Don Bradman Cricket 14

Bats, wickets and overs. If you don’t hale from England, Australia or India, these terms will likely mean nothing to you. However, if you align yourself with the wonderful world of cricket, you’ll know just how much excitement this sport can bring. So, with that in mind Big Ant Studios in 2014 decided to bring the action to life through games consoles. Offering an experience that aims to provide an authentic and exhilarating cricket game like no other. However, we would say that it bats for four rather than knocking us for six.

This game plays like a number of the official sports titles such as MLB: The Show, FIFA, Madden or Ashes Cricket 2009. However, it also continues the long running Don Bradman Cricket series which puts the legendary Aussie batsman front and centre. However, we aim to find out if this done anything to offset the average and stale mechanics on offer here.

Scores a Few Points

Let’s look at the positives first of all. The bowling mechanics present in this title are truly the most hands on we would have seen at the time. The process was a very tactile and complex one, asking the players to be accurate, time their throw to perfection and utilise various different bowling techniques to outwit the batsman you face. We have to admit, it’s a hard mechanic to master and for the initial few games, you’ll be gifting runs like it’s Christmas at The Oval. However, with time, you’ll find that this is a fun and welcome addition.

Then with regards to when you step up to bat, the UI changes allow for a much more authentic batting experience. Where previous games have telegraphed a rough area where the ball with arrive, this game doesn’t hand hold in this respect. You have to react based on what you see in front of you. Again, it’s very hard to get to grips with but it’s a mechanic that you grow to appreciate.

Caters to The Fans

One aspect that will surprise a few is the extensive career mode that is present within the game as well. The player will be able to have an illustrious twenty-year career if they so choose and you can see that every aspect of this career mode has been designed as a love letter to the sport. The level of detail for the era of gaming that this game hales from is superb and for that reason alone, it may be worth revisiting for hard-core cricket fans.

Swing and a Miss

Despite this clear love for the sport, the developers haven’t managed to create the quintessential cricket gaming experience. The main issues are the excessive bugs that persist even to this day. Wrong decisions will be made by the umpire. Your player will go walkies instead of standing in position to bat. Plus, there are a plethora of sound and visual glitches that take away from the overall experience.

Then when you add in the lack of licences acquired by the game, it can be very difficult to immerse yourself in the game. Don Bradman is the only licensed player, and the only real team names are the nations. So, unless you are cool having the don play every position on the field, you’re going to have to grin and bear a cast of fake players we are afraid.

The Verdict

Overall, this game has a lot going for it. It’s clear that the developers made this game with care and attention to detail. However, despite their passion for cricket, the game simply fails to offer enough for players to stick around. It’s great that the game offers a career mode, but the repetitive gameplay and glitches aplenty stop any enjoyment that could be had within this mode.

Pros:

• Complex and fun mechanics
• Twenty-year career mode
• Graphics are great for the time

Cons:

• No official licences
• Mechanics are difficult to master
• Glitches are plentiful
• Gameplay becomes stale and repetitive