Almost knocks it out of the park

THE latest instalment in the popular baseball franchise, MLB

The Show 18 has been revamped from the ground up to completely refresh the game.

While the Road to the Show mode keeps the ‘‘fake documentary’’ narration for your created character’s progress through the minors and hopefully to the major league, there are a few twists this year — your players are not stars or high draft picks, they are guys following the dream and proving they have got what it takes to be a star.

Additionally, they have archetypes they have to fit into based on their playing style and position, like being a speedy base runner who does not have a lot of power.

The franchise has been tightened up with more checkpoints, so players are more aware of milestones to pay attention to, such as Draft Day and trade deadlines.

Diamond Dynasty’s programs from last year have been further expanded, with the option to eventually unlock legends such as Frank Thomas, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth and more.

Rounding out some of the enhancements are new batting, fielding, and base running animations, new audio commentary, improved visuals, and even weather effects, such as rain delays that can completely change the fortunes of a game.

Players will have options for multiple control settings, as well as options to tweak player settings to fit personal game preferences.

And while there is no objectionable content, the game is heavy on product promotion throughout.

Unlike previous years, players cannot upgrade player stats directly by paying for enhancements; instead, packs (purchased with either earned ingame tokens or real

money) include new baseball players and stadium cards.

While this franchise is still the reigning champion of baseball games, some of the new changes need more time in the minor leagues.

MLB The Show 18 revamped virtually everything from the batting stances for your players to almost 900 new throwing, catching, and tagging animations to make the game look more realistic.

The down side is flaws in the Road to the Show mode, which shows glimpses of excellence but feels stuck in its own concept of greatness. For example, this year, the newly created characters are forced into a game archetype to reflect the kind of athletic role they might perform on a squad.

As a result, speedy base runners are not power hitters. While this was meant to provide progress through your career based on your ingame performance or offfield training regiment, this system is flawed.

First, progress seems arbitrary, and does not always seem to reflect how you play.

Secondly, the training boosts in the offfield activities are preselected, so you don’t always have a choice about what you can or can’t enhance.

Finally, this year’s version rarely provides stat boosting items in baseball packs, and barely gives a lot of ingame currency during play.

As a result, you feel like both you and your created character are grinding away in obscurity, hoping (like many minor league players) that you are eventually recognised for your work. But if you can look past some of these rough edges, MLB The

Show 18 shines as a fun, engrossing, and visually amazing take on America’s national pastime.

Are you ready to step up to the plate and take your place in ‘‘The Show’’? — TCA