Highlights

  • MLB The Show 24 offers a highly detailed baseball simulation experience with improved pitching mechanics.
  • Pinpoint pitching requires precise control and unique patterns for each pitch, enhancing realism.
  • While challenging, pinpoint pitching offers a rewarding simulation experience for baseball fans, as no two pitchers feel alike because of it.

For over a decade, MLB The Show has been the premiere franchise for a baseball simulation experience. MLB The Show 24 is no exception, as developer San Diego Studio has perhaps reached its highest point when it comes to recreating America's pastime. From the detail put into almost every ballplayer's appearance, to the television-like presentation of each game, MLB The Show 24 is in many ways the closest gamers can get to swinging a bat with their favorite team. Few franchises in recent memory have been able to match The Show's pedigree, and at this point, it seems unlikely that anything could.

One area of The Show that SDS has frequently iterated on is the game's pitching mechanics. Players have long had multiple options when it comes to twirling the pill, but in MLB The Show 21, SDS added a new pitching control scheme that has become the standard for a true simulation experience. Known as pinpoint pitching, it's a high-risk-high-reward option for gamers who want to feel in total control of their pitches. For newcomers to The Show's pitching, or longtime fans just trying it for the first time in The Show 24, pinpoint pitching may seem daunting. With time, however, it can become a valuable tool in ranked and casual modes.

mlb the show barry bonds at bat
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How MLB The Show 24's Pinpoint Pitching Works

Going back to old-school baseball games, pitching was largely a hands-off experience. Players selected what kind of pitch they wanted to throw, where they wanted it to land, and hoped for the best. Various baseball titles have also utilized meter-based pitching mechanics that require well-timed inputs, and The Show has used this and other control schemes for years. Pinpoint pitching, as the name would suggest, requires a greater amount of involvement from the player. Not only are pitch selection and placement important factors, but proper execution through every moment of delivery is essential.

Pinpoint pitching works as follows: Like any other pitching mechanic, players need to start by selecting their pitch and where they want it to land. Then, pinpoint pitching demonstrates exactly where it gets its name from. Using the right analog stick, players need to carefully trace a pattern unique to each pitch. Fastballs will often have the most basic pattern, while breaking balls like splitters and knuckle curveballs are more complex. Each pattern is also performed at a unique pace based on the pitcher. This often means that no two pitchers will feel the same, whether it's a legend like Pedro Martinez or a modern ace like Zack Wheeler.

The end result is a nuanced gameplay mechanic where the accuracy of every last gesture is essential. If players are just a few degrees off or a fraction of a second too fast, it will affect the outcome of their pitches. The Show 24 fortunately provides ample feedback on these metrics, so players can make any necessary adjustments as if they were a real MLB pitcher working on their mechanics.

MLB The Show 24 Pinpoint Pitching: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Most accurate pitching control scheme
  • Emulates difficulty of specific pitches
  • Emphasizes unique pitcher deliveries

Cons:

  • Exceptionally high-risk
  • May require a considerable period of trial and error

There's a reason MLB The Show has been the number one franchise for a baseball simulation experience. Aside from its impressive presentation, SDS has tirelessly crafted gameplay systems that push the envelope. With gameplay mechanics like The Show 24's zone hitting and pinpoint pitching, gamers can get as close as they can to performing at the big league level. Few games can claim to do the same, and if pinpoint pitching continues to grow past MLB The Show 24, it could prove to be one of the most dynamic features in the whole sports genre.