Scots_Windies
School Cricketer
First of all I'd like to state I was a fan of C2004 and played it for hours on end so I wasn't going into this game thinking it was going to be terrible or wanting EA to fail, but I was quite dissapointed by the result...
The graphics are the one major improvement but I'm sure everyone has already noticed so I'd prefer to focus on gameplay, as that in my opinion is the most important part to any game.
Batting
Negatives:
Batting is far too similar to C2004 with many shots playing the same, albeit looking more smooth. Many shots will go in the exact same place rather than a yard or two either way. The straight drive (front or back foot) seems impossible to score many runs of as it always seems to go to the bowler or mid on/off. Tailender's still appear as accomplished batsmen and I've hit a couple of lovely shots with Andy Caddick of all people. To be honest I haven't been enjoying batting that much as it feels like I'm still playing C2004 which I eventually tired of.
Positives:
Edges seem to be more prominent in this game which is an improvement and cutting the ball onto your stumps (although annoying in terms of your score) is nice to see.
Too sum up, in terms of attacking batting C2005 has made no real improvement but it has increased the amount of more realistic ways it can get you out.
Bowling
I always used to autoplay bowling on C2004 because it was pretty naff but C2005 has introduced some good new ideas and I actually quite enjoy bowling. In Twenty20's for example, your spinner's can be lethal weapons with many catches on the boundary,especially if you mix and match your deliveries. Special deliveries are also a good invention, and that fact that special deliveries are specific to the bowler is refreshing. All in all bowling is the most improved part of the game.
General Comments:
- When a no ball is bowled the batting team is given two runs which is just mind boggling how such an amateur mistake could have been made.
- The free-hit rule looks stupid, firstly your not told you have one, then if your caught out and the fielding team celebrates then the batsman who jus got out walks out to the crease and continues where he left off. strange??
- Create-a-player mode is good although BLC's sounds a lot more exciting as you can't develop this player or take him through a career mode.
- Apart from Twenty20 (which has been executed very poorly) there are no new game modes such as a Test Championship or Career Mode.
- The tracking of a players form and average throughout tournaments is a nice addition but then again a long overdue one.
- I've turned commentary off because it's too painful to listen to.
- 3rd umpire replays are quite strange and not really helpful, also if you look at the score in the top corner it will show you whether the player is out before actually going to the 3rd umpire
- The byes bug appears to be gone
- The computer does bowl no balls
- Finally the AI seems to be one of the major improvements in batting and bowling as the bowlers will bowl good line and lengths while the batsman alter approaches in different situations.
Conclusion:
To be honest I feel like I've bought the same game I bought last year apart from some small differences and the fact that Andrew Flintoff was on the cover instead of Michael Vaughn. I'm really hoping BLIC delivers the goods because this game might have me playing it for a week or two at best
Anyhoo, hope that helps anyone sitting on the fence over whether to buy it
Cheers,
Mark
The graphics are the one major improvement but I'm sure everyone has already noticed so I'd prefer to focus on gameplay, as that in my opinion is the most important part to any game.
Batting
Negatives:
Batting is far too similar to C2004 with many shots playing the same, albeit looking more smooth. Many shots will go in the exact same place rather than a yard or two either way. The straight drive (front or back foot) seems impossible to score many runs of as it always seems to go to the bowler or mid on/off. Tailender's still appear as accomplished batsmen and I've hit a couple of lovely shots with Andy Caddick of all people. To be honest I haven't been enjoying batting that much as it feels like I'm still playing C2004 which I eventually tired of.
Positives:
Edges seem to be more prominent in this game which is an improvement and cutting the ball onto your stumps (although annoying in terms of your score) is nice to see.
Too sum up, in terms of attacking batting C2005 has made no real improvement but it has increased the amount of more realistic ways it can get you out.
Bowling
I always used to autoplay bowling on C2004 because it was pretty naff but C2005 has introduced some good new ideas and I actually quite enjoy bowling. In Twenty20's for example, your spinner's can be lethal weapons with many catches on the boundary,especially if you mix and match your deliveries. Special deliveries are also a good invention, and that fact that special deliveries are specific to the bowler is refreshing. All in all bowling is the most improved part of the game.
General Comments:
- When a no ball is bowled the batting team is given two runs which is just mind boggling how such an amateur mistake could have been made.
- The free-hit rule looks stupid, firstly your not told you have one, then if your caught out and the fielding team celebrates then the batsman who jus got out walks out to the crease and continues where he left off. strange??
- Create-a-player mode is good although BLC's sounds a lot more exciting as you can't develop this player or take him through a career mode.
- Apart from Twenty20 (which has been executed very poorly) there are no new game modes such as a Test Championship or Career Mode.
- The tracking of a players form and average throughout tournaments is a nice addition but then again a long overdue one.
- I've turned commentary off because it's too painful to listen to.
- 3rd umpire replays are quite strange and not really helpful, also if you look at the score in the top corner it will show you whether the player is out before actually going to the 3rd umpire
- The byes bug appears to be gone
- The computer does bowl no balls
- Finally the AI seems to be one of the major improvements in batting and bowling as the bowlers will bowl good line and lengths while the batsman alter approaches in different situations.
Conclusion:
To be honest I feel like I've bought the same game I bought last year apart from some small differences and the fact that Andrew Flintoff was on the cover instead of Michael Vaughn. I'm really hoping BLIC delivers the goods because this game might have me playing it for a week or two at best
Anyhoo, hope that helps anyone sitting on the fence over whether to buy it
Cheers,
Mark
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