Although sports games haven't been Sony's strong suit in recent years, they have always managed to put on a good show with their MLB series. MLB 08: The Show is no exception and is sure to please any baseball fan.

MLB 08: The Show obviously doesn't compete with the PS3 version, but it does a lot with the system's power. Players look as close to their real-life counterparts as the system allows and even showcase a few new animations. Stadium landmarks like Fenway's Green Monster are also around. Aside from a few clipping issues, it is hard to really pick out any major issues in visual presentation. There are a few crowd issues and the PS2 version doesn't showcase the smaller feature that make the PS3 version such a stand out game, but those are incredibly picky issues that are out of the system's control.

Whereas the visuals lack certain smaller features, it absolutely nails the audio stuff. Fans heckle and cheer along with other recognizable ballpark sounds. Special attention is also given to the on-field sounds like slides, the crack of the bat and player chatter.

MLB 08: The Show sticks firmly to the, "If it ain't broke..." mantra. All of the gameplay modes from last year's game make a comeback with few changes. Dynasty mode puts you in the GM role and lets you make all of the major decisions that go with running a major league team. You'll have to set ticket prices, negotiate contracts, and draft players, as well as make game day decisions like pitching rotations and batting order. The only major limitation to the mode is length; you can't play anything shorter than the normal 162 game season, so it takes a bit of a time commitment. If you don't have the time to run everything, you can play a single season. While it doesn't come with all of the extraneous off-season decisions involved with running a dynasty, you still get to make game day decisions and work out trades during a season.

Road to the Show is MLB 08's core gameplay mode (after all, it does appear in the title) and is similar to Dynasty Mode, only instead of focusing on a team, your focus is directed at a player-created character. Once you create a character, you can try out for a major league team and depending on your performance (and team needs), they'll pick you up or send you to a farm club for a bit of extra polishing. In order to make it to the majors, you are given a set of goals that you must accomplish. These include working on certain player attributes or reaching career milestones. The system has been tweaked a little to allow more flexibility, but there are sporadic issues with getting your promotion. It's completely possible to complete all of your goals and still be told that you're "not ready" or to be suddenly bumped back down to the minors despite your success on the field.

Exhibition and mini-games, like the Home Run Derby, are also around if you're in the mood for a quick game or two. Online play is also supported, though it is one of the game's weaker features.

MLB 08: The Show has typically been one of the easier sports games to just pick up and play. The controls are kept simple and while the A.I. makes some dumb moves, it never feels like you're being cheated out of something. One of the more noticeable aspects of MLB 08 is that the A.I. has been slightly improved; it still makes mistakes, but it doesn't make them nearly as much as in past years.

Fielding, however, still needs some work - which seems to be a reoccurring issue with nearly every baseball game I've played since Bases Loaded on the NES. Fielders still lack that extra bit of pep in their step and take their time getting to the ball or reacting to a particular play. Throwing is also a big issue; I've never been a fan of the pop-up strength indicator and MLB 08 does nothing to make me a fan. It functions well enough that it doesn't kill the game, but it still feels like it doesn't really matter. It seems that the more complicated developers try to make the system, the worse it gets - which may indicate a simpler approach might be best.

The relationship between the pitcher and batter is one of the core focuses in MLB 08: The Show. By hitting (Select) you can now bring up a tool that indicate which type of pitch a batter is more successful hitting or what types of throws a pitcher favors. You can also bring up a menu that highlights what type of pitches a player has in his arsenal and which have the higher strike percentages. When looking at a batter, you can pull up info that will help a pitcher get a better idea about how to handle the guy at the plate. You're not obligated to use the provided info, but it helps a lot - especially when dealing with players you aren't familiar with (which, for me is anyone not associated with the Oakland A's or a former LSU player).

Another new feature is the Progressive Batting Performance system, which tracks how hot or cold a batter is. The system is represented on-screen by icons that show how confident your batter is at the plate. The PBP system is pretty useful for determining your player's state of mind as well.

Sony deserves lots of credit for MLB 08: The Show. While much of the focus has been on the PS3 version, they went the extra mile to make sure that the PS2 was little more than a castaway title. If you're a baseball fan that can't make the jump to a PS3 just yet, MLB 08: The Show is a great pickup.