![]() If you play the ball early, you may generate a leading edge. If you're too close to the ball, you will get an inside edge. The emphasis given to timing elevates the batting from casual fun to a serious skill. But then the more seasoned a batsman is with strokeplay and timing, the more unrewarding bowling will inevitably become.ĬR's gameplay stands out from any other cricket game on the market. ![]() The plus side here is that, due to the inherent realism in the gameplay, a good ball usually gets rewarded if a false shot is drawn. As there can be no escape from the bowling obligation, it was incumbent upon CR to develop a more entertaining bowling mechanic. This obviously implies that, for at least 10 overs, one player will have to be bowling while the other bats. A more involved bowling system is imperative for a game such as CR, which places a great deal of emphasis on internet and LAN gaming. While the bowling certainly isn't a let-down, it's a little anti-climactic that the developers left this aspect of the game so modest considering the jumble that is the batting. A bowler also has access to two “special” deliveries which may be executed when the bowler is operating at full adrenalin. The bowler is given a target on the pitch to aim at as well as certain bars for controlling speed and swing/seam/spin. Moving on to bowling mechanics, CR doesn't depart much from the standard bowling system. It's a shame that this list isn't accessible during competitive gameplay. A click on the “tab” key during nets will bring up a list of the various shots available to the batsman and I was intimidated to discover that one has access to 34 different shots, each shot being executed by a unique key combo. CR's nets allow you to build up shot familiarity as well as work on shot timing, the latter being critical for scoring runs in CR. Get this straight, if you want to get the hang of CR, you will be spending a lot of time in the nets (interestingly, another reflection on how it works in the real world). In light of the elaborate batting mechanics, CR crucially provides its players with a robust nets session. ![]() However, one gets the feeling that the right balance has to be struck between realism and practicality. So the developers can't be faulted for introducing this aspect of realism. Most batsmen do employ a push to cover, a regular cover drive, a lofted cover drive as well as a slog through the same region. That said, in a sense, this variety is a reflection of why cricket is such a beautiful game it's incredibly nuanced. Was there any need for a “push” option? Having both a lofted array of shots as well as a slog set seems redundant. One has to question the utility of this variety. Add to this the fact that there are four exclusively “defensive” shots, and the whole thing starts to get a little convoluted.įor example you can play a forward defensive you can push a straight drive past a bowler you can play a lofted straight drive you can slog a straight six. The game also offers the player a grand total of four ways to execute most of its shots push (emphasis on safety), aggressive, lofted, and finally, slog. All conventional cricketing shots can be played (including the reverse-sweep). Ultimately however, any cricket game is judged by the quality of its batting mechanics and CR offers the player an embarrassment of riches in its strokeplay. The online component is a promising addition and the developers seem eager to cater to their internet community, as evidenced by a program in the nets session which teaches players how to time their shots when coping with slow internet connections. This compromise is fair enough as even the most advanced cricket games will never boast the graphics featured in football games. Cricket Revolution challenges our prevalent notions of what a cricket game should be and provides the gamer with a realistic playing experience as well as access to a healthy multiplayer community.įlashy visuals and elaborate graphics are foregone in favour of a keener emphasis on gameplay science. The problem is, does this game try too hard to be taken seriously?įrom the days of Brian Lara Cricket on the Sega Mega Drive, cricket games haven't evolved much. Lahore-based Mindstorm Studio's Cricket Revolution is the latest attempt by a developer to fill this gaping lacuna and our local boys do an admirable job of outdoing every cricket game that preceded them (with the arguable exception of Ashes 2009, with which it stands at par).Ĭricket Revolution is a cricket game meant for the cricket fan and the developers make no bones from the get-go about their seriousness in revolutionizing the market. For almost two decades, cricket, one of the premier sports on the international stage, has never received its due in the gaming arena.
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