Last year, SCEA with 989 Sports created one of the best playable games on the PSP and this year Sony has given the MLB franchise for the PSP not only a deeper rotation but also a new streamline feel to the game. Sony has taken the core game of the original MLB game and put a few coats of wax on it as well as some additions to the in-game system. Last year, MLB was a solid baseball title but compared to MLB 06: The Show, the original seems like a minor league game.

Features:

New game modes include Career, Home Run Derby, and “King of the Diamond”

Deeper Season mode featuring multiple seasons

Online capabilities include game modes infrastructure and ad hoc, and downloadable content

Expanded commentary with the addition of Rex Huddler and the return of Matt Vasgersian and Dave Campbell.

Gameplay:

Sony created this game with the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” attitude. In fact you will not even to read the manual and you jump right in and get to it. However, if one is to read the manual, one will find new additions to the batting system as well as a new base running control where you press the “L Trigger” and the base assigned to each button. These bases are the same when it comes to fielding as well and breaks down as follows: first base is the circle, second base is the triangle, third base is the square, and home plate is the X button. The traditional batting system has not changed. Batters can still guess the pitch by pressing the “R trigger” and then the pitch allocated to the appropriate button. The difficulties are still the same from the original MLB title and include a higher difficulty called “Hall of Fame”.



The newest gameplay system, called “King of the Diamond” features a duel between pitchers and batters. The difference between “King of the Diamond” mode and Home Run Derby Mode is that the batter can score not only off the home run, but also base hits, doubles, triples and the batter can get out by striking out, double plays, ground outs and fly outs. In the new Career mode, the main objective is to get the player you create into the Hall of Fame. You will choose his position and got through all the rigors of a baseball player’s career, like worrying if your player will be sent down to the minors, dealing with free agency and trades. While MLB 06 still lacks a franchise mode, the user will still be able to player through multiple seasons, including spring training. This is a new extension to the season play but for you new fans of the “World Baseball Classic”, sorry, this feature is not part of the season play.