We have just over a week's time until MLB The Show 16 is unleashed on March 29.
Already, though, we have learned of all the new features that the highly anticipated title of the ongoing series will be equipped with and let's just say that PlayStation is more than putting the ball in play with this game.
Check out this list of all the new features thus far. Can't wait to play ball yet? We can't.
Road to The Show
Got what it takes to make the big Show? You'll have to prove it on the all-new, revamped Road to The Show career mode to the big leagues.
In MLB The Show 16, gamers can tap their thumbs through an entire series of Road to The Show games without ever having to navigate the main menu between games — a time-saving feature that wasn't available with last year's title.
Within the same mode will be your chance to impress scouts during the Topps Prospect Showcase, which now includes Bowman Scout Day and a new scouting report system, altogether. Out is the 1-through-99 point scouting system and in is the 20-80 point style of scouting, which speaks to actual Major League Baseball scouts. While training and getting players up to speed, gamers will also be able to earn and unlock gameplay perks along the way.
Showtime Gameplay
More than any other added feature, Showtime might be the one that gamers are most excited about. That's because, the gameplay feature allows you to slow the action down into slow motion, so you can lock in and put the barrel of the bat on the ball or extend an outfielder's body to make that thrilling web-gem of a diving catch.
In a way, the feature can be considered cheating, but Sony San Diego and Sony Computer Entertainment keep you honest by making you attain player perks, which let you use Showtime. Run out of those perks and your Showtime will turn into no time.
Don't let that happen to you, as the ability to use Showtime during a crucial moment of a game is definitely an advantage.
Diamond Dynasty Expansion
The revamped Diamond Dynasty keeps gamers abreast of every player with up-to-date information that's available by the droves. How does the impending title pull that off? Well, it worked with baseball analytics firm, Inside Edge, to empower gamers with a Daily Player Rating for every day of the 2016 MLB season.
That rating, which goes from one-star to five-star, could vary night-to-night, depending on who that player is facing. So, if New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez tends to be hot against Boston Red Sox pitching, his Daily Player Rating when facing his rival will be high. If he doesn't do as well against Toronto Blue Jays pitching, that will be reflected, too.
Within the same Diamond Dynasty component, MLB The Show 16 has added hundreds of new players, with the ability to add more legends. The latter comes in the form of "Flashbacks," pinpointing different players from highlighted parts of their careers. Within that, there's the "Prime Flashback," "Rookie Flashbacks" and "Postseason Flashbacks."
The introduction of Missions will give gamers tasks to accomplish to earn cards, XPs and stubs. One such example might be collecting 25 Atlanta Braves players to unlock a Braves "Flashback" player. Gamers could also earn tickets towards one of six captains or MLB superstars as well.
Battle Royale And Conquest Mode
Battle Royale pits player versus player online, giving gamers 25 draft rounds to build their team from the ground up, before engaging in double-elimination tournaments. Every draft starts with a Diamond round, in which you'll build your club around the best player available. From there, the draft transitions into a randomized order.
Once your team is set, Battle Royale mode has gamers playing three innings against each other. Winning games, while in the mode, enables gamers to win "Flashback" and "Legend" cards, including that for Luis Tiant and Nolan Ryan. While the initial entry into the Battle Royale is free, each additional entry will cost 1,500 stubs.
Conquest Mode puts individual gamers through the ringer, as they test their skills against each of the MLB's 30 franchises in attempt to conquer North America. The more teams you defeat, the more you grow your fan base, but be warned — computer-generated teams are out to grow their fan bases as well, making it all the more of an interesting race.
More Dives, Batting Stances, "No-Doubt" Home-Run Swings And Pitching Movements
Attempting to deliver the most-realistic title in its ongoing series to date, MLB The Show 16 has added 400 new dives, double-play turns and foul-ball catches, in addition to 290 new, or recaptured, batting stances and 50 "no-doubt" home-run swings. Wow. One of those no-doubt home-run swings is none other than Jose Bautista's notorious bat flip, which came in last year's playoffs, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays to the ALCS.
The game also touts 240 new, or recaptured, pitching windups or stretches for pitchers, making for a more realistic command of the mound as well.
Personalized Home-Run Celebrations
Ever noticed how Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion, perches his arm out as he rounds the bases following a home run? Well, his "Walk the Parrot" home-run celebration is just one of the many that the game will include, as part of its personalized home runs.
All these features point to MLB The Show 16 having a big hit on deck in the batter's box.
