Highlights

  • MLB The Show 24 by SDS offers an authentic baseball experience with customizable hitting mechanics for satisfying gameplay.
  • Zone hitting in The Show 24 provides players with control over swing placement, based on ballplayer strengths and hitting style.
  • While zone hitting may have a learning curve, mastering it can lead to a rewarding experience across various game modes.

MLB The Show has long been one of the best baseball simulation experiences on the market, and with MLB The Show 24, developer SDS has demonstrated once again why that's the case. From the faithful recreations of major league stadiums to the unique batting stances of each player, MLB The Show 24 is in many ways the next best thing to sitting in the front row at the ballpark. That level of authenticity extends to gameplay as well, with The Show 24 offering a wide range of methods for gamers to take control of the action.

Just as hitting can be one of the most exciting parts of a real MLB game, hitting in MLB The Show 24 can be a real thrill. SDS' tweaks to its hitting engine over the years have created a gameplay mechanic that is both appropriately challenging, and immensely satisfying to use. Players also have options when it comes to how they want their hitting mechanics to work, with some being more difficult than others. The most difficult of all is the zone hitting system, but despite this, it is consistently one of the most popular choices for many longtime The Show fans.

MLB The Show 24 Review
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MLB The Show 24 Review

MLB The Show 24 is a return to form for the series, revamping Diamond Dynasty while making its single-player modes a must-play for all baseball fans.

How MLB The Show 24's Zone Hitting Works

In many old-school baseball games, hitting was based purely on a player's ability to time their swing properly, and ensure the pitch their swinging at was in the strike zone. With MLB The Show 24's zone hitting, players have additional control over the placement of their swing, while still accounting for the aforementioned factors. This makes hitting in The Show the closest thing to actually being an MLB hitter, as players need to make split-second decisions about what type of pitch is being thrown, where it will be located, if they should swing, and where exactly their swing should be.

Players control the placement of their swing using what SDS calls a Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI). By moving the left analog stick, the PCI can be moved throughout the strike zone and somewhat beyond it. In recent entries, the PCI has also become heavily customizable, so players can use what they think will give them the best advantage.

When playing MLB The Show 24, the PCI will change based on the stats of a particular ballplayer. In the middle of a standard PCI are three vertical dots, each of them denoting a ballplayer's particular hitting strengths. A PCI with an enlarged top dot, medium-sized middle dot, and small bottom dot often means a power-hitter like The Show 24 cover athlete Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is up to the plate, while a larger middle dot and smaller top dot indicates a line drive hitter. It all makes for a dynamic hitting mechanic, which is why so many fans flock to zone hitting year after year.

MLB The Show 24 Zone Hitting: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Authentic hitting experience
  • Customizable PCI
  • Shows a ballplayer's strengths
  • Offers the most hitting control

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve for first-time users
  • Less forgiving than other hitting mechanics

MLB The Show 24 may offer game mechanics for those who enjoy a more arcade-like experience, but for those who want to hit like the pros, zone hitting is the way to go. It may be difficult to master at first, but once players develop an eye for the strike zone and get their timing right, zone hitting can be an incredibly satisfying way to hit in MLB The Show 24. With a perfectly placed PCI, The Show fans can excel at everything from Road To The Show to Diamond Dynasty.