Sureshot's review of 68% is spot on.............and to be honest this version (ps3) doesn't come close to the 'buzz' or 'feel' I got from Shane Warne cricket (BLC99) 10 years ago or so.........I've only had it a day or so now and can already 'take it or leave it'.
As mentioned AI is just too random, e.g. LBW's especially are sort of 'given' to you by ridiculous AI batting shot selection rather than earned. They will just play some totally random attacking backfoot shot to a full ball on middle stump??
Great to have edges implemented, but sometimes it gets silly with 4+ balls being edged an over sometimes, and the amount of edges sometimes takes the LBW out of play far too often, to the point that it is very rare that the ball just hits the pad (if ever - minus the LBW method of dismissal described above).
Personally I think the bowling/batting system (that has been used in a similar fashion in all cricket games ever made) needs throwing out and something more revolutionary implemented. In the case of Ashes cricket 2009 they have made slight changes to that age old system - all of which, in my personal opinion, have been for the worse. It's just far too easy to plonk the ball down into any area of the pitch, and I hate being told what is a 'good' or better length to bowl via the colour mapping - especially when it suggests u only should be placing the ball into a very small area around the batsmans feet!
The bowling meter is another annoyance and should have only been utilised for speed (i.e. hit the sweet spot get best speed, just past that it is a 'no ball') - it is nonsense that a ball becomes easier to hit by the batsman if you don't hit a sweet spot on the meter. If the meter was for speed you could vary your pace as you liked (which can't be done in this game except by bowling a slow ball or if the AI decides it for you via the accuracy meter).
Hence bowling is a boring mini game exercise of 'place the bowling circle on spot of right colour within an area 10% of the total pitch size - check! - stop line at optimum colour on bowling meter - check! - now hope like hell computer AI decides to do something dumb!, repeat till sleep is induced.......'
Strangely enough that is the FUN part of this game, the batting (which has historically been the more fun part of cricket games) is made tedious by the lack of bowling variation by the computer AI. Also often on the backfoot the game seems to play a shot totally diferent to that which you attempted?
I think fielding is well implemented, again another 'mini game' which in this case is actually fun. Only concern however is that the amount of catches dropped by the AI controlled team is way too high, and the again very random stumpings of AI players.
Of course I don't need to mention the ps1 style faces, the fact in edit mode I couldn't fit the word 'Brendon' in (as in McCullum),the horrible bowling speeds, the lack of/restrictions in editing ability, the lack of carry to the wicket keeper and slips, silly AI runouts, poorly implemented sound files etc
The game is better than EA's usually bollocks, it's better than this century's Brian Lara bug fests, but it aint better (taking into account the difference between PS1 and PS3) than Shane warne cricket 99 (BLC99)!
Not to say the developers are not on the right track and successive versions could be great............However you've got to wonder why developers, however small they are, can't better a game put out 10 years ago on playstation 1...........
Michael Clakre now at the crease.......disaster ive advanced down the track and hit the ball straight to mid off. Ponting now gone on 9 two new batsmen at the crease and im in trouble. i need a good solid partnership now
