Review Ashes Cricket 2009 Press Reviews

[MasterBlaster76]

am actually waiting for colins and zimrahils review. they are the least biased of the lot and actually know what they are doing.

colins BLIC07 review was simply outstanding.

I might write one for Ashes 2009, similar to one I wrote for BLIC 2007, yet with a hopefully more positive verdict.

MasterBlaster76 added 2 Minutes and 49 Seconds later...

"
What I was most interested in though was to find out if the AI in the full game was as erratic as it was in the demo, and I’m happy to report that that is not the case. I started an Ashes Test match on Hard difficulty and batted first. On the same difficulty level in the demo, I was able to comfortably score 40-50 runs in three overs. But here, I was all out for 72 within 12 overs. Bowlers bowled a consistent line and length and, more importantly, they bowled to their field."

^ Does that in a way put some fears to bed?

It has certainly raised my expectations of the full game. Let's read on to see if there's any sign of the AI running bug, or if the bowling/edges have been sped up...

However, this:

While I came away impressed with the batting, I can’t really say the same for bowling. Like in the demo, I was unable to take any wickets, even after going at it for 13 overs and trying every bowling option. I only had one catch opportunity which too went down on account of the finicky catching system. The AI plays both defensive and offensive strokes and also lets many go through to the keeper, but it just doesn’t seem to make any mistakes. Naturally, when that happens, you start trying something different, and get rewarded by getting walloped for 20 runs in the over.

doesn't sound too good. Still, it might just be a case of patience, fiddling your field around, you know: like real cricket! No mention of the accursed AI running...

MasterBlaster76 added 6 Minutes and 38 Seconds later...

The graphics are, frankly, disappointing. They?re perfectly functional for sure, but there is not much of a noticable improvement on Atari?s previous Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2007. The animations also seem clunky but they may still have some work to be done before the game is ready for release.

They should have rectified it in final release. wonder when did he played the game? Must be in old build.

As per his preview AC09 = BLIC2007 + Statistics tracking + Few Minor changes.

Have you played the demo yet?

MasterBlaster76 added 4 Minutes and 2 Seconds later...

This looks promising:

Fielding has been changed, no longer requiring a nigh on impossible button press at the right moment to throw the ball, all you need to do is use the right analogue stick to choose which end to throw to and the AI takes care of the rest. The button press still stands for catches, which is fair enough in my book. The ridiculous situation where the keepers would stump almost every time has also been corrected. One thing that will need to be addressed before release is the AI running, they constantly seem to be on a mission to get themselves out, starting another run when the ball is already on the way to the wicket, and at one point I ended up with both batsmen at the same crease! My fielder had the ball next to the stumps at the bowlers end, so did he take the easy run out? No, he just stood there and the game cut to my next ball! Absolutely shocking bug which will definitely need to be fixed before release.

Why does that look promising, Mr MasterBlaster, I hear you say? Well, that was a demo write up. The full game write up somewhere above this post states that the batting appeared a lot harder and did not mention the AI's running, which leads me to believe that there's a decent chance it's been remedied in the full game.

 

[gudduthemaster]

did not mention the AI's running, which leads me to believe that there's a decent chance it's been remedied in the full game.

they mentioned in the forum that they didn't saw any crazy running like demo

 

[shan111]

I asked few questions at GI. Bad news. :crying

QUOTE(sh1sam @ Aug 3 2009, 01:59 PM)
Nice preview. Can you please answer the following questions?

1) Did the AI ran themselve out like they were doing in the demo? I read that you did'nt get any wicket after 13 overs, but did you saw the running like mad just like in the demo?

2) What was the bounce like? Has it been lowered or it is still too high like the demo?

3) Did you get any edge while bowling? If yes, were the edges carrying or just falling down like in demo?

4) While you were bowling, how was the AI run-rate like? 3.5-4 rpo?

5) Was the AI mixing it's deliveries or bowling either full or short?

1. Yes they did run themselves out like in the demo
2. Bounce is the same as in the demo
3. Yup, got a few edges - both inside and outside. Neither was even close to carrying to keeper or slip
4. Ya it was about 4 per over. That includes 2 maidens and one over than went for over 20
5. There was very little short stuff. Not like in the demo. They did seem to mix up the pace, coz my timing wouldn't always be spot-on like in the demo.

#1 and #3 could be disastrous for the game. Especially #1.

 

[stevo1]

Wait, so is the previewer playing the full game/final build or whatever. Or is he playing an 'older' build or something??

 

[shan111]

^^ He was'nt able to confirm the build.

No one was able to confirm to me whether or not this was the final build, but this close to release, I’m going to assume that it was

So hopefully it was an old build with the bug still in it. Let's pray that codies have rectified this in the final build otherwise it would be a major gamebreaker.

EDIT: Got the reply from HPS. Some hope:

Actually what I played could well be an older build because Eden Gardens is in the full game, but in the build I played it wasn't there.

 

[diaskasun]

i think its too late for codies to do anything about bugs. i am waiting for some one to do the first patch.

 

[10dulkar]

Yeah. Gamekiller/Gamebreaker for sure. We should earn wickets rather than AI getting themselves out. Surely it'll ruin interest of playing it in single player mode.

Did guys went to playtest came across the AI run out issue?

 

[stevo1]

Yeah. Gamekiller/Gamebreaker for sure. We should earn wickets rather than AI getting themselves out. Surely it'll ruin interest of playing it in single player mode.

Did guys went to playtest came across the AI run out issue?

Didn't come across it and I bowled about 15-20 overs to the AI.

 

[Covvy]

That's a good sign then

 

[diaskasun]

maybe codies wanted to show in demo that there is a possibitily of AI batman being run out... hmmm maybe

 

[deepuparayil]

Almost all the bugs in Demo will be present in the final build.Hope for an early patch from codies.

 

[Skater]

Almost all the bugs in Demo will be present in the final build.Hope for an early patch from codies.

What makes you say that? Apparently the demo is from a build PRIOR to the playtest.

 

[10dulkar]

Didn't come across it and I bowled about 15-20 overs to the AI.

Good news!! relief

 

[.::Stevo::.]

Almost all the bugs in Demo will be present in the final build.Hope for an early patch from codies.

Thanks for your wonderful factual insight!

 

[Swingers]

Almost all the bugs in Demo will be present in the final build.Hope for an early patch from codies.

Even tho the preview of the final game states the opposite:doh

I'm sure there will be still some glitches present but your statement is not based on any sort of facts or hard evidence.