MLB The Show 16

Even though 'The Show' franchise has gone largely unopposed ever since 2K Sports let their MLB license flatline, I'm always pleasantly surprised to see that SCE Studios in San Diego still put out a very good baseball game on a yearly basis.

The online currency/market is back for the second year in a row and offers perks to at least two kinds of "Show" players;

-For players who couldn't care less about winning a Gold Miguel Cabrera card, they are able to sell it on the market for as much as 10,000 Stubs. (Which is about $10 worth if you were to pay for Stubs on the PSN)

-For players who find the challenge in collecting all of one team's trading cards in order to unlock a legend from that franchise really fun.

There has been a lot of upgrading in the currency area, but you'll find your way into at your own pace.

The Franchise Modes are back with a couple of added features, including a new player morale function that forces franchise owners to consider the personalities of all players on their team. If your players hate playing with the other guys on your team or are unhappy with their contracts, their performance will suffer. Keep your team happy, on the other hand, and you may just have a winning formula that will last through October.

Of course, Road to the Show is back with some new tweaks and additions.

First-year rookies will be partaking in another scouting event sponsored by Topps, but with some added realism. Such is (or was) the case for the MLB Scouting Bureau, the player will be asked to hit, field their position and perform in a couple of actual games, all before numerous scouts from major league teams. Afterwards, the player will choose to either be drafted based on their pre-draft projections or whether to simply play for their chosen team.

Once pitted against double-A ballplayers, you can experience the journey towards stardom through some new theatrical animations. Your first steps onto a double-A, triple-A and, ultimately, Major League field are all captured through some brief animations. It is a small upgrade, but one that RTTS veterans are sure to appreciate.

Last year saw the introduction of licensed gear with which to equip your player to add a boost to some of your abilities. This was one of my favorite additions to the mode and I'm happy to say that the equipment feature is back and with a broader variety of gear. (Elbow, shin guards and new ritual items as well)

I suppose the most apparent addition to RTTS is the addition of perks and traits that can be activated in-game. These can be used to give your player the upper-hand in a clutch situation. ("Guarantee a ground ball on contact," "Add a boost to pitch MPH for one at-bat," etc.) The only unfortunate side-effect of this addition is that it requires a reluctant suspension of disbelief. A lot of these perks seem like something out of an arcade game in a game mode otherwise devoted towards a realistic representation of the life in the big leagues. However, I'd be lying if I didn't say I really enjoy the active perk that allows me to always hit in "Coors Field conditions." Luckily, this feature is included in a way that allows players to either play with the perks or dismiss it altogether without penalty in any way.

Some final notes- the Sounds of the Show feature is back from its one-season hiatus, allowing players to design their own in-game sound queues. Also, the "pure analog" swing mechanic has a needless revision that hurts the design, in my opinion. Finally, the new "Umpire Personality" feature has pretty much gone entirely unnoticed in the first month that I've been playing the game.

Altogether, it's a solid upgrade from The Show '15, but with nothing truly outstanding. RTTS is still missing a device in which the player can see their own personality reflected in-game through a personality or reputation system. It would be great to argue and debate some calls with the umpires if they've been especially "realistic" with you. If I can borrow from The Mass Effect Series, perhaps a "renegade" player gets ejected quite often whereas a "paragon" player can give his teammates a stats boost in close games. I must give San Diego Studios a hand for adding the player morale dynamic in the Franchise modes, which is a huge leap in the right direction when it comes to adding realism to the game.

In so many words, The Show 16 still makes Playstation owners proud to have the best MLB game across all console platforms.