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Cricket simulations on the 64 have been few and far
between, and apart from Tim Love's Cricket and
Ian Botham's there have been no really notable
ones.
Cricket
simulations are quite a difficult thing to do, since
the game itself is a slow and leisurely one (despite
recent developments in one day cricket and equipping
players with futuristic protective clothing to induce
a feeling of fast danger into the game), but Audiogenic
have added a little action to spice it up.
GG's
TC has two playing modes -- simulation and arcade.
With simulation, one or two players can play, but in
arcade mode it's only the one player that can take part.
When you want to play you first have to decide how long
the match will actually be; 40, 55 or 60 overs each
side. If you're in arcade mode then there's a choice
of nine levels on the computer to battle against. There's
a squad of twenty men from which to choose your team,
although you have to be careful to choose all the correct
members of the team (ie skills in wicket keeping, bowling,
batting etc), otherwise the team can't play properly.
When
you choose simulation you don't actually take part as
such. You can choose your team with fast/slow bowlers
etc and can make tactical changes within your team,
but once started it becomes a sit-back-and-watch strategy
game with some interaction. If you are bowling, then
you can choose between the bowler attacking on the offside
or the legside. If you're batting, then you can choose
between defensive, normal, or aggressive play.
Arcade
mode is entirely different, you actually take part in
a test and bat and bowl as in real life. When bowling
you have to move the joystick from side to side 'Decathlon'
style to make your bowler deliver a fast and hard ball.
If you want a slow delivery then just slow up the toggling
for a bit.
When
you bat, you have to manoeuvre the batsman to a good
position and strike the ball by a timely press on the
fire button. If you get your stroke right then you'll
knock the ball for some runs. Get it spot on and you
get a four or even a six.
Throughout
the game the score is shown after each over or when
a batsman is out. There is also another feature which
allows cricket teams to be loaded in so you can play
all your favourites -- old or REALLY old.
[This screenshot was not part of the original review.]
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