![]() It’s hard to predict how that will play out over a full year of Diamond Dynasty, but it definitely sucked some of the joy out of unlocking high end players in the short term.Ī number of other, smaller changes help refresh the Diamond Dynasty. Likewise there are some cards from a separate “Core” set, which are universal for any season. You can at least have one “Wild” card on your roster, which allows you to keep one player from any Set active, which does help take some of the sting out. Cards with exceptionally high ratings are available from day one, but the planned obsolescence is a tough pill to swallow. I like the general idea, as it injects some variety from season to season, but it also means cards from each set will eventually become obsolete, requiring many rosters to be rebuilt as time goes on. The significance of this is that certain modes, such as ranked competitive, will be locked to specific sets based on the current season, giving the strategy of each one a bit of a unique flavor. Season 1 has Set 1, Season 2 will bring Set 2, and so on. Ranging from six to eight weeks, seasons create a defined beginning and end to a specific stretch of Diamond Dynasty baseball that each has an accompanying set of cards. This year brings with it the introduction of sets and seasons that effectively act like The Show’s battle pass, which is a bit of a mixed blessing. It’s great for scratching that live service itch for those that enjoy the grind in a way that feels compelling, but not coercive. The cards range from today’s players to stars from the World Baseball Classic, legends of baseball’s past, to the featured players from the Negro Leagues. The basic idea is the same: you complete challenges or spend Stubs to unlock cards, which can then be used to assemble a team. The stories are entertaining, powerful, and often end with me in periods of quiet reflection.ĭiamond Dynasty, which combines baseball card collection with a slew of single-player and online multiplayer modes, has undergone a number of smart changes. ![]() Even as a lifelong lover of both baseball and history, most of what I saw and heard was new to me. It’s an important account that transcends baseball, and a credit to the developer for its inclusion. It formed long before the Civil Rights movement and did a lot to bridge a massive racial divide, bringing in audiences and filling the stands with people of all colors even as the players featured in these stories faced racism and segregation. The Negro Leagues storyline focuses on the triumphs of the players, but that doesn’t mean it shies away from the prejudice of the era and the reasons the Leagues existed to begin with. It all ties together in a cohesive package that’s equal parts history lesson and satisfying challenge. Instead, developer Sony San Diego thoughtfully recreated uniforms, equipment, and crowds from yesteryear. It would have been simple and safe to just add some throwback uniforms and a few legends to Diamond Dynasty. ![]() It’s a loving tribute to the Negro Leagues that didn’t need to be as detailed as it is. That also meant I was blown away when I took control of Paige myself, teammates kneeling around me without a care in the world, and sat down each of the hitters I faced. I could watch him describe the weather and I would be enraptured, but when he tells legendary stories, like when Satchel Paige called in the entire field of players to sit around him while he struck out the side in a game, I was on the edge of my seat. Kendrick speaks with tremendous passion and charisma. ![]() The video packages that accompany the players are poignant, funny, well produced, and lay out brilliantly what makes these guys giants in the history of the sport. MLB The Show 22 remains a very good baseball game, but it’s beginning to look like a star ballplayer on their way toward a post-prime decline. The push-pull between reliable small refinements and incomplete major additions is evident, and it’s the clearest sign of the limitations an annual release can have on the series so far. However, technical issues are a nuisance and co-op, the most ambitious new element, is fun but unfortunately underdeveloped. Hitting, pitching, and fielding remain sublime, and another year on the newest generation of hardware has virtual ballplayers looking even better. The key modes in MLB The Show 22 are as fun as ever, which is no surprise given that most of them haven’t changed meaningfully.
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