copy of first review
Official PS2 Magazine Review
By Ben Richardson
If you don't immediately know what bowling a googly, standing at silly mid off or playing from the Pavilion end mean, then Cricket 2005 will punish you itrs rock hard, requires serious commitment and offers almost no explanation of how the sport works. At the same time, it's also a great cricket sim.
You have Just two jobs - bowling and batting. You can control the outfield players, if you're feeling brave, but the disorientating camera and flawed controls will likely persuade you otherwise. Bowling involves guiding a target to where you want to bounce the ball, stopping the power gauge at the required time and then adding spin. To stand any chance of getting a batsman out you must pay close attention to how he reacts, in order to seek out weak spots and exploit them, but the controls are too unresponsive to make this really practical. And if you don't know the tactics behind taking wickets (see "One Off The Wrist'), then you're bowling blind. We'd played three entire matches before persuading the umpire to 'give the finger'. It's that hard.
Batting is almost as tricky to judge. Holding a direction and either X or (circle) performs a stroke, with different shots suited to different deliveries. Spending time in the practice nets is essential for success, because until you learn how to react to the pitch, spin and speed of each type of delivery, Cricket [2005] is very frustrating. Then there’s running. Pressing (circle) and (down arrow) springs your player down the pitch to score runs but you can only view this through a tiny picture-in-picture image because the camera follows the ball after you hit it. The restricted view means it's tough judging when to turn and run back, regardless of how far you hit the ball it's just bad design (why not minimise the fielding camera instead?) and it threatens to ruin what's otherwise an addictive and tactically demanding game.
Cricket is an impenetrable sport at the best of times, and this game is unlikely to rope in any new converts (wait for the inevitable Cricket
Street for that). However, if you can put up with its shortcomings, then Cricket 2005 makes for a solid version of the sport. Could be worth waiting for Codemasters' Brian Lara game to lace its pads before deciding.
Verdict
Graphics â€" 07 â€" Decent mainly, but arse picture in picture
Sounds â€" 07 â€" Slightly repetitive, but some entertainment
Gameplay â€" 07 â€" Deep tactics, unresponsive controls
Lifespan â€" 07 â€" One match could easily last two hours
Overall â€" 7/10 â€" Cricket 2005 is not for casual, half hour sessions, its also sodding difficult. But persevere and you’ll find it’s a well judged simulation
