MLB The Show 23 Review – A Small Step Forward

In our review of MLB The Show 23, we will discuss how it is a much more refined version of its predecessor and comes with an all-new mode that adds a type of campaign mode that MLB games have lacked over the years.

This game, in general, will feel like playing The Show 22, but with some tweaks here and there, but with just enough polish to make it worth picking up.

Story And Setting

Previous MLB games didn’t feature a storyline or any single-player campaign mode for that matter, which is why the brand new Negro Leagues makes MLB The Show 23 extremely distinctive from its predecessors. Playing through the legendary careers of 8 amazing players who left their marks in Baseball history surely carries this game past the finish line.

You will be able to relive the key moments in history that made the Negro Leagues so famous and see for yourself why people in the baseball community are still amazed by their history. The developers have taken references from the Negro Leagues Museum, and the President of the Museum is actually the narrator of the mode in the game, so authenticity is a big deal here.

His charisma adds to the storytelling element when you’re experiencing the documentary-styled segments that are scattered in between the gameplay sections of the mode. Honestly, learning about the famed careers of players like Jackie Robinson and Buck O’Neil is far more satisfying than the gameplay, which might get a little repetitive since it is fairly standard itself.

Gameplay

If you’re transitioning from The Show 22, then this game won’t feel that much different based on the gameplay since everything is just more refined with almost no new mechanics introduced. That is certainly not a bad thing, but it does make the game feel a bit samey.

However, it must be said that you won’t find a baseball simulation experience as good as what you get with this game, and there are various control schemes for different types of players as well. You can either choose to keep things simple or try using advanced controls to attain more precision in your shots.

There are various game modes that you can play through, which add variety and keep things fresh. The list of these modes is huge and includes Road to the Show, Franchise, Diamond Dynasty, Exhibition, Home Run Derby, Challenge of the Week, Online Co-op, and Custom Practice. The co-op mode even features crossplay, which is always great to see.

All of these modes are really fun to play and quite distinct from each other. Road to the Show allows you to make your own character and then use them to climb up the ranks in the league, whereas Franchise gives you the control of a whole team to utilize in championships.

Diamond Dynasty is quite distinct from other modes as it is basically a card-collecting game where you open various packs to obtain random player cards for your team. Lastly, the practice mode is actually really improved from previous games and allows for various options that you can tweak to practice the things that you’re weak at.

Visuals And Performance

MLB The Show 23 isn’t something that will leave you in awe in terms of graphical fidelity, but we’re not expecting something out of the ordinary from a sports simulation game either. It’s not ugly, but the graphics and textures will not blow you away either. It’s just decent looking.

Additionally, the game is available on all consoles, including last-gen ones, and performance is for the most part solid. We didn’t encounter any game-breaking bugs, and the framerate was solid for the most part as well.

There is even a Nintendo Switch port which is, as expected, inferior when compared to the other versions. There are framerate issues and low-resolution textures, and it basically looks a bit uglier. But if you can ignore that, the game is still very playable. 

Verdict

MLB The Show 23 is a fantastic baseball game and a dream title for most fans of the sport, and the addition of the new Negro Leagues mode further justifies buying the game. But there are some drawbacks as well, including almost no innovations to the overall gameplay system, and the variety in game modes is almost similar to previous MLB titles.

This game is still really fun to play, especially in co-op, and the refinements compared to previous titles are also worth appreciating. Overall, fans of the franchise will definitely love this game, and even new players can have fun playing the new story mode.

This has been our MLB The Show 23 Review. While you’re here, consider checking out some of our other articles. 

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