Ashes Cricket 2009-Redemption for cricket games?

[fearofthesky]

Impressed with the demo, (just up tonight on XBL) with reservations. Its too short at only 3 overs per side. Nice animation for the most part, just a little stuttery...I liked how when I was too early on one delivery outside off, I nicked it but it fell short of first slip.

Presentation mirrors the Second Test at Lord's this series, with the same squads. Lord's looks fairly authentic, complete with ridiculous UFO style media box. PLayer likenesses are OK, Johnathon Agnew and Warnie commentate, and the title screen has the Wide World of Sports theme. But I really wanna play more to see if the batting timing is up to scratch. I made 6 in my 3 overs :( Pretty sure thats just because I suck.

The bowling seems to have come a long way since Ponting 05 (whick is the last one I played). Thoughts on the demo?

EDIT! More thoughts. Sound effects are lame. Basically the same sound effect no matter how hard you hit it. Just cracked a lofted off drive over the field and into a fence, and it sounded like throwing a rotten tomato at a fifth grade teachers house. Plop.

Also just skied a catch to deep midwicket which was dropped and there was NO response from the crowd or commentators. Actually I'm not too sure if it carried. The graphics really could be brighter, the grass shades of green lighter...

[mcfustin]

I hope it's good, but i'll be really surprised if it is TBH. I wasn't a huge fan of last year's Ricky Ponting, so it'll take some major improvements to get this one to the point where I'll be willing to fork out ~$100 for it.

I'd download the demo, but I've already chewed through most of my 25g limit, and I've still got 2 weeks to go :o

[Lazlow]

First postive opinion I've heard in regards to this game; most seem to feel it isn't up to scratch.

[Spazzallo]

I think it's quite good :). Though a bit easy to score runs. Playing on the hardest setting, the opposition seem to give you easy bowls which you can play well away from the fielders. Thought there would be a bit more strategy, or at least a reaction after hitting it to the same open area 6 times in an over.

Still I thought it was good. Bowling seems to be quite difficult so I'm currently trying to think of some strategies to get the damn computer out ><.

[Spazzallo]

So when is this out? I keep hearing this Friday from some sources but GAME is listing it as only the PS3 version coming out on this day :(.

[Hyperblau]

I thought it was pretty terrible to be quite honest. Graphics were atrocious, players looked nothing like who they were supposed to, frame rate drops for no reason. Gameplay was pretty forgettable, found it far too easy to score runs after a little bit of play, could probably have used some sort of tutorial of fielding too, had no idea how to catch the ball when there was an opportunity.

I don't think we will ever see a cricket game with the same level of polish as an NFL game or a MLB game, there just isn't the market for it. That said, if there was a cricket game that was actually up to the standard of Madden I would probably buy it, otherwise, not a chance.

Oh and its out on the 13th according to EB's website.

[Spazzallo]

So anybody picking this up today? I am and I'll probably be looking to find someone to get achievments with. 4 wickets in a row is not an easy task from what I've seen from the demo and neither is 6x6's and 6x4's (pulled that off once but with a noball in there :(). Also the double golden duck achievment looks quite difficult too.