Review: Ashes Cricket 2009

Strawberries, straw hats and plenty of wickets

Format: PS3 (version played), Xbox 360, Wii, PC Dev: Transmission Games
Pub: Codemasters Out: 07/08/09 Players: 1-4, 2 online

In the wake of England’s victory over Australia, Codemasters have released the official game to accompany the 2009 series. Licensed by the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), it provide official players, stadiums, kits and equipment making for realistic looking teams, but unrealistic movements and poor player resemblances.

There are four game options to choose from, with the Ashes and Test play made available as five games, each played over five days. Playing in One Day International mode is also a possibility with Ashes 2009 in both fifty over and Twenty20 format and is akin to playing a football game, allowing for quick scoring, two-player fun and makes this a good choice for playing when friends are round. For all but the Ashes, players can choose between 12 nations.

Playing the Ashes or a Test match is much more involved and, rather than flair, playing with tactics, wit and patience are required. When playing against the computer, whilst demonstrating these skills, you may still get nowhere fast, even when playing on easy. The computer’s ability fluctuates. It may be easy to smash balls for fours and sixes, and then, suddenly, consistently unplayable balls are bowled at you. It is possible to ease frustration by playing cooperatively against the computer, alternating strikes or bowlers, but this may lead you both into frustration with the game and each other. Two-player versus is a better option, but can often see matches started but never finished.

Codemasters have done well with the sports disciplines of batting, bowling and fielding. Batting, just like in cricket, is all down to timing, with late shots being edged to fielders and early shots leaving stumps open. The shot direction is picked out by the right analog stick, so a good eye is also required. Shots can be simple with one button, or complex with combinations, leading to back foot strokes or advances down wicket.

Bowling, too, is fairly realistic with the line and length picked out by a cursor, whilst the accuracy and power of your ball is being determined by timing on an accuracy meter. Whilst this may sound simple enough, bowling is the toughest aspect to pick up. It’s easy enough to chuck a ball down at the batsman, but to bowl consistently well requires quick thinking. You’re able to change the point of pitch up until the ball leaves your hand and, with advanced bowling, can start adding swing and spin onto deliveries.

Fielding is again all down to timing, with a colour cycle alternating through red, orange and green surrounding the ball as it approaches a fielder. Catches and run-outs provide for most wickets, with fielders positions easily customisable and in the end the ball is returned to being easily decided.

All in all, Ashes 2009 is an enjoyable experience, but there appears to be a spark of something missing alongside the AI glitches and unrealistic graphics which definitely put a downer on the game. This could be a must for devout cricket fans, but for those of you with only a passing interest in the sport, it’s unlikely you’ll be picking this game up anytime soon.

Alex Jablonskas

Tags: ashes, codemasters, cricket, Sports