Cricket's A Funny Old Game!!!
What makes Brian Lara’s International Cricket 2005 (BLIC2005) more impressive than the recent EA effort, Cricket 2005, can be put solely down to the fun factor. Sure EA’s high budget attempt looks better, and might contain the full licensing deals, but in comparison it plays a far weaker game. With Brian Lara’s International Cricket you’ll be able to jump in right off the bat, pardon the pun, and in today’s high paced life-styles that’s certainly a welcome feature.
Purists are going to be slightly disappointed with the lack of player likeness and incorrect names in some game modes but that’s to be expected. Much like the problems with Pro Evolution Soccer, EA have snapped up most of the licensing rights and so retain the privilege of using correct team names and likeness. What this basically means is that the dedicated amongst you may be forced to use the player editor to type in the real players for that added authenticity. Fortunately that task is made quite easy with the bundled squad and player editor and is relatively easy to use.
Of course the most important elements of any game of Cricket will be the batting, bowling and fielding aspects and not the names, and these have all been catered for quite adequately within BLIC2005. Batting (especially using the ‘slog’ and ‘village’ difficulty levels) is as simple as choosing what style of attack, or defence, you are going to use and then directing the ball with the left analogue stick to the unprotected areas on the field. You can play certain shots, for example defence, slog and ground with each variation being just as important as the next. Witness a perfect delivery and the option to play safe is always available, just as is the option to hit the ball for six. Timing, patience and a keen eye on the field is of utmost importance. Make a mistake and your fate will lie in the hands of the bowler, umpire or fielders and of course a smidgen of luck – exactly how it should be.
Bowling is a tad easier to get to grips with compared to batting (and equally the harder difficulty levels are easier to cope with). You can select which area of the pitch to approach from (namely left and right) and roughly which area you wish to aim the cricket ball to. Depending on what type of bowler is currently selected for the over further tactics become available. For example a Right armed fast bowler will be able to call upon the offcutter whereas leg spin bowlers have the ability to perform the infamous Googly, all performed by the corresponding button on the PS2 controller. After you have made these initial decisions you simply have to gage the power meter successfully with mistakes leading to no-balls if you misjudge the power. Advanced tactics can also be employed by the experienced, such as changing field positions in an attempt to lure the batsman into a catch. Varying the pace of the ball also unnerves the batsman and could eventually lead into an easy wicket.
Where things get slightly more complicated is when you eventually try to take on the ‘County’ and ‘Test’ game modes as a batsman. It’s here where timing becomes integral to playing a successful shot and anything less will leave your batsman thoroughly embarrassed (Like England then -Ed), and in the most extreme cases walking back to the pavilion with a duck (mmm, still like England - Ed). Even after playing countless matches using the ‘Village’ difficulty level nothing quite prepares you for the change in pace of the next difficulty level.
Of course the chance to play multiplayer will garner interest and BLIC2005 doesn’t disappoint in this area either. With the option for up to sixteen multiplayer partners’ available, full leagues and cup matches can be arranged with full ICC rules applied (One day internationals and full test matches). For anyone wanting a quick multiplayer blast the included double wicket mode has also been incorporated. Double wicket has players scoring the highest possible amount with just the two players, the result is essentially a quicker game but they can be just as much fun as the full five day matches.
Another fun area lurking inside Brian Lara’s extensive game modes is the classic match scenarios. This collection of single player games put you in charge of historic matches with the ultimate objective of repeating history, or even better, changing the outcome entirely. It’s quite an addictive collection of games, which normally allows you to take on the classic match from two differing perspectives. For example you may have to score a certain amount of runs, or from the other side’s point of view, bowl them all out before they reach that particular target. There’s normally something for everyone as well, very short games such as scoring the ultimate ‘36’ from one over are also available for anyone not wanting to be bogged down with a large match. For that extra authenticity older matches will be played out in black and white film with the occasional ‘film wear’ included for that added touch.
Tucked away alongside the classic matches is the chance to take on the World XI at their own game. In this game mode you must take 15 international cricket sides and individually beat the World XI before moving onto the next, even weaker side. Only when every single side has beaten the World XI will you be able to progress to the Classic XI matches which is a mixture of both classic game modes.
There are some frustrating aspects, the aforementioned difficulty modes will always seem wildly out of whack with the ‘slog’ and ‘village’ mode being quite easy to master, but the remaining ‘county’ and ‘test modes’, requiring quite a lot of practise. However Brian Lara’s International Cricket is still superior to the recently released Cricket 2005 from EA, and the only real cricket game worthy of your time. What does that mean to the cricket fans amongst us? Simply put its time to blast out some ‘Soul Limbo’ to the most refined cricket game currently available.