OK, got my hands onto the full version of Cricket 2005 finally! Have been waiting for it very excitedly since hearing lots of positive reviews on it. Here is my review
Part I (Installation, setting up, etc) - Installation was a breeze as it was in Cricket 2004. Since this is recommended for high end computers, the installation was no problem! The settings after entering the game are also fairly easy to get used to! But I find one problem here - say that you want to play on a resolution of 1024X768 and you select it, when you play the game in that resolution and then quit the game and then restart it, the settings revert back to 640X480 . Also the Difficulty setting is on the default of "Medium" and it also reverts back to the Default setting once the game is restarted! This is one of the rare hitches!
7.5/10
Part II - Graphics - This is the best part of this successful game! Amazing graphics! Absolutely close to real life. When you play with teams such as England or Australia, you cant help but marvel at the graphics of the players. Players like Harmison, Hoggard, Vaughan, etc look very close to real life. The grounds look fabulous too. But one thing that is awful is that the players physique looks completely messed up! Most of them look burly and well built and not real at all. And also except for teams like South Africa, Australia, England, etc other teams have awful faces for their star players. Tendulkar's face looks similar to that of some Indian cartoon character that we have read!
7.5/10
Part III - Batting - Batting has some improvement from the 2004 version! Its more challenging. But still easy runs are there for the picking! The leg side batting is still easy! However, you now have to concentrate more on the line & length of the opposition bowler or else you might miss the line and get bowled or you can edge it to the keeper or slips. Off side is more challenging here and it has often been but I would have liked the leg side batting to be more challenging.
7/10
Part IV - Bowling - Bowling too is improved from Cricket 2004! You have some special deliveries to bowl as you gain confidence in bowling. I havent bowled too much but I can really say that bowling is one of the good improvements from the previous version and is more fun to bowl! The stamina meter is working and thats a good sign.
7/10
Part V - Fielding - Fielding is another big step forward in this game! The fielding now is more sharper and you need to be very careful with your running. You cant always rely on your dives! The catching too looks very good. But one thing which has annoyed me is the misfielding. Too many misfields by the CPU and also by the human (when Auto fielding!) irks too much. But the bugs in fielding from the previous version seem to be solved. When the bowler picks the ball but crosses the rope, its given as 4 runs! One more problem is that in the test matches, the same attacking field is persisted even if the batsman is not out on 15*. The attacking field is still persisted even after the batsman gets a few boundaries under his belt. That is not how it should be. The fielders should be slightly spread out (at least standard fields should be employed by the CPU) so that the batsman finds it more challenging.
7/10
Part VI - Gameplay - A department which ranges from average to below average! Not much change from the previous version. This version looks more better due to the improvements in the above departments. But basically, the gameplay hasnt changed much from the previous version. I dont think the CPU still chases acording to the situation! But the test matches look fantastic. The CPU trying to settle down in the early overs and then slowly getting the runs under their belt in the later stages. Their run rate looks absolutely test like hovering at 3 runs an over!
4.5/10
Part VII - Commentary - AWFUL! No improvements at all. Only a few comments added like "Good ball....", etc. But overall, the same commentary from Cricket 2004 by Menaud and Maxwell
1.5/10
Part VIII - Bugs - Some bugs still remain! After a wicket, the bowler's name is pronounced wrongly! For example, when Ul Hasan takes a wicket, Benaud tells that Akthar has taken the wicket! The bowler when bowling around the wicket returns to his run up over the wicket! The non striker batsman being shown when the striker has hit a boundary, etc. But many bugs have been solved from the previous version!
4.5/10
Overall: This game can have a much better shelf life with the gamers! And with the patchers at work, this game should be more enjoyable and more exciting to play! I think EA C2k5 has won over BLIC 2005!
Part I (Installation, setting up, etc) - Installation was a breeze as it was in Cricket 2004. Since this is recommended for high end computers, the installation was no problem! The settings after entering the game are also fairly easy to get used to! But I find one problem here - say that you want to play on a resolution of 1024X768 and you select it, when you play the game in that resolution and then quit the game and then restart it, the settings revert back to 640X480 . Also the Difficulty setting is on the default of "Medium" and it also reverts back to the Default setting once the game is restarted! This is one of the rare hitches!
7.5/10
Part II - Graphics - This is the best part of this successful game! Amazing graphics! Absolutely close to real life. When you play with teams such as England or Australia, you cant help but marvel at the graphics of the players. Players like Harmison, Hoggard, Vaughan, etc look very close to real life. The grounds look fabulous too. But one thing that is awful is that the players physique looks completely messed up! Most of them look burly and well built and not real at all. And also except for teams like South Africa, Australia, England, etc other teams have awful faces for their star players. Tendulkar's face looks similar to that of some Indian cartoon character that we have read!
7.5/10
Part III - Batting - Batting has some improvement from the 2004 version! Its more challenging. But still easy runs are there for the picking! The leg side batting is still easy! However, you now have to concentrate more on the line & length of the opposition bowler or else you might miss the line and get bowled or you can edge it to the keeper or slips. Off side is more challenging here and it has often been but I would have liked the leg side batting to be more challenging.
7/10
Part IV - Bowling - Bowling too is improved from Cricket 2004! You have some special deliveries to bowl as you gain confidence in bowling. I havent bowled too much but I can really say that bowling is one of the good improvements from the previous version and is more fun to bowl! The stamina meter is working and thats a good sign.
7/10
Part V - Fielding - Fielding is another big step forward in this game! The fielding now is more sharper and you need to be very careful with your running. You cant always rely on your dives! The catching too looks very good. But one thing which has annoyed me is the misfielding. Too many misfields by the CPU and also by the human (when Auto fielding!) irks too much. But the bugs in fielding from the previous version seem to be solved. When the bowler picks the ball but crosses the rope, its given as 4 runs! One more problem is that in the test matches, the same attacking field is persisted even if the batsman is not out on 15*. The attacking field is still persisted even after the batsman gets a few boundaries under his belt. That is not how it should be. The fielders should be slightly spread out (at least standard fields should be employed by the CPU) so that the batsman finds it more challenging.
7/10
Part VI - Gameplay - A department which ranges from average to below average! Not much change from the previous version. This version looks more better due to the improvements in the above departments. But basically, the gameplay hasnt changed much from the previous version. I dont think the CPU still chases acording to the situation! But the test matches look fantastic. The CPU trying to settle down in the early overs and then slowly getting the runs under their belt in the later stages. Their run rate looks absolutely test like hovering at 3 runs an over!
4.5/10
Part VII - Commentary - AWFUL! No improvements at all. Only a few comments added like "Good ball....", etc. But overall, the same commentary from Cricket 2004 by Menaud and Maxwell
1.5/10
Part VIII - Bugs - Some bugs still remain! After a wicket, the bowler's name is pronounced wrongly! For example, when Ul Hasan takes a wicket, Benaud tells that Akthar has taken the wicket! The bowler when bowling around the wicket returns to his run up over the wicket! The non striker batsman being shown when the striker has hit a boundary, etc. But many bugs have been solved from the previous version!
4.5/10
Overall: This game can have a much better shelf life with the gamers! And with the patchers at work, this game should be more enjoyable and more exciting to play! I think EA C2k5 has won over BLIC 2005!
