MLB 08: The Show (PlayStation 3, PSP, PlayStation 2)

To many of its fans, MLB 08: THE SHOW will feel like a comfortable, worn-in baseball glove. Sony's sport simulation feels much like last year's installment, yet provides a smooth, satisfying experience. Controls are typical of most baseball titles. Each button is linked to a different pitch in your arsenal. A meter measures how fast and accurate your tosses are. Batting centers around three main actions: the contact hit, power swing, and bunt. Before each pitch, you can guess the type of pitch as well as location. If correct, the strike zone blinks red. In-depth pitcher and batter analyses have been included to determine tendencies and pinpoint weak areas.

Road to the Show mode remains the title's star attraction. You create a player using a detailed customization system. Once complete, you guide your star from the minor leagues to the pros. Instead of playing full games as you would in franchise or exhibition modes, you only control the sections where your player is involved. It creates a much more personal experience.

The biggest change this season is the much-improved visuals. Players look far more realistic. Uniforms get dirty, dust kicks up after a hard slide, and muscle definition on players is easy to spot. However, The Show lacks ambience. Stadiums, and the crowds within, look lifeless. Also, while The Show plays smoothly, the controls could use some re-invention. MLB 08: The Show won't wow you with incredible innovation, but it's a consistently solid perfomer in the baseball realm.