blake
School Cricketer
First of all, there has been a fair bit of negative feedback about HowZat. Too many people yorker spamming, the game too laggy, the animations choppy, the lack of chat, training, team names, bugs, etc. And, maybe there are a few things this game could add to make it even better. However, when it comes to this, I think the game producers and developers have done a great job on HowZat and it is really an excellent game.
It's free, flash-based and online, and is the first of its kind. Repeatedly we see Codemasters and EA Sports just making the same game over and over again with only minor differences, but HowZat has taken a step in the complete opposite direction by going online and free. I don't often have the money to purchase the boxed games so for something like this to come out is excellent to me and I'm sure it appeals to many other casual gamers.
The graphics aren't brilliant and the animations aren't earth-shattering, but does it really matter? There is some tricky gameplay which relies a lot on strategy and it can be a lot of fun trying to chase down 15 off the last over or defending a low score. The batting is a bit choppy at times and it can be frustrating when you miss a needed shot, but the rewards of launching one for six over third man or smashing a four through square leg really makes up for it. It can be a great battle between batsman and bowler, despite this game being so simple and that really makes it stand out.
Bowling is as much a challenge - there is a fine art to hitting the right spot and mixing up your pace. You might bowl one slower ball on middle stump which will confuse the batsman and grab the LBW - but trying it again could just as well result in it being smashed away for four. Variation is the key - you could try a slower bouncer, or a quicker wide ball, or perhaps just getting it at a medium pace in an attempt to baffle the batsman. Finding the perfect length is always a challenge - perhaps you are trying to defend a vacant mid-off region and then you must pitch it on a certain length to draw the batsman forward but not enough to allow him to hit it down the ground. The success of taking a wicket or getting a dot ball at a crucial stage is quite overwhelming.
Add to this the user interface and the website, which is brilliant. It conveys a glossy look and everything is extremely smooth and well-done which really
adds to the effect of this game. The levelling system, the points, colours and team names all add to an enjoyable experience. Whilst their could be additional features, like in-depth stat tracking or training, it doesn't really matter a lot of the time and hopefully these are things we can see in the future. There also aren't a huge amount of achievements, but I can see things like this being improved in the future and I think this game has great potential.
Overall, there are a lot of things that could be improved and I will not deny it. However, for the time being, this is a great effort for a browser-based cricket game and it really has set a new mark for other Flash developers in cricket. Despite the simple graphics and animations, it is gameplay the winner as competitors fight fiercely in an attempt to win the ultimate battle of HowZat.
Final Score: 8.5/10
It's free, flash-based and online, and is the first of its kind. Repeatedly we see Codemasters and EA Sports just making the same game over and over again with only minor differences, but HowZat has taken a step in the complete opposite direction by going online and free. I don't often have the money to purchase the boxed games so for something like this to come out is excellent to me and I'm sure it appeals to many other casual gamers.
The graphics aren't brilliant and the animations aren't earth-shattering, but does it really matter? There is some tricky gameplay which relies a lot on strategy and it can be a lot of fun trying to chase down 15 off the last over or defending a low score. The batting is a bit choppy at times and it can be frustrating when you miss a needed shot, but the rewards of launching one for six over third man or smashing a four through square leg really makes up for it. It can be a great battle between batsman and bowler, despite this game being so simple and that really makes it stand out.
Bowling is as much a challenge - there is a fine art to hitting the right spot and mixing up your pace. You might bowl one slower ball on middle stump which will confuse the batsman and grab the LBW - but trying it again could just as well result in it being smashed away for four. Variation is the key - you could try a slower bouncer, or a quicker wide ball, or perhaps just getting it at a medium pace in an attempt to baffle the batsman. Finding the perfect length is always a challenge - perhaps you are trying to defend a vacant mid-off region and then you must pitch it on a certain length to draw the batsman forward but not enough to allow him to hit it down the ground. The success of taking a wicket or getting a dot ball at a crucial stage is quite overwhelming.
Add to this the user interface and the website, which is brilliant. It conveys a glossy look and everything is extremely smooth and well-done which really
adds to the effect of this game. The levelling system, the points, colours and team names all add to an enjoyable experience. Whilst their could be additional features, like in-depth stat tracking or training, it doesn't really matter a lot of the time and hopefully these are things we can see in the future. There also aren't a huge amount of achievements, but I can see things like this being improved in the future and I think this game has great potential.
Overall, there are a lot of things that could be improved and I will not deny it. However, for the time being, this is a great effort for a browser-based cricket game and it really has set a new mark for other Flash developers in cricket. Despite the simple graphics and animations, it is gameplay the winner as competitors fight fiercely in an attempt to win the ultimate battle of HowZat.
Final Score: 8.5/10
