This feature will tell you how to win games in Sony’s MLB The Show 16. We’ll offer tips on batting and pitching to transform you into the ultimate virtual baseball player.
Sony returned with yet another edition of its popular baseball series, MLB The Show, and this one is more jam packed than ever. Along with the return of online play, the Road To the Show career mode and plenty of other options, the game has a number of new additions, such as Conquest and Showtime Mode, where you can create blockbuster moments.
We’ll cover these more extensively in guides to come. For newcomers, we have tips for batting and pitching. Time to cover the basics!
Batting in MLB The Show 16
Pitches can be hard to read in MLB 16 on tougher difficulties. Pitches can easily dip below your batting zone, especially curveballs, while fastballs require a bit of timing to nail. The Guess Pitch system will help you gain a bit of accuracy, though it’s not always 100 percent guaranteed.
The best thing you can do is watch the pitcher’s rhythm. Some are prone to throw fastballs, while others use trickier pitches to get the ball across the plate. A couple of pitches in – you may get a strike or two, but that’s OK – you’ll eventually make contact with the ball.
Side note: make sure you avoid balls outside of the strike zone. You won’t hit these pitches the majority of the time.
As for what type of swing you want to use, this depends on who’s at the plate. If you have someone who excels at homeruns, the power swing is the way to go. Sure, you’ll sometimes wind up with a fly ball that gets caught anyway, but it’s better than the obvious quick hit that’ll get caught and flung to first. Never hurts to try.
Contact hitting always works best for lower-tier players, like pitchers, at the plate, but don’t hesitate to try something a little more powerful for the players who can handle it.
On top of that, take advantage of directional hitting. This works in conjunction with your analog stick and the type of swing you select. If you aim upwards, you gain a better chance of getting a fly ball and maybe even a homerun with the right kind of power. However, if you’re trying to advance someone, you may want to stick with a grounder, aiming downwards and taking the swing. Aim for open gaps so the ball goes into the outfield and brings home a run. Again, this will take some practice – but there’s a mode for that, where you can simply swing away and get your home run stance down. Don’t be afraid to tone down the difficulty until you get the hang of the mechanics.
Pitching in MLB The Show 16
Pitching is fairly simple, with a number of specialty pitches available for each player, as well as a directional guide with a catcher’s glove, which is the ideal place to throw it. There’s also a grid that shows a batter’s hot zones, with red marks indicating guaranteed contact with the ball. It’s best to take your catcher’s suggestion and stick with the glove.
You won’t have much trouble with accuracy on the easier setting. Tougher settings force you to master the pitching system a bit more. Still, if you’re just getting started, stick with a lower setting until you’re sure you can handle it. Then step up to the plate.
Don’t stick with just one pitch. This will make you predictable. Check for pitching suggestions from the AI or try something new. You may catch someone off-guard with a curveball and get a key out.
Additionally, keep an eye on your pitcher’s energy level. The more worn out he becomes, the slower his pitches and increased likelihood of the batter landing a hit. Watch to see if your pitcher is wearing down, or worse yet, shaky with confidence after a few successive hits. If you need to replace him, go for it. The team’s victory is more important than keeping a pitcher in the game longer than necessary.
Finally, make note of runners on base. When you’re about to go into a pitching stance, there’s a good chance they’ll go for it. Before throwing your pitch, consider going for the pick-off. Most of the time the runner will slide back, but you may catch someone off-guard and score an easy out. Remember, you don’t want players to advance.
That’s it for beginners’ tips. Time to take the field!
Published: Apr 4, 2016 06:24 pm