Just picked this up from Steam for $9.99. Not too bad. However, the game is brutal.
First bat I scored 4 all out. Then I hit the nets and practiced. The control scheme is ridiculously over engineered, has very small timing window which isn't displayed anywhere, shot control is there but tricky and AI is from hell (if it exists
This game gets my hall of fame award for being in the same league as Demons Souls, Ninja Gaiden and couple of others ( I'm too scared to even name them to avoid nightmares. Oh ! The horror ! The horror ! ).
So, after hitting the nets for what seemed like hours and by-hearting the stroke for a delivery type (thankfully the nets have the Tab overlaying the batting controls, sadly missing in main gameplay), I could muster 61/3 in a 10 over game. 5 fours, no sixes and a two.
I never practiced bowling, so the AI started off aggressive getting 33 in about 3 overs before I managed to start restricting them with my spinners.
My fielders were abysmal letting 2's easy as their pick up and throws were piss poor.
Anyways, I managed to let them win in 8 overs as they made it 62/1 in that. ( I got one bowled ).
Some positive things about this game are :
+ BRUTUALLY HARD. You will cry.
+ Has a strange attractiveness that makes me keep coming back for my daily dose of beatings. The devs should be arrested for abuse.
+ Good foundation to build a really good cricket game
+ fresh camera views when scoring runs. I liked their angle choices
+ attempts to be different from the loads of competition. What ? There are so many cricket games to choose from. Its staggering.
+ I like the sound of ball hitting bat for some reason. Hears like a.... table tennis smash type 'pop' sound
And the minuses :
- BRUTUALLY HARD. You will cry.
- AI will punish your puny bowling and laugh at your weak deliveries as it chucks them all over the meadow
- dispense the 3,654 memorizer button combos and use intelligence to understand inputs a la EA Cricket/International cricket
- no licensed players
- no commentary
- no replays
- umpire cheats for lbw not giving plumb decisions out
- no test match
- no simulate over/innings/match. Boo. I have a life.
- circa 2002 graphics albeit this isn't bothering me as much as I thought
- AI batsman follows the ball pitch after its selected sometimes even near the edge of the pitch. WTF ?
- bowling is a tad too tough to get the bowling marker in the right spot
- no timing displays, shot meters
(update 11/06/10) - After playing some more, noticed some more frustrations -
- ball doesn't always seem to pitch on the AI bowling marker. WTF ?
- My side fielders always move like snails and always throw way off the stumps. AI easily takes 3's even on Easy setting.
- AI chases VERY aggressively.
- the special deliveries are useless and not sure why the sudden arcadey feel of the game with those ball trails etc. That was stupid
On plus side
+ game feels more like real game. No more scoring 200 in 10 overs for me at least. And bowling opposition for 5 runs.
+ I played a very exhilarating match. I scored 75/4 in 10overs (IND v NZL). And NZL AI finished with 4 balls to spare at 77/6. I got them out with intelligently thought out bowling and that felt rewarding ( till the next ball at least )
+ Once you get a set batsman, its a little easier to hit the ball around
+ the Placement adjuster does seem to be working. You can actually place the ball
+ Playing in the nets and printing out the shot options does help. I take a quick look at the printout for the shot type and kinda pre-determine my shot. The Push, Slog and Loft keys also definitely change the strokeplay.
+ This is definitely a good base for the next iteration of the game. Hope it comes out soon
Final thoughts and rating -
Never thought I'd put a cricket game in the same league of Ninja Gaiden. *shudder*.
I thought cricket was a game where you hit every other ball for a six in video games and unleash your work frustrations scoring 300 in 10 overs.
Overall rating - 7.5/10
First bat I scored 4 all out. Then I hit the nets and practiced. The control scheme is ridiculously over engineered, has very small timing window which isn't displayed anywhere, shot control is there but tricky and AI is from hell (if it exists
This game gets my hall of fame award for being in the same league as Demons Souls, Ninja Gaiden and couple of others ( I'm too scared to even name them to avoid nightmares. Oh ! The horror ! The horror ! ).
So, after hitting the nets for what seemed like hours and by-hearting the stroke for a delivery type (thankfully the nets have the Tab overlaying the batting controls, sadly missing in main gameplay), I could muster 61/3 in a 10 over game. 5 fours, no sixes and a two.
I never practiced bowling, so the AI started off aggressive getting 33 in about 3 overs before I managed to start restricting them with my spinners.
My fielders were abysmal letting 2's easy as their pick up and throws were piss poor.
Anyways, I managed to let them win in 8 overs as they made it 62/1 in that. ( I got one bowled ).
Some positive things about this game are :
+ BRUTUALLY HARD. You will cry.
+ Has a strange attractiveness that makes me keep coming back for my daily dose of beatings. The devs should be arrested for abuse.
+ Good foundation to build a really good cricket game
+ fresh camera views when scoring runs. I liked their angle choices
+ attempts to be different from the loads of competition. What ? There are so many cricket games to choose from. Its staggering.
+ I like the sound of ball hitting bat for some reason. Hears like a.... table tennis smash type 'pop' sound
And the minuses :
- BRUTUALLY HARD. You will cry.
- AI will punish your puny bowling and laugh at your weak deliveries as it chucks them all over the meadow
- dispense the 3,654 memorizer button combos and use intelligence to understand inputs a la EA Cricket/International cricket
- no licensed players
- no commentary
- no replays
- umpire cheats for lbw not giving plumb decisions out
- no test match
- no simulate over/innings/match. Boo. I have a life.
- circa 2002 graphics albeit this isn't bothering me as much as I thought
- AI batsman follows the ball pitch after its selected sometimes even near the edge of the pitch. WTF ?
- bowling is a tad too tough to get the bowling marker in the right spot
- no timing displays, shot meters
(update 11/06/10) - After playing some more, noticed some more frustrations -
- ball doesn't always seem to pitch on the AI bowling marker. WTF ?
- My side fielders always move like snails and always throw way off the stumps. AI easily takes 3's even on Easy setting.
- AI chases VERY aggressively.
- the special deliveries are useless and not sure why the sudden arcadey feel of the game with those ball trails etc. That was stupid
On plus side
+ game feels more like real game. No more scoring 200 in 10 overs for me at least. And bowling opposition for 5 runs.
+ I played a very exhilarating match. I scored 75/4 in 10overs (IND v NZL). And NZL AI finished with 4 balls to spare at 77/6. I got them out with intelligently thought out bowling and that felt rewarding ( till the next ball at least )
+ Once you get a set batsman, its a little easier to hit the ball around
+ the Placement adjuster does seem to be working. You can actually place the ball
+ Playing in the nets and printing out the shot options does help. I take a quick look at the printout for the shot type and kinda pre-determine my shot. The Push, Slog and Loft keys also definitely change the strokeplay.
+ This is definitely a good base for the next iteration of the game. Hope it comes out soon
Final thoughts and rating -
Never thought I'd put a cricket game in the same league of Ninja Gaiden. *shudder*.
I thought cricket was a game where you hit every other ball for a six in video games and unleash your work frustrations scoring 300 in 10 overs.
Overall rating - 7.5/10
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yes i am disappointed caz i love Cricket and i love this Cr game.but company i think run away...then there is no hope for online cricket game...
