I finally got time to sit down yesterday and start reviewing Don Bradman Cricket 14. I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive as everyone I’ve spoken to about the game has got a weird look on their face and said the game’s good but very hard.
What this normally means is that the controls suck but the game isn’t that bad.
So I put the disc into the PS3 and loaded it up. I started up a career and was given the most amazing amount of options to customise my player. Pictures will be arriving soon but needless to say he ended up looking like an 80 year old giant of a man with a concaved head, massive green beard with blue and pink hair.
Exactly the sort of character you expect to see on a cricket pitch.
I got into my first match and noticed that I was fielding somewhere away from the batter. After a few overs I realised I was playing as this one character in the team and had to watch everyone else bowl and bat in a 4 day test match.
So I quit out of that and went to tournament mode where I could play as South Africa’s All stars in a 20/20 tournament. I’ll let you know how to get real teams in the main review.
I started the match as the bowler and it took me about 5 overs before I could figure out how the hell to bowl.
For fast bowlers you click a button to start your run up. The button is your choice of where on the pitch you want to bowl (short, full etc) and then as your guy gets to the crease you need to flick the right analogue stick to start the jump and then push it again to choose direction and pitch length.
For spinners you need to spin the left stick while using the right to get the right release and direction.
It takes a ton of practice to get right and there is nothing more annoying than making the smallest mistake and seeing your ball disappear over the boundary. At the same time I was whooping for joy when Alan Donald destroyed the middle stump of that bloody English batsman with the next ball.
Batting is even harder where the left stick controls your feet while the right stick controls your swing. Stepping backwards while trying to cut a ball moving away from you normally ends in failure.
Oh and don’t forget you need to appeal for LBW’s and close run outs else the umpire is just never going to give it.
So far in my few games I can definitely say the game is well put together. There have been a few incidences of the commentary being repetitive and one or two weird looking catches but seeing that you can review them – a system that works exceptionally well – I haven’t found that to actually be a bad thing.
Our review should be out later this week but rest assured cricket fans; this is not another Ashes 2013 debacle.
Last Updated: April 9, 2014
Jedi JJ
April 9, 2014 at 10:19
Quickie preview?
That what she said?
Man, I hate previews and no show.
Black Mage [Umar]
April 9, 2014 at 10:19
Sounds extremely intricate!! Wow….Which is actually a pretty awesome thing
Jedi JJ
April 9, 2014 at 10:22
I have not played a cricket game in forever.
Black Mage [Umar]
April 9, 2014 at 10:23
Same here, but I;m surprised to hear how complex the gameplay sounds
Hammersteyn
April 9, 2014 at 10:25
Jonty Rhodes cricket is till a favourite of mine.
Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire
April 9, 2014 at 10:26
Last I played was Cricket ’97 with RICHIE BENAUD!!!!!!
Jedi JJ
April 9, 2014 at 10:28
I think me too.
Hondsepop
April 9, 2014 at 10:35
Like a lolly from a kid. The commentary was hilarious.
VampyreSquirrel
April 9, 2014 at 10:33
I play Cricket Heroes on PC and now I can play International Cricket 2011 on Xbox again… I finally got my HD cable 🙂
Jedi JJ
April 9, 2014 at 11:03
I actually feel like playing one though, that’s the thing. But for me sports games are for playing with friends (currently, along with watching blu-ray, the sole purpose of my PS3)
VampyreSquirrel
April 9, 2014 at 11:12
I’ve been playing the odd cricket game since Jonty Rhodes cricket (also Alan Border Cricket which was the SAME game), including some terrible ones from EA, some Brian Laras and International Crickets. Latest one for Xbox that I have is International Cricket 2011, PC is either Cricket Heroes or Brian Lara 2007, depending on how you look at things.
Jedi JJ
April 9, 2014 at 11:43
You have me seriously in the mood to play one now.
Admiral Chief in Space
April 9, 2014 at 10:24
If you have to give this level of attention for 5 days, man, you are gonna feel it!
Hammersteyn
April 9, 2014 at 10:26
Quietly excited for this.
VampyreSquirrel
April 9, 2014 at 10:27
I’ve seen a few reviews for this game already, lowest score I’ve seen is a 7/10… highest 9/10… despite a few bugs and odd things happening.
I’ve also watched a few game play vids of it, and the animations of the players is surprisingly accurate even if the batsman move a little faster than they really should… almost teleporting to the line of the ball to play a back foot square drive.
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 9, 2014 at 10:31
Yay – more good news.
VampyreSquirrel
April 9, 2014 at 10:34
Oh Gavin… there’s a simulation option if you don’t want to field constantly 😛 (seen in a vid)
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
April 9, 2014 at 10:37
Sounds like a winner
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 9, 2014 at 10:38
I want to play this game while listening to The 12th Man.
Hammersteyn
April 9, 2014 at 10:40
Double Decker Bus!
Matthew Holliday
April 9, 2014 at 10:38
Don Bradmans Cricket 14 is to Lazygamer what the Dacia Sandero is to Top gear
VampyreSquirrel
April 9, 2014 at 10:44
I’m itching to get this game… but I’m not allowed to… my wife has overruled me 😛
Gavin Mannion
April 9, 2014 at 10:46
Put your foot down… and beg
VampyreSquirrel
April 9, 2014 at 10:52
I’ve tried Gavin, I’ve tired… it’s not working very well at the moment… but my birthday is coming up… in 2 MONTHS time, so maybe then 😛
*sits in corner and cries*
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 9, 2014 at 10:56
That’s why you need DRS, but the Indians refuse to use it *run*
Rince
April 9, 2014 at 10:59
Or no run for that matter 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 9, 2014 at 11:03
What a silly point. ;P
Rince
April 9, 2014 at 11:08
Or no point for that matter 0-o
VampyreSquirrel
April 9, 2014 at 11:14
I’m just waiting for the ION today… hopefully she has fine leg…s.
Rince
April 9, 2014 at 11:21
It’s when you have to get a new ball as the one you have been using has been smacked about to much that I draw the line… Wait, what? 0-o
Jedi JJ
April 9, 2014 at 11:04
Imagine if EA got their mircotransaction ideas into this:
Please pay $2 for referee’s verdict.
VampyreSquirrel
April 9, 2014 at 11:07
Don’t give them any ideas JJ
Garvin
April 10, 2014 at 10:58
lol $5 for a review
Abyss
April 9, 2014 at 11:06
Been playing this since friday. Its very good and its way above any other cricket game thats been done. It simulates cricket, in the way that you take total control of your player/s. So you do the appeals, running, running back into you crease etc etc. It seems a bit tricky to start, but you quickly get used to it. As in reality, you loose concentration for even a second and you done for.
Jonah Cash
April 9, 2014 at 11:09
That actually sounds pretty cool to me!!
kureiguX
April 9, 2014 at 12:53
Got the game on Friday and have really been enjoying.
The only thing that bothers me a little is the fielding, none
of the players can catch a ball but all of them can get a direct
hit from the boundary, almost every throw is a direct hit.
I won a game I should have lost by getting 6 run outs.
Abyss
April 9, 2014 at 14:14
I have seen a bit about drop catches on other forums. But must be honest that i have not seen more than one on my side. Unless of course where i am in charge of the fielding. Cause then my timing is way out and i drop more catches than what i score runs, haha
Dooza
April 10, 2014 at 10:48
Any one knows when the PC version will be released? I’ve check the net and I get too many different answers (I really hope the 27th of June is a mistake), I played the beta where they allow you to bat in the nets but I’m tired of that now and i would love to get my hands on the full game but I feel R699 is way too much for the 360 version , that’s why I want to buy the PC version.
WikiForce
April 10, 2014 at 14:28
I’m struggling in this game, i had to quit my first game for shameful peformance which i didn’t wanted to save. Controls are very complicated espcially for a cheap ass stubborn analog stick gamepad as I got my original one broke. Although I’m okay with playing normal R3 shot but there seem to be alot of fiddling around with playing advanced shot as my gamepad is quite inaccurate. I am getting original one soon I ordered recently and hoping it can turn things around for me. Although, it’s me who is low at memory and struggle in video games but this game is not easy. Bowling meter is quite difficult to understand at first, there are two variation of pace and pitch with fast bowler it was always coming late so the bowl won’t ball so this was also one of the reasons i quit, it happened 20 times with me in 2nd last over till they require only 1 run to win and i got frustrated. I am decent player in AC 2009 and IC 2010 hoping when pc version comes out i could do better with keyboard and mouse which feels much more natural and accurate.
fatfudge19
April 10, 2014 at 21:41
hey if you have don bradman cricket 14 on xbox 360 please add me my gamertag is Fatfudge19 i dont have the game yet but i might be getting it
Dizzbanga
April 11, 2014 at 09:18
Been playing for a week now obsessively. Easily the best cricket game ever. Visuals are amazing. If you go into the replay you can see what kind of delivery it was by the seam position of the ball, it’s got that much detail. You can skip the fielding in career mode, so dw about that. Just have to bat and bowl YOUR overs. Batting is the hardest thing ever haha. Making my first and only half century in career mode was the best feeling. Bowling is reasonably easy once you get the hang of it. Fielding is way too good atm, with every throw being a direct hit, and the running between wickets is a little glitchy and very frustrating. Apart from that, amazing game. Cricket tragics shouldn’t be without it.