MLB The Show 21 was a much-anticipated launch for fans of sports games, especially baseball games. The groundbreaking move of Sony San Diego's MLB The Show 21 landing on Xbox as well as PlayStation meant that Xbox players would finally get to experience the critically acclaimed baseball simulation franchise for the first time.
Also for the the first time, the series would be introducing one of its most highly requested modes: Stadium Creator. For the most part, critics and fans are happy to see the mode added into the game, and the feedback has been mostly positive. However, there are a good amount of changes that the mode desperately needs.
It should be noted that players on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms do not even have access to the Stadium Creator mode; it is exclusive to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/SÂ versions of MLB The Show 2. This is a disappointment to fans that have awaited the game mode's arrival, and there is no sign that the mode will ever come to PlayStation 4 or Xbox One in the future. This is most likely because the mode takes advantage of next-gen features in order to be made possible in the first place, but the fact remains.
What Does MLB The Show 21's Stadium Creator Get Right?
Despite its flaws, there is a lot to like about the new Stadium Creator mode. Right off the bat, it features a plethora of customization options, meaning that players can create the fantasy stadium of their dreams with way more possibilities than limitations. There is the option to build from the ground up, start with pre-built ballparks, or recreate pre-existing stadiums. It will also be exciting to see creators make their favorite minor league ballparks (which are not featured in the actual game) to scale and share them with the community.
Everything from seating arrangements, wall height and depth, backgrounds, and attractions are customizable to the creator. A player can craft a ballpark with giant walls, featuring whichever terrains or textures they desire, as well as city, suburban, or rural background areas, and even wacky attractions like volcanoes and castles. Developer Sony San Diego has really delivered with this game mode, giving fans more ways to be creative while also allowing them to go above and beyond. Unfortunately, it is the execution of the mode that is lacking.
Where Does MLB The Show 21's Stadium Creator Need Improvement?
As it stands right now, the Stadium Creator mode could use a ton of smaller adjustments, and there are numerous ways in which things could be improved upon and addressed to really perfect what is already a deep and exciting new MLB The Show 21 game mode. First, one of the most disappointing things associated with the mode is that its created stadiums cannot be played during night games. Currently all created ballparks are only available to be played during day games, but thankfully, this is being addressed in a future patch.
The real problems with the Stadium Creator aren't what the player is able to do within the mode, but how the mode functions and makes things accessible. Stadium Creator is clunky, its controls leave a lot to be desired, and the mode is in a desperate need of a searching feature. Although there are many great tools and ways to create at the player's disposal, the game mode is severely lacking in being as intuitive as possible.
That is also not to mention the fact that placing and setting up certain structures, textures, and additions to a ballpark is a bit wonky. There are times in which it can actually be quite difficult to place something in a specific spot, or to place it at all.
Although this is situational and does not take away from the full experience of the Stadium Creator, hopefully these issues will be addressed in an upcoming patch. The Stadium Creator mode suffers from misleading controls, difficulties in navigating through the interface, and a very poor menu system that does not feel convenient or simple to use in the slightest.
MLB The Show 21's Stadium Creator Doesn't Lack Content, It Lacks Convenience
With the much needed quality-of-life changes to MLB The Show 21 Stadium Creator, it could be a near perfect addition to the game that fans have long awaited. It features great potential, excellent tools provided to its players to create, a vast amount of choices and variety, but lacks in making those things easily accessible to the player. Overall, it seems that the UI for MLB The Show 21 is what needs the most tweaking. Where games like NBA 2k21 and Fifa 21 have their menus down to a science at this point, it seems as if MLB The Show 21 is a bit behind them in that department.
However, what MLB The Show 21 lacks in appearance, it makes up for in its gameplay. When gameplay is arguably the most important function of a successful game, it is at least better to be disappointed by MLB The Show 21 not making a bigger leap in terms of graphical improvements with the release of next-gen consoles, or by clunky menus and navigation controls than with its core gameplay. Hopefully, the all new Stadium Creator mode can be utilized to its full potential soon, allowing its players to take anyone out to the ball game, at their very own ballpark.
MLB The Show 21Â is available now for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
