Brian Lara Cricket 2007 (PS2)

This is a great game, if you like cricket, or even if you're new to cricket.

The game is quick, slick and can be fantastic at times. Mainly in the limited overs area of the game. Graphics, from players to a selection of grounds looks great, the bowling is simple and so easy to pick up with batting just the same. But after playing the game for a couple of hours it can quickly become infuriating. The makers of the game havent seemed to grasp the concept of test cricket, except the fact that it lasts 5 days. While bowling, opposition batsmen attempt a shot at every single ball. There is a facility to leave the ball, but the players are very much in T20 mode. Because batting is so easy, batsman can score off of even the most difficult of balls. Looking to swing the ball away, outside the off-stump 6 times an over with 'Matthew Higgert' normally means being spread around, and as a result means going for way more then 6 runs an over. Because the batsmen find it so easy, you change your bowling methods, and mix it up to more of a one-day style which just reveals the unrealstic game play. In EA cricket, you can play the game in the style one looks for in cricket. I personally enjoy crafting shots, exposing spaces and latching on to that bad ball to build a target, Just like in real test cricket. Taking wickets can be easy. arrowing into the stumps will bring a wicket pretty quickly, as the batsmee are always looking to score, which means they often make mistakes. Instead of having that sense of pride of taking a wicket through skill or graft. All this means a 2 innings each test match can be over on the first day. You will quickly become infuriated as the batsmen take a shot which goes to a fielder, the batsmen dont take a run, infact they dont move an inch, let alone leave the crease. The ball gets fired into the keeper where they enthusiastically crash into the stumps to remove the bails. At first its a novelty that the programmers could allow such a thing to happen so often, but it quickly become enfuriating as it happens so often and leads to the appeals from players and judgement from umps which just takes time. The custom squad feature is almost completely useless. I spent a bit of time creating a Gloucestershire team to replicate the current squad, only to find that you can only use a custom squad in exhibition limited overs games. If you're looking to invest some quality hours into building up a game, definatley go for the EA cricket. It has an in depth player and game details, including english and Australian county teams, players and stats. T20, pro40, friends provident and LV county league games. Over a league it also keeps records of player averages, high scores, partnerships, wicket, catches etc stats. The gameplay and graphics are of a high quality, as you would expect from EA, they might not be as bright and creative as the Brian Lara game, but is much more realistic, playable and detailed. If you're a real cricket fan and want the experience, go for EA. If you just want a quick T20 game every now and then, and are willing to overlook some terrible flaws, this game can be exciting and fun.

The best game I have brought

As a connoisseur of sports sims I came to Brian Lara Cricket 2007 with high hopes, and as a Codemasters franchise it had had a moderately decent track record for delivering the goods. Not anymore. While the potential number of shots and bowling options deserve eulogies, when the gameplay begins you soon begin to learn it's all for nought. As per usual for a cricket game you can play two or three shots which virtually guarantee a boundary for most balls so for a realistic game you're forced to contrive a result by holding yourself back. Meanwhile your opposing batsmen will similarly slog a few fours, then let a ball through the gate, and never ever will they go for a safe defensive stroke. So under this inscapable pattern you literally bowl an entire team out cheaply yet they can often keep a strike rate of around 6/over. Point being the AI for the batting is poor. There's worse, the fielding. For returns to the keeper and catching you need the reactions of hawk to anticipate a meter that quickly zooms by fully expecting you to stop it dead in the middle. This makes most catching situations virtually impossible to master. Finally, the glitches and reliability. For some reason I can't save mid-game despite what the booklet says, and at the completion of my first World Cup match the game always freezes and I have to restart, so no campaign for me. All of which means I'm returning my copy to the store, this game just isn't worth £[...] of anybody's money. At the risk of sounding like comic book store guy, worst game ever!

Upon hearing that Brian Lara 2007 was due to be released, I couldn't wait to see how Codemasters had improved from the 2005 edition. Like Pro Evolution is to EA Sports Fifa series, Brian Lara 2005 beat any of the EA cricket games hands down, and I was hoping this trend would continue in the 2007 instalment. But I was to be greatly disappointed, and further more frustrated with the game in the first 15 minutes of playing it. Here are the Positive and Negative points I found with the game: POSITIVE · Extra features such as being able to run down the wicket and the use of various sweep shots brings extra realism to the batting side of the game. · Graphics are a lot smoother as to be expected. · Being able to throw to either wickets as apposed to just the wicket keeper end. NEGATIVES( where to begin! ) · Bowling was far to easy, my mate managed to Kenya out for a grand total of 2, and even the better teams faired only slightly better. · The wicket keeper taking the bails off, even if you've ran and been in your crease for ages. Gets very frustrating when that happens and a replay always follows. · The new catching meter is terrible, even simple catches are hard to time, very frustrating. · The unlocks are now bats and caps, not very exiting when compared to 2005 where you could unlock classic players and teams. Surprised they didn't include the unlocks of grass colour and crotch shield accessories. · Not being able to edit player names!!! Somehow the excitement is taken away when you get a wicket with Freddie Flantiff. · Not being able to customise you own tournament is annoying and also the sheer lack of game and menu options as apposed to 2005 · Not being able to check what score/ target you have to reach during the game, as well as checking the previous batting teams innings during the game I have yet to try the new EA cricket, and after this disappointment of a game i am willing to try anything!

One of the best Cricket games around