio in what concerns baseball games, really knows pruning. Inevitably this MLB The Show 18 is a recommended product for baseball fans. I even started watching baseball a bit differently after playing this title.    … Expand
  10. Bugstaman
    Mar 27, 2018
    7
    Slight step back from 17. The only “improvements” they made were the fielding and tagging system other than that it’s the same game as last year. Fielding is broken the players are slower and feel clunky. Online is still laggy every year. I remember playing the 2k series 10 years ago and had smooth online experience. MLB the show online is never smooth. They took out a lot of theSlight step back from 17. The only “improvements” they made were the fielding and tagging system other than that it’s the same game as last year. Fielding is broken the players are slower and feel clunky. Online is still laggy every year. I remember playing the 2k series 10 years ago and had smooth online experience. MLB the show online is never smooth. They took out a lot of the presentation this year. No home run trots or replays or challenges at least in DD They do have a lot of nice legends to play with. It’s still the best MLB game out there compared to RBI.… Expand
  11. andy24king24
    Mar 27, 2018
    10
    Ok let’s get down to brass tacks. It’s not leaps and bounds better than The Show 17, so that’s that sorted. But if you’ve been lucky enough to play the brilliant The Show 17, you’ll be excited to know you can continue all progress from 17 to 18, including your player in the show and your franchise too. Graphics are improved but only slightly; the sounds including commentary again onlyOk let’s get down to brass tacks. It’s not leaps and bounds better than The Show 17, so that’s that sorted. But if you’ve been lucky enough to play the brilliant The Show 17, you’ll be excited to know you can continue all progress from 17 to 18, including your player in the show and your franchise too. Graphics are improved but only slightly; the sounds including commentary again only slight improvements but the commentary doesn’t offer anything new, sometimes gets a bit samey and repetitive. Only new updates could improve this but I don’t think so. The gameplay is like last years offering, brilliant, exciting. Is it worth the £45 I spent on it, no. Is it better than last years, no. Is it worth waiting for the usual price reduction YES. Cos for me this more like 17.5 than 18. But still by far and away the greatest baseball game on console. And don’t fall the annual garbage R.B.I. 18, it’s apparently woeful compared to this. So to sum up, wait and get cheaper and continue playing 17.… Expand
  12. Eljayem
    Mar 28, 2018
    10
    Absolutely the best sportsgame ever...period! Dont understand why some people give this game a low rating, cause its a very good game, despite some server issues in the beginning, this game is a must have for baseball fans.
  13. Kraks
    Mar 27, 2018
    0
    This game is what people have been warning about in regard to Pay-to-Win. You need stubs to even participate in some of the game modes, and to get them in a decent timeframe (unless you're amazing at the game), you're buying them. The daily challenges are behind those stubs, so you're paying to even try them if you're like me and newish to the series and trying to learn.

    My second    This game is what people have been warning about in regard to Pay-to-Win. You need stubs to even participate in some of the game modes, and to get them in a decent timeframe (unless you're amazing at the game), you're buying them. The daily challenges are behind those stubs, so you're paying to even try them if you're like me and newish to the series and trying to learn.

    My second complaint is the "randomness" the devs thought they'd throw in this year. If I do everything correctly, there should be zero chance that the game screws me over, yet it happens very regularly, whether fielding, throwing, batting, or pitching. It seems they threw in a bit of randomness everywhere.

    Lastly, The Show 17 was just better, and is much cheaper. Stick with it.    … Expand
  14. NavyBean
    Mar 27, 2018
    9
    Listen to me, people. This is the best game of console baseball ever made. There is a ton to like about it. It plays great. But, and I have a big but ... there's nothing significantly upgraded from 2017. Every single year I've bought The Show and there's been reasons that the new version has excited and surprised me.

    Just not this year.
  15. sityoazzdown
    Apr 3, 2018
    7
    Pros: Must play for avid baseball fans/only viable triple a baseball game. So-So: Not much changed from last year. Cons: What's up with the glitchy fielding? You run to a ball to have it bounce right past you.. the A.I in prior installations would auto pick up when your close to it... Hitting is a lot easier, reaction time is increased, and the contact percentage is up by alot ( i usePros: Must play for avid baseball fans/only viable triple a baseball game. So-So: Not much changed from last year. Cons: What's up with the glitchy fielding? You run to a ball to have it bounce right past you.. the A.I in prior installations would auto pick up when your close to it... Hitting is a lot easier, reaction time is increased, and the contact percentage is up by alot ( i use zone). This year's version takes a step down a little bit from last year, not much new, some refinement, but it is a lot more noob friendly, and fielding is glitchy as f. It's also impossible to strike someone out this year, me being a veteran, playing competitively is not as challenging, you can hit any ball into play this year it seems.. this being a baseball sim; it's not realistic.… Expand
  16. cogdotnet
    Mar 27, 2018
    9
    Overall, I enjoyed my time with MLB The Show 18. It’s as close to living the dream of being on the field during a Major League game as I’ve seen. Is it going to be a hit with non-baseball fans? Probably not, simulators have a history of only being for hard core fans of a sport. For those hardcore fans, though, MLB The Show 18 is going to be a hard act to follow.
  17. keepitmetal1989
    Mar 28, 2018
    7
    game play is great ! only thing is i wish there was more things to do in franchise mode. since they took out couple things . i expected more but game play is solid. should be a 9
  18. z28guy30
    Apr 1, 2018
    10
    Best MLB The Show ever! Batting has improved...and the game just simply looks and feels more realistic this yr!
  19. Alecj
    Jun 10, 2018
    6
    MLB the show has been so good over the years it put its competition out of business. Thats a shame. Now, without anyone to push them, i feel like San Diego Studios has stopped innovating and started pouring more resources into new and more "fun" ways to monetize the game.

    The game has a hugely successful Diamond Dynasty mode, which is its card collecting, online mode. People spend    MLB the show has been so good over the years it put its competition out of business. Thats a shame. Now, without anyone to push them, i feel like San Diego Studios has stopped innovating and started pouring more resources into new and more "fun" ways to monetize the game.

    The game has a hugely successful Diamond Dynasty mode, which is its card collecting, online mode. People spend hundreds of dollars to purchase one players' card, which allows them to use that player in online play (and some solo modes).

    It has become so lucrative that im afraid it may have swallowed most of the devs resources, in order to keep monetized content on a constant release schedule, the game play has suffered.

    For example- Hitting has gone from fine (but too easy for elite players), to completely broken (and unplayable for casuals), and is now a mess of half baked patches and odd physics.
    The most important part of the game is broken. Its obvious they do not have a good physics model and its very obvious they dont know exactly what is causing the problem, so they are merely throwing things at the wall to see what sticks.

    Even on the easiest settings, hitting is an inconsistent, frustrating puzzle.....that kills the overall score for this game...in any mode you play.

    MLB the Show does have plenty to offer in modes and ways to play baseball, but since that almost always includes hitting, its difficult to recommend this game to anyone but the hardest of hardcore.

    I wonder if SDS understands the depth of this issue, or as long as enough players spend thousands of dollars on card packs and players.....they even care?

    It could be a great game, but its just not.    … Expand
  20. sglas
    Jun 19, 2018
    0
    This is a sad sad state this game is in. Everything feels completely random like you have control over nothing. Get the meter perfect with the pitcher and ball goes no where near where you wanted. Get a perfectly timed swing right on the ball and its a weak out. This game is less enjoyable than any baseball game I have played going back to Tommy Lasorda Baseball. The past versions haveThis is a sad sad state this game is in. Everything feels completely random like you have control over nothing. Get the meter perfect with the pitcher and ball goes no where near where you wanted. Get a perfectly timed swing right on the ball and its a weak out. This game is less enjoyable than any baseball game I have played going back to Tommy Lasorda Baseball. The past versions have been great but I will not buy this game again next year.… Expand
  21. Jk9785
    Nov 1, 2018
    5
    **** **** **** This game disappoints on so many levels, it's baffling. Road to the Show? Repetitive. Diamond Dynasty? Broken. Online Franchise...GONE?!?! They've actually taken one of the most universally loved modes and thrown it in the dumpster like Luke Scott's career (look him up). That said, the visuals are mind-blowingly good and the soundtrack is okay. But that's it.
  22. hiltong55
    Aug 7, 2018
    8
    With over 100 hrs poured into this game I think I can give it a fair analysis at this point. I would like to start by saying that I am a huge fan of the franchise and is usually the only new game I am guaranteed to purchase every year. Without MLB The Show I am not sure that I would even bother buying a PS4 as I am mostly a PC guy. But I would also like to disclose that I am experiencingWith over 100 hrs poured into this game I think I can give it a fair analysis at this point. I would like to start by saying that I am a huge fan of the franchise and is usually the only new game I am guaranteed to purchase every year. Without MLB The Show I am not sure that I would even bother buying a PS4 as I am mostly a PC guy. But I would also like to disclose that I am experiencing some burnout and will be taking a year off from the franchise.

    From a sports simulation standpoint this, in my opinion, as close to reality a sports series has ever come to the real product. Your Madden's and FIFA's can be fun in their own right but I always feel like I am compromising realistic gameplay at times in order to have fun. For the most part, pitching, hitting and fielding all perform as they should by the AI and are all very approachable for new players. Hitting does take some time to get a handle of but I have become at least competent over time (still not great), pitching is a bit easy on lower difficulties, the defense can take a little time to get used to but is definitely masterable and baserunning is okay but is one of the things I still struggle with.

    Road to the Show received another cosmetic change this year as your player is boxed into a player type (power guy, speed guy, contact guy, etc) I guess to more mimic reality. I personally don't have a problem with this because this is kind of how I like to build my player anyway but I can see why this would anger players who want to build a powerhouse. The progression feels fairly good as you move up based on your play and can even be reassigned to other positions. Also, like last year, you can put up a stink and possibly get yourself traded or benched.

    Franchise mode went largely unchanged but the developers did add some scheduling tips for players who do not know anything about the interworkings of the MLB. I am a veteran of this mode so I really did not find any of this to be any help but I also didn't find that any of this hindered my progress at all. I mostly just like to take a crap team and build them up through simulation anyway.

    In the past few years, I have largely ignored Diamond Dynasty. I have never been a huge fan of hitting and playing defense but this year I figured I would give it a try. Of course, I got addicted to it lol. I am a very mission-oriented person so this mode really got me into all that The Show has to offer. I have learned how to hit and run the bases a lot better than ever before and love unlocking new cards and completing their missions. Conquest mode is where I spend most of my time as now feel the need to fill out that dam map lol.

    Let us get into the negatives. Yes, Diamond Dynasty can be a bit of a money grab as it is very difficult to get those Diamond cards without ponying up some cash to buy stubs. I really wish the odds of getting gold and diamond cards were just a little bit better, I think this would make your average player a little bit more willing to grind. I, however, enjoy this kind of grind as there are missions in everything you do and I am not really crazy over getting diamond cards. I wish Franchise mode went into a little more depth with things such as international signings and more realistic contracts. The advancement of depth has been lacking in this mode for a few years now.

    Overall I personally love this game but I can see why people think this becoming more and more of a money grab. Sony needs to be careful with this. But even with this being the case, MLB the Show 18 still has much more to offer in modes like Franchise and Road to the Show that are not attacking your psychology. I hope they take some of that money and put it in to their other supporting modes in the future. 8/10 great.    … Expand
  23. Un_Creative
    Mar 29, 2018
    5
    Coming from MLB THE SHOW 16 I was hoping for an enhanced experience. It only somewhat came through. I noticed season and online franchise modes were removed from the new game. I was pleasantly surprised by the upgrade in visuals. The only thing new to me in this year's release was the update to Road to the Show, but that change was made to last year's game.

    Reccomended To: - Those    Coming from MLB THE SHOW 16 I was hoping for an enhanced experience. It only somewhat came through. I noticed season and online franchise modes were removed from the new game. I was pleasantly surprised by the upgrade in visuals. The only thing new to me in this year's release was the update to Road to the Show, but that change was made to last year's game.

    Reccomended To:
    - Those New/Returning From One or More Years
    - Hardcore Baseball Fans    … Expand
  24. SinceDa90s
    Aug 12, 2018
    8
    When playing against friends this is a big improvement over last year. Much more enjoyable
  25. Dompozzan
    Apr 20, 2018
    7
    I liked the new direction of Be A Pro, leveling your player up by how well you perform on the field, but its still lacking the immersion youd expect from a career simulator. The micro-transactions are ridiculous but the game play is smooth, hitting and ball physics have been improved but many of the game modes haven't.
  26. TheJackMurphy
    Apr 20, 2018
    8
    MLB 18 The Show is going the route of other sports games such as NBA 2k and Madden and focusing mainly on two modes their "create a team" mode known as Diamond Dynasty where players can create a team by earning currency called stubs and using them to buy packs or players off the market. Also on their road to the show mode where players create their own player and try to make it into theMLB 18 The Show is going the route of other sports games such as NBA 2k and Madden and focusing mainly on two modes their "create a team" mode known as Diamond Dynasty where players can create a team by earning currency called stubs and using them to buy packs or players off the market. Also on their road to the show mode where players create their own player and try to make it into the big leagues and be successful in it. There is still a franchise mode where you can take over a team however you can tell San Diego Studio wasn't focused improving that as much. When it comes to gameplay it runs smoothly. Hitting dynamics feel better than ever and fielding is much harder than previous years (as it should be) Online is a little laggy but better than last years and will continuously improve.

    The main complaint about the show how its pay to win, While you can purchase stubs with realm money it is not at all pay to win. First of all, you can play online quick play where you can just pick whatever team and have your record recorded and while not improved very much their still is a franchise mode that people can take advantage of that allows them to make trades sign Free Agents that people that want to simulate the job of a GM would love to play. And you don't need to pay to play diamond dynasty I have an all gold and diamond team and I haven't spent one cent on the game.

    Overall MLB the Show is great, there isn't much improvement from last years game other than the features of diamond dynasty, road to the show and a few gameplay tweaks. Diamond Dynasty is the clear highlight of this game and if you are interested in Madden Ultimate Team or NBA 2k my team then I would suggest The Show because Diamond Dynasty is my personal favorite of the bunch    … Expand
  27. RynOpp12
    Jun 20, 2018
    5
    Simply put, this is baseball, and if all you want is a baseball experience, this game will provide you with that. However, since I spent a good chunk of money on this game (as I have done in the past with The Show games), I was hoping for a much fuller experience. There are so many simple flaws, as well as frustrating parts of this game that do not make it worthwhile. Let me give you someSimply put, this is baseball, and if all you want is a baseball experience, this game will provide you with that. However, since I spent a good chunk of money on this game (as I have done in the past with The Show games), I was hoping for a much fuller experience. There are so many simple flaws, as well as frustrating parts of this game that do not make it worthwhile. Let me give you some examples to show you what I mean.

    - This has been a problem for year now, but MANY of the batting stances and pitching motions do not look or feel at all like the actual players. This is a simple fix, just watch video of the players actually swinging! For example, the Giancarlo Stanton swing has his knees way too bent and the bat isn't quite in the right position. This is just one of many of the motions that is off. It is sloppy game design and really takes you out of the experience.

    - Apparently The Show still doesn't even know what the players in the game look like. Ex: The SF Giants reliever Will Smith does not look like the actual player at all! Not only has he (in real life) had a beard for about two or three years now, but he also looks less heavy in the face, than the game portrays his character as. By the way, his pitching motion isn't accurate with real life either.

    - Simple mistakes kill this game! As I was playing Road To The Show, I noticed the the El Paso Chihuahuas, a minor league team in New Mexico, plays home games at a field called Baypoint Park, and also has a beach boardwalk in the background. New Mexico is landlocked, they could never play at this field! This is careless game design that makes me think they didn't put much effort in to making the game realistic.

    - The graphics of this game haven't really changed much since about The Show 14 or 15. If you put both games in front of me, excluding roster updates and stylistic changes, I don't think I could tell you which one was which, which is just unacceptable.

    - I don't know if this one is just me, but this game has had a really bad lagging problems. When I pitch in Road To The Show, the meter will sometimes lag badly, causing me to really miss my spot and throw a wild pitch. I've noticed this usually happens with runners on base, making it more impactful and frustrating, as the other team usually scores because of this. Like I said, I have had many other The Show games before, and they have never had problems like this before.

    While this game does have some improvements, like the revamp of the Road To The Show progression, they seem few and far between. It really feels like San Diego Studios has lost the motivation to make quality baseball games with continual, positive improvements. They could really use a a serious competitor to their game to spur them towards improvement again, but sadly, it does not seem like that will happen anytime soon. It's really quite sad, as an avid baseball fan I hate to see this series drive itself further into the ground.

    Finally, I think a five score is GENEROUS given all of the issues with this game. I might be going a bit easy on the score because of the fun this series had given me for so many years.    … Expand
  28. Alpha3
    Sep 15, 2018
    9
    My favorite sports franchise and the only one I play year-round (NCAA '13 & '14 are close as far as playing time). I've always been a big fan of Road to the Show and have enjoyed the fact the developers made putting up "video game numbers" even more difficult this year. Franchise mode removed is what makes this an 8.8 instead of a 9.8.
  29. SportsPhan8
    Mar 2, 2019
    9
    Good gameplay, strong graphics & fun RPG mode. Highly entertaining & I recommend to any baseball fanatic.

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Best PS4 Game of 2018
88
#88 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2018
43
#43 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    May 21, 2018
    80
    This PS4 exclusive still merits Hall of Fame consideration, but with nothing truly original it will feel underwhelming to the hardcores. For casual players, it's a must-buy. [June 2018, p.89]
  2. Critical Hit
    May 21, 2018
    80
    MLB: The Show 18 is an incredible game with as much depth as you are willing to handle. It has incredibly intuitive and nuanced controls, entertaining commentary and a swathe of freedom that allows you to traverse the immense depth of the game as you feel comfortable doing. This is a game you can enjoy whether you’re a hardcore baseball fan or someone looking for something new in the sporting genre that isn’t FIFA 2018.
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  3. Worth Playing
    Apr 23, 2018
    77
    Road to the Show remains the soul of The Show 18 to me, with everything else feeling like a fun distraction, like getting to step into the shoes of baseball's past greats or the tasting the 8-bit flavor of retro mode. As I progress more into my player's career, there's this unshakable knowledge that he's never going to be better at some things than he is now. He will be in a box — an enjoyable one, but a box nonetheless.
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