For the baseball fans out there, MLB 13: The Show has everything but the performance-enhancing drugs.

I’m sure in a few years the game will introduce random suspensions during the season due to players getting caught using human growth hormones. But until that time, the eighth instalment of The Show series pulls no squeeze plays on quality and realism when it comes to the game of baseball.

For Canadian fans, the Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista makes the cover again, while south of the border the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen gets the nod.

But that’s just the cover. This year’s model introduces a beginner-friendly system, letting newcomers to the game slowly work their way up the skill levels without being given unnecessary frustration.

This adaptation of MLB 13 to the modern gamer is the real gem. The developers at Sony Computer Entertainment’s San Diego Studio want players to “learn the fundamentals of the game and develop the tools for success.”