The official blockerdave review...

[Biggs]

There's already a patch been submitted, according to Ross. The "major" patch for consoles I think came out a couple of months for DBC14? Then the post-PC tweaked patch for consoles came out after that, which was another major one. The final patch for consoles was about 6 or so months after release, again, for memory, last time around?

 

[BowlinShane]

Great review, and it pretty much aligns with a lot of my thoughts.

Arcadey is definitely the right word to describe DBC17. I came late to the party with DBC14, so I wasn't aware of the initial teething problems and was able to pick it up and play and, most importantly, enjoy it, right out of the box (I didn't get it until I got another console last year).

DBC17 feels like a genuine regression at present.

 

[cricket_online]

thats what I'm worried about. I didn't spend $89 on a game to shelve it for 6 months while I wait for a patch.

Okay, if you had to fix say 3 things, what what would it be? Mine are:

1. crashes. I've had quite a few - these need to be sorted out ASAP. I thought crashes were a PC thing...well I found out the hard way.
2. batting - I don't care if you have to cut/paste all the batting from DB14 into DB17...but do it. ALL I want from DB is to bat for hours on end if I can, esp with the new career mode.
3. get best. I want the latest and greatest.

Thats just my list and I'm a selfish bastard

My top two would be...

1. Batting - 360 degree control
2. Crashes

If Big Ant fix these two I'm golden

 

[sami ullah khan]

Super keeping and slackness in AI fielding also requires solution. This has the potential to be the best cricket game ever.

 

[Col. Hans Landa]

A really nice writeup. I am personally very disappointed with the AI shot selection. The AI batsmen are obsessed with back-foot play and end up playing some of the most ungainly—nay downright egregious—shots you could ever imagine off the back foot. The most hideous shots are those back-foot lobs that can often go all the way to the boundary. Now I don't know about you, but I personally don't recall seeing too many batsmen in real life send the ball flying to the boundary on a consistent basis with a straight bat while still on the back foot.

This is exactly what I felt while watching the videos.

I think that the shots played by AI in DBC 14 were much more elegant as compared to the shots in DBC 17. I will stop myself from saying anything more as I haven't played the game yet.

 

[whiteninness]

This is exactly what I felt while watching the videos.

I think that the shots played by AI in DBC 14 were much more elegant as compared to the shots in DBC 17. I will stop myself from saying anything more as I haven't played the game yet.

People go too far with the whole "don't comment unless you play the game" thing. Anyone who watches a good quality Youtube video of gameplay can see as well as the player that the batting animations have taken a step back this year. I mean some are still good, like the straight drives, but some like the cut shots are Chris Martin impressions.

 

[Col. Hans Landa]

People go too far with the whole "don't comment unless you play the game" thing. Anyone who watches a good quality Youtube video of gameplay can see as well as the player that the batting animations have taken a step back this year. I mean some are still good, like the straight drives, but some like the cut shots are Chris Martin impressions.

I've watched a few videos on YouTube and thought maybe the limited skill of the player is causing the awkwardness in the shots. But now I think otherwise.

 

[Spitfires2007]

I'll enjoy myself in the days after my mocks in January. The patch will be out and I'll enjoy the game. Well, I hope it will be out by then

 

[Wealey]

People go too far with the whole "don't comment unless you play the game" thing. Anyone who watches a good quality Youtube video of gameplay can see as well as the player that the batting animations have taken a step back this year. I mean some are still good, like the straight drives, but some like the cut shots are Chris Martin impressions.

That was my point with the bowling speed. Didn't have to have played the game to tell it lacked zip.

 

[Offie McOff face]

That was my point with the bowling speed. Didn't have to have played the game to tell it lacked zip.

Got to be a difficult one for them to get right though.. make it zippy enough but also keep it so players aren't premeditating like so many of us did with DBC14

 

[cricket_online]

That was my point with the bowling speed. Didn't have to have played the game to tell it lacked zip.

Got to be a difficult one for them to get right though.. make it zippy enough but also keep it so players aren't premeditating like so many of us did with DBC14

IMO bowling speed/zip part is fine coz every person will have his/her own preference about ideal speed. The gameplay modifiers are there for that very reason as you can tweak them to get your ideal gameplay experience. Have to laud the Big Ant team for adding gameplay modifiers. Once we get the hang of it and understand the impact they have on gameplay, it's gonna be lots of fun.

 

[Wealey]

IMO bowling speed/zip part is fine coz every person will have his/her own preference about ideal speed. The gameplay modifiers are there for that very reason as you can tweak them to get your ideal gameplay experience. Have to laud the Big Ant team for adding gameplay modifiers. Once we get the hang of it and understand the impact they have on gameplay, it's gonna be lots of fun.

Agree... my only criticism would be just leave the actual speed alone. Increase it visually but not 125mph on the screen ha

 

[cricket_online]

Agree... my only criticism would be just leave the actual speed alone. Increase it visually but not 125mph on the screen ha

Agreed and that's more of a cosmetic change and I'm sure can be tweaked.

 

[Wealey]

Agreed and that's more of a cosmetic change and I'm sure can be tweaked.

Yeah and is very minor. Batting genuinely will be patched I have no doubt about that. Animations most likely not. But opening up the offside will.

So really I'm not massively converned with anything. Just disappointing we will have to wait

 

[cricket_online]

Yeah and is very minor. Batting genuinely will be patched I have no doubt about that. Animations most likely not. But opening up the offside will.

So really I'm not massively converned with anything. Just disappointing we will have to wait

As long as cover drives, flicks/glances to fine leg and glide to 3rd man make their way in this would be a different game altogether. Animations can wait but probably AI fielding may need to be tightened a fair bit. Too many easy runs on offer right now.