My love of Liverpool and the beautiful game is quite well known but what isn’t as well known is my love of the slower, more refined, sport of cricket. Now I’m a bit of a heretic as the 5 day game isn’t my favourite but then again I find the 20/20 just a little bit too quick.
But one thing that has always killed me is that there are simply no good cricket games in the market. Yes the Brian Lara cricket was good but come on that was released way back in 2007. That’s six years ago and the game has moved on quite a bit, as has our technology.
So when I heard that there is a new cricket game being released I was excited but heavily sceptical as other options in the past few years have been poor to say the least. Then I heard it was being developed by the relatively unheard of Big Ant studios and my heart dropped.
But then something magical happened, I saw some screenshots and a list of features in the game and I can honestly say right now that I’m excited.
First up let’s look at the screenshots, now sports games aren’t anywhere near as reliant on graphics as other titles so I was expecting some pretty simplistic graphics but these are actually damn fine looking.
There’s your giveaway, the game is called Don Bradman Cricket 14 and no don’t worry the entire game isn’t set in the old mans heyday of cricket.
Check out these others:
So looking good but cricket is all about the gameplay and according to the press release we are going to get spoilt here.
Here are the listed features
- Career Mode, allowing you to take control of an aspiring young cricketer and take him
through the ranks to International glory. - Unique Batting and Bowling Controls, giving full 360 Shot control and Line and Length
delivery without pitch markers. - A fully featured fielding system that allows you to run down the ball and slide to prevent a
Four, catch a high ball on the boundary rope, or knock down the stumps to take a vital run
out. You are always involved in the play at every stage of the game! - Ball Physics giving realistic Edges, bat pad catches and movement off the pitch.
- A complete player physics system with individual attributes including weight and height –
imagine running in a 2 metre bowler to delivery that perfect bouncer! - Appeal and Electronic Review system allowing for the first time challenges of the umpires
decision. - Practice Nets, Hone your skills to perfection before taking to the field.
- Dynamic time of day, Weather System and Pitch Degradation that are based on real world
data with effects occurring in real-time throughout a days’ play. - The Cricket Academy, allowing for unparalleled customisation of your Cricket experience,
creating Teams, players, Tours, Competitions, Match Types and even Umpires. - More than 4000 Community created Players and teams ready to download and use in game.
- An online Save system that lets you continue your match whenever you want with online
opponents.
And to showcase these features take a look at this hotspot screenshot
Yup you nicked it sunshine.. it’s time for the walk of shame.
Don Bradman Cricket 14 will be released locally this year and is arriving on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The local distribution has been secured and Megarom will be bringing the game in.
I’m trying to find out if the game will include any provincial sides, player likenesses or dodgy Indian bookmakers.
It’s still early days and we will now have to wait until the game is closer to release to check out some real gameplay but I’m already on the hype train and am leaving the station.
Last Updated: August 6, 2013
The Green Min-tern
August 6, 2013 at 12:05
The last cricket game I played was waaaaay back in ’95 (or around there) – good old Brian Lara Cricket. I’ll probably end up giving this a skip because sports games never seem to hold my interest. Initial pics look pretty good though.
Spathi
August 6, 2013 at 12:14
Jonty Rhodes and Allan Border cricket were the best!
The game does look good. I’ve been waiting for a good cricket game to play co-op with friends.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 6, 2013 at 12:32
Brian Lara Cricket was the boss!
Johan du Preez
December 3, 2013 at 19:03
Yeh no other cricket game comes close to it, all they need to do is remake it with better animation and graphics. Me and my buddy use to play 5 day matches and it was awesome.
Kenn
August 6, 2013 at 12:06
bought
Alex Hicks
August 6, 2013 at 12:09
I’m concerned over 2 things: Firstly, the gameplay sounds good; but will it actually translate into something worthwhile; and secondly, your lack of appreciation for the purest form of the game. Tests are the only thing that holds my interest now – anything played in bright colours with white balls and floodlights makes me cringe. But I could watch 5 full days end to end if my work actually allowed that …
Gavin Mannion
August 6, 2013 at 12:18
I blame ADHD… Now don’t get me wrong I love going to Wanderers for a day at the test match but it doesn’t build the excitement of a solid one day match between us and the Ozzies or Poms
Hermann Schwindt
August 6, 2013 at 12:53
Gavin, you have to appreciate the finer details in test cricket. The off pitch commentary by the players, the strategies, even weather forecasts. All small things that makes test cricket interesting.
Gavin Mannion
August 6, 2013 at 13:26
I appreciate the cold beers and finger snacks that they serve in the box… does that count?
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
August 6, 2013 at 12:31
Day and night tests are coming 😉
Scruff304
August 6, 2013 at 13:09
You sir, deserve a Castle. I could easily sit all day and just watch a day of test cricket. The mind games and drama you get from it is unequal!
Admiral Chief Minion 47
August 6, 2013 at 12:17
It had to be pretty effing amazing for me to even consider it.
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
August 6, 2013 at 12:32
skeptical minion is skeptical…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 6, 2013 at 12:36
How can you not like cricket? Cricket is the purest of the gentleman’s games. In fact, a nation’s culture level is determined by whether or not they play cricket. That’s why the Americans actually score lower than Zimbabwe on the Cultural Index. Cricket… my good man! CRICKET!
By the way, esteemed moustached members of the Sony Gentleman’s Club for Gentlemen play it every weekend – dressed in tweed.
Deano
August 6, 2013 at 12:37
Jonty Rhodes cricket on 4 floppy disks was the shizzz me and my cousin use to get pretty competetive at it and it would decide who was paying for lunch that day.
Concerned
August 6, 2013 at 12:56
Will it possibly be coming to Xbox One later? Will be a must have if it does! I still play Brian Lara on my Xbox 360! ????
Scruff304
August 6, 2013 at 13:07
Please be good, please be good, please be good! Cricket to this day is still my number one sport, and I would love to finally play a worthwhile game.
matthurstrsa
August 6, 2013 at 13:12
What worries me is there are no gameplay screenshots.
Deano
August 6, 2013 at 13:15
Those are gameplay screenshots as far as I can tell.
Gavin Mannion
August 6, 2013 at 13:28
Those are classed as gameplay screenshots… but yes they’d be replay screenshots
I’ve asked for more but have been abruptly told.. NO
I will keep hassling though
matthurstrsa
August 6, 2013 at 13:31
I know you’ll keep hassling, but they fact that they won’t even release one makes me nervous. But maybe its not polished and they are worried people will judge it based on early builds. Will wait and see. Cricket and rugby are two sports that are notorious for poor or average games, so hopefully they can change that next gen.
Draco Lusus
August 6, 2013 at 13:13
I’ll give it a shot! Man, I’ve been craving one forever. Will need to get a controller to play it properly.
Anon A Mouse
August 6, 2013 at 13:16
Please for the love of Bradman’s ghost be good….. neigh be GREAT. I need a good cricket game, I had International Cricket but that just did not cut it.
I love watching the final few days of test cricket. I think my ADHD has been getting hold of me as of late as I struggle to watch all 5 days the older I get. But I just can’t get excited about T20 or IPL or what ever they call it.
CaptainNemo42
August 6, 2013 at 13:39
Wait, a DRS system that works? Then this game is seriously flawed. Also, can you disable that hotspot when the Indians play, because they’re full of shit and doesn’t use it…
brad coetzee
August 6, 2013 at 13:39
I hate cricket. Its on par with Golf.
flame on.
david
August 6, 2013 at 13:44
Yhee!! Can’t wait. I will certainly get this!! See the trailer..with gameplay!
http://www.planetcricket.net/gaming/don-bradman-cricket-14/videos/
Lardus-Wolverine
August 6, 2013 at 14:09
Career mode sound good. Hope your young player will also gain experience and gain stats as time goes on and not just start as “Super Shane” bowling, “King Kallis” batting and Jonty Rhodes fielding! Like they did with NHL – the more you play and score the more points to make the player better!
Wyzak
August 6, 2013 at 15:09
Would be nice if this came out on the Wii-U, since ashes cricket screwed up so royally.
ElimiNathan
August 6, 2013 at 20:00
WOW
Tidycpc
August 7, 2013 at 09:05
Hope you guys get a copy to review.
paktvchannel
August 8, 2013 at 09:11
nice this cricket game.
http://www.cricketgames4u.com/
MHaseebAhmed
August 10, 2013 at 09:55
i for one m xcited..
Gareth
December 3, 2013 at 16:52
Let’s hope this will actually be good! The screenshots look great, now fingers crossed for the gameplay itself.