Ashes Cricket 09

Let me start this review off by very plainly stating that Ashes Cricket 2009 is by far the best cricket game made to date. Of course, this is no major feat considering the drivel that has come before (EA Sports' almost unplayable Cricket 07, anyone?), but at least it's a step in the right direction towards a really solid cricket game in the future.

The Ashes
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The biggest downside is, unfortunately, the title game mode. A game that bases itself on cricket's premier test match affair, the Ashes, should accurately recreate it. Ashes Cricket 09 does this to some degree - England and Australia are fully licensed (meaning the player names and "likenesses" appear in the game). However, this does not extend to all aspects of the mode. Ashes Cricket 09 contains one major, nearly gamebreaking, flaw.

The AI batting team seems not to have realized that they are playing in a test match. Although they are dressed in the whites and are playing with the red ball, they start attacking from the first ball of the first over, 20Twenty style. And I'm talking ATTACKING here - if you bowl even average balls, you can easily concede 10 - 15 runs in the over.

Once you figure out how to bowl a good line and length, it's easier to keep the AI batting team to around 7 or 8 an over. Problem is, this is still too high. Bowling becomes about preventing 4 boundaries in the over and hoping for a lucky wicket somewhere.

Right, with that major thing out of the way, let me get onto the good. I feel that Codemasters has implemented a really solid batting aspect here. Timing is, as with the real thing, vital. You have quite a bit of control over shot selection if you use the back foot/front foot buttons, and it really is the most fun aspect of playing the Ashes.

Online play
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However, where this game really shines (and the only reason I gave it a 4 stars rating for "Fun") is online play. The game takes on a whole new dimension when playing against human opponents, and there is a fair amount of unpredictability to it when compared to the single player experience. There is a real thrill requiring 12 runs with only 2 wickets remaining, facing your opponent's best bowler with your tail-enders. The 20Twenty mode in particular provides just over an hour's with of intense gameplay.

The good and the bad
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In summary, here is a more detailed rundown of my view of the positives and negatives of the game:

+ Great batting controls
+ Fun online play
+ The bowling mechanism is more fun than in previous cricket titles.
+ Excellent tutorial mode

- Absurdly aggressive AI batting mentality.
- No byes or leg byes. Ever.
- No wide balls bowled by the AI. Ever.
- Some minor bugs somewhat mar the experience.
- Graphics are a little outdated, and player likenesses are terrible.

Conclusion
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All in all, if you are a cricket fan, you will probably enjoy this game as long as you are aware of the quirks it contains. The package is somewhat lacklustre, with average graphics and presentation. Although the online play is utterly addictive and fun, the single player experience suffers a bit from a completely unrealistic AI batting mentality.

Codemasters has delivered a game that does somewhat of a good job of recreating cricket, but it certainly raises hopes for the future of cricket videogames.

This is a superb cricket game and im not even a big fan of cricket, yet this game manages to capture that same feel you have watching the Ashes or a big test match on tv.
Some of the reviewers on here obviously havent played the full game and have probably just played the demo. Yes it has minor niggles but most games have. But unlike one reviewer on here that claims you cant be out via LBW or bowled has probably played it for 5 minutes. You can quite easily be bowled, caught or LBW if you screw up the shot youre intending to play, its purely about timing. BUt rather than being monotonous, the bowling changes within each over, so you do have to play each shot based on how you see the delivery, sometimes you cant play the shot and have to defend. Sometimes you go for a shot and you are edged. Sometimes you play a good shot but havent given it enough power and youre caught in the outfield. Its got it all. Play a full innings and you will see all of these things happen. Ive been caught, ive been LBW and bowled clean. The best about the game is that the officials sometimes dont know so ask the tv replay and sometimes they make decisions and get them wrong (ie: keep you in when you were clearly out) so the batting cant be faulted. Also, another reviewer said its hard to get singles, but it isnt its about ball placement. If the bowler throws a ball real close to you then all you can do is defend the shot or play a quick single.
Yes it can be too easy at times to get fours and sixes, but thats only once youve mastered the batting, you still need to be on youre guard, especially in Hard Mode, its all too easy to slug a shot only to find youre caught out or you miss-time it and are clean bowled.
Bowling its much harder than batting, but in a good way, you can vary the shots, change the pace of the shot mid run up or the length or speed. You can bowl No Balls easy enough too if you dont time it right, and on a good match it really captures the atmosphere of 'wanting to get these wickets urgent' feeling. Theres nothing worse having scored 200 runs in your innings all out only to see Australia on 127 for 2 and Ricky Ponting is walking into the crease. That feeling in real life of "oh god i wish it wasnt him next' plays out in the game too because some batsmen are more stubborn that others. But i have LBW, caught and clean bowled batsmen..if anyone out there wants a tip try changing the bowl mid run up, straight to in-swing is good! and again, some bowlers are better than others.
So what this game really captures is that feeling of cricket really well, you can also save at any point so if you are halfway through a good innings it wont go to waste. The pitch gets worn as matches go on, bowling and batting personal get worn down if they bowl or bat badly and you get rewards for hitting 50 or 100 and unlock stadiums and kit.
The bad bits are what some others have said, the commentary is ok but it is a bit repetitive and bit monotone and could easily have been better. Also the crowds could be better animated too with more detail, though the detail on the pitch cant be faulted with nice cut scenes and player animations.
All in all this is a fine cricket game and above all else, it captures that feeling of simply being a good game to play, its pick up and play perfection. Its a shame that no one seems to be online as its made for that, but i guess a lot of people probably think a game will last ages but in reality they skip along pretty well with 20/20s the ideal match for Live online.
Well worth a punt and good effort by Codemasters, a good sports title that draws you in.

I have been following this title for quite some time now, ever since EA attempted to corner the Cricket games market with the rather slapdash attempt that was EA Cricket 07. I had hoped that Codemasters had learnt from their mistakes on previous BLC games - However, I am not overly convinced that they have released a credible, let alone finished, product.

Hopefully I can put forward a balanced yet constructive review that will help you decide on your purchase. I will start by breaking the game down into its different components.

1 *Graphics*
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Presentation wise, this is a slight improvement on BLC. The game itself looks relatively "pretty" when played on an HDTV (having bought this for my Xbox Elite). The grounds are well designed which is a plus.

The players for both England and Australia (being the only licensed boards) are easily distinguishable. Obviously I would be a fool not to laugh at some of the 'depictions', such as James Andersons oversized jaw and the somewhat warped features of Mitchell Johnson - but on the whole a good effort.

Unfortunately, the game lets itself down graphically in a number of areas.

Firstly the bats are WAY too oversized for the players. Movement is also an issue and the level of detail put into motion capture could have been improved a lot. Fielders and batsmen alike run in "jittery" fashion, the bowling actions aren't impressive and look as if a child is throwing a ball in the back garden. Some shot movements also appear "unnatural" and aren't as fluid as you would expect or normally see in a real-life game. Finally, to see a bowler hurling the ball down at 92mph+ and having the ball simply "loop" slowly in the air off of the edge to the keeper is somewhat of an annoyance.

2 *Sound/Commentary*
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Codemasters have exceeded themselves in acquiring the vocal talents of Aggers once again and added the likes of Beefy (Ian Botham), Warney (Shane Warne), Ian Bishop etc which is an impressive addition to this title. Its nice to have different commentators in each match which can (or should) increase the lifespan of the game and not force you to play in silence once you've heard the same clichés over and over (ala previous EA/BLC games).

I have started to detect notable repetitions creeping in from time to time, but I am sure that it won't agitate the masses as much as it did in the past. The commentary, or should I say comments/one-liners, put forward by Warney in the training mode can be aggravating after a while though...

3 *Gameplay*
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"Codies" have aimed/attempted to give Ashes Cricket 09 a more lifelike gameplay style compared to BLC. A very pleasing aspect to this is shot placement using the analog stick, which allows you to, if timed correctly, pierce the infield with aplomb. It is also down to the user to choose which foot to play the shot from (back or front), which will determine what type of shot is played - it is also important that the player is able to read line and length of each delivery to make this selection a lot simpler.

Fielding controls have been greatly enhanced with two new systems. Firstly the "quicktime" event for catching, where the player must time a button press in order to catch the ball, as viewed from the fielders perspective. At times this can be tough, but you can't expect to catch everything now can you? Also, the user can use the right stick to choose which end the fielder will throw to, which is vital if one of the opposing batsman is struggling to make his ground.

The training modes are well set-out and provide depth (rather than simply a net session), and it gives the player a chance to hone their skills and shows how to really make the most out of each facet of Cricket, be-it Batting/Bowling/Fielding.

AI, as in most games, sadly lets the party down... From ridiculously aggressive batting (even in test matches), to some unbelievable bowling choices by the computer (over-the-top with the amount of yorkers, I counted 28 in a row against me the other day!), as well as slow to react fielders (not throwing the ball in for what seems like an eternity) - the game just feels as if it was patched together and the kinks weren't ironed out during testing.

Perhaps my final point on this subject would fall under another heading, but it can be subheaded as "Realism". It pains me to see wicket keepers diving full stretch in front of third slip off of a spinner to snare a split-second diving catch. To see the likes of James Anderson/Stuart Broad (who bowl around 88-92mph in tests) bowling at 80mph in the game makes me feel as if this was a real botched job and that those in charge had no real affiliation with the subject matter they were working with. There has to be some form of fluidity to the way the game is played and depicted in comparison to the real thing.

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*The Verdict*
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Apologies if the above goes on-and-on, I just feel a little let-down with the final product that Codemasters have set upon the world. As an avid cricket fan and player, I just wish that one company can put the time and effort into releasing a credible title that doesn't feel like a cheap cop-out.

Graphics/Pres. - 2.5/5
Sound/Comm. - 3.5/5
Gameplay/AI - 2.5/5
Online/MP - 4/5
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OVERALL - 3/5
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If I was to give any advice, I would say that if you want a game that you can pick up and play every now and then for a quick Twenty20/One-Dayer and have no real issues with authenticity/realism then this is the game for you...

...If you are however, like me, someone that wants something more than an arcady simulation (an overpriced version of Stick Cricket if you will), then I would strongly point you towards renting this before parting with your cash (sorry Amazon!)

The question would be asked, why can't the likes of EA put this type of game in the hands of the developers of such pretty and well presented titles such as Fifa/Madden/NBA - the answer to this unfortunately is that they do not feel it would make as much money for them, which is a vicious cycle as with every half-baked Cricket game that is released, the less chance these big companies have of enveloping the market.

HERE'S TO HOPING!!!