MLB: The Show 15
From: Sony
For: PS4, PS3, PS Vita
Four and a half stars (out of five)
I know, I know. Seems a tad hasty to be bestowing this title in May, when most of the year's major sports titles have not even hit the shelves.
But I honestly can't see how Fifa or Madden or NBA 2K or the new Rory McIlroy golf game can quite capture the magic of MLB: The Show 15, an extraordinarily addictive and deep sports simulation.
Baseball is an acquired taste for a lot of people, but those of us who enjoy its character and nuance become devotees for life.
There is a certain amount of pre-existing knowledge required if you want to make the most of The Show, but it also does a fine job at holding your hand - and drastically lowering the difficulty levels - should you need some help.
No sports game has a range of sliders so deep, and you can tinker away with the batting and pitching and fielding settings till you find your comfort zone.
It is also doubtful that any sports game has looked so good.
Major League Baseball's famous stadiums are recreated with a loving touch, and everything from the cleats on the players' feet to the blokes selling popcorn in the crowd is given its chance to add to the overall feel.
Customisation options are essentially infinite, given the extent to which you can create and edit your own player, not to mention the stacks of real-life equipment that can be used.
On the diamond, gameplay is as smooth as silk.
Pitching is mesmerisingly fun and addictive, and batting is satisfyingly intense.
The real baseball tragics will jump into the biggest mode, Franchise, and get a buzz out of transforming the fortunes of a team on and off the pitch.
There is also Diamond Dynasty - like all other sports titles these days, The Show has a card-collecting mode.
But what really makes the game stand out from the crowd is something called Road To The Show.
It's nothing new, but it is the best single player mode you will find in a sports game.
The mix of player development and promotion is truly intoxicating, and takes The Show from major league material to hall of fame status.
