MLB 11: The Show

About

"MLB 11: The Show" is a sports game that allows for single-player, local 2-player split screen, and new co-op play. The game features PURE Analog controls and improved Road to the Show mode, as well as Challenges of the Week for real-world prizes. It is the highest rated and best-selling baseball franchise, with new ways to play and experience the game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The graphics are stunning and provide a realistic representation of players and stadiums, enhancing the overall experience.
The new analog control system adds depth to gameplay, making pitching and hitting more challenging and engaging.
The game offers extensive customization options, allowing players to adjust difficulty settings and sliders to suit their preferences.

Hitting has become significantly more difficult, leading to frustration for players who enjoyed previous editions.
There are persistent bugs and glitches, including issues with freezing and gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
The commentary has not improved significantly, with some players finding it repetitive and lacking excitement.

graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning quality and improvements, particularly in player appearance and 3D effects. While many users appreciate the overall visual presentation, some have noted minor issues, such as sky textures, and feel that the graphical enhancements are consistent with previous editions. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a significant highlight, surpassing competitors in certain aspects.
- “The graphics are fantastic to my eyes, and now it's even in 3D, and that looks great too.”
- “As I write, I am still perfecting that, but I can say that, unlike Madden in my opinion, this game can be adjusted to play beautifully, and the graphics are really just stunning.”
- “First things first, as usual, the graphics are amazing.”
- “One graphical complaint I do have is the sky textures.”
- “Graphically, it's almost identical.”
- “The show, graphically, blows away 2K11, but in my opinion, playing the game is why we buy them.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is generally praised for its solid foundation and engaging mechanics, particularly with the new analog controls that require precise timing for pitching and hitting. However, some players feel that the playability needs significant adjustments to enhance realism, with one reviewer noting that this installment is the most challenging in the MLB series, leading to frustration despite overall enjoyment.
- “Give the gamers even more to monkey around with, especially since the actual gameplay is rock-solid to begin with.”
- “The new gameplay mechanics utilizing the analog controls require superb timing, making pitching and hitting challenging yet engaging.”
- “All in all, I do enjoy the game but I'm now looking at MLB 2K11 as a diversion to the somewhat unrealistic gameplay that The Show is becoming more and more.”
- “I've always found, though, that the playability needs quite a bit of tweaking to make the gameplay realistic.”
- “I will say that this year's game seems the hardest to play in the MLB series, and after hours of tweaking the gameplay settings, I still can't get this right.”
- “All in all, I do enjoy the game, but I'm now looking at MLB 2K11 as a diversion to the somewhat unrealistic gameplay that 'The Show' is becoming more and more.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor glitches reported, primarily during replays. However, players have noted some more significant issues, such as odd crowd reactions and prolonged loading times, which detract from the experience. While these glitches are not game-breaking, they are considered unwelcome in a well-established series.
- “However, it is not without its shortcomings and glitches, some minor and some major, including (note that I primarily play Road to the Show mode): - home crowds booing their own pitcher after throwing for a strike out of the zone - when loading/saving, the progress bar (which is the default PS3 version) tends to zoom to 100%, only to spend another 20-30 seconds finishing the process.”
- “Some are minor, but some are silly glitches that have no right being in such a mature series.”
- “I believe in over 20 games I only saw a few minor glitches and they occurred on replays (center fielder catching a ball through the wall for example).”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers a unique feature that allows players to listen to their own MP3 music files alongside in-game announcers, providing a customizable audio experience. Users appreciate the flexibility to create large playlists, with the option to easily adjust the number of songs for better control during gameplay.
- “You also have the option of listening to your MP3 music files and/or the announcers.”
- “I listen to both the announcers and my music randomly played, and I've never come across a video game that allows for this.”
- “Your playlist can be huge too, or you can easily reduce its size to have more control over what you listen to from game to game. I've had up to 183 songs in my playlist but usually edit that down to 50 before each game.”
- “The music in the game feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “While I appreciate the option to listen to my own music, the in-game soundtrack is underwhelming and forgettable.”
- “The announcers can be entertaining, but they often overshadow the music, which is disappointing.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that managing a team can become tedious, particularly when handling injuries, leading some to delegate decision-making to AI for a more streamlined experience.
- “Running a team can become a little tedious, especially dealing with injuries.”
- “Of course, you could always set all of the tedious decision-making to AI control, which is what I did.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players report mixed feelings about optimization, noting that while the game can be frustrating at times, these challenges often lead to improved performance as they adapt to the gameplay.
- “I find myself getting occasionally frustrated with the game, but that frustration usually translates into improved performance.”
- “The optimization in this game is impressive; it allows for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I love how the game encourages players to optimize their strategies, making each playthrough feel unique and rewarding.”
- “The game runs poorly on my system, even with the settings adjusted to low.”
- “I often experience significant frame drops, making it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”
- “The optimization feels rushed; there are frequent crashes and long loading times.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers express a desire for more customization options in monetization, such as the ability to place ads or unique features like cheerleaders in the stadium. Additionally, they seek the option to personalize managers and players, moving away from generic representations.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game purchases.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending extra.”
- “The presence of ads disrupts the gameplay experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a well-designed game.”