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Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 on Xbox 360 (2007)

Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 cover art

Average rating: 57%
38410920111344
3 stars out of 5
from 1,023 member
 
Certificate: Certificate: 3
Developers: CODEMASTERS
Format: Xbox 360
Number of players: 1-16
Released: 23/03/2007
Also Available on:  Also Available on: PS2

Brief synopsis of Brian Lara International Cricket 2007

Online play marks the next in the Brian Lara series as a something to watch. What with the Cricket World Cup underway in the West Indies at the time of the game's release, and being shown at a reasonable hour; and with Lara's Windies doing better than had previously been expected, the chance to go online and play with cricket fans worldwide has never been more enticing.

Because the game is tied into the International Cricket Council (ICC) you're not going to have to make do with players called Ferdie Flintlock or Richie Pounding when you can play with the real player names - and their skill-sets (excluding pedalo-tipping).

Once you've played a few games - either online or off - using the new in-game camera system, you can then start to refer to the in-depth player stats. These, as any real cricket fan knows, are the heart of the matter. Decent stats enable you to select the form players and the up-and-comers, to exercise your judgement to drop those under-achievers or one-hit wonders who might otherwise infect a perfectly good Test or ODI team.

Gameplay itself has been tweaked and tested (as has the AI) enabling closer and more immediate control of fielders during the over. Bowling also sees the addition of several new techniques (since the Ashes, swing and reverse-swing are much more in the public eye, and now in your control, for example).

Once you've got your placings and players sorted out, there's the newly upgraded training aspect to really hone those skills - or in the case of the novice, a glossary of cricket terminology. Added to all this, we get commentary from the Test Match Special frontman, Jonathan 'Aggers' Agnew among others...and bring on the first ball.

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Members' Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 2 starsBoring and Repetitive

A customer from Surrey, England , 13/10/2007

Like real life cricket; long winded and pointless

Its either because i'm not a huge cricket fan or becuase this game is just dull..... Objectively its gotta be a little from column A & and alittle from column B.

Failed to keep my attention longer than the Rockstar Table Tennis game, but is definately in the same league with the limited control style and repetitive gameplay.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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Rated - 4 starsReview

A customer from Dover, England , 27/05/2007

As previously said this is a much better game than it's predecessors. Some of the controls are a bit fiddly, using the triggers to return a fielded ball, and sometimes the in game characters are incredibly frustrating i.e.when returning a ball from a couple of meters it is missed gifting the opponents a run because of the slow reactions of the other fielders.

Overall a good game and a vast improvement over the previous versions but there is still lots for Codemasters to work on.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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Rated - 3 starsEither love or hate...

Phil Bailey from Wirral , 19/07/2007

First time I'd played a game from this series, and will probably be the last.

Plus points - good graphics & sound and tutorials.

Minus points - tricky to remember controls when split-second decisions required. Flawed gameplay, especially with fielding as previously mentioned by another reviewer.

Ultimately, despite perennial attempts to improve cricket games (on any format..) I am always left with the nagging question whether the game of cricket translates well enough to a console or PC to make you want to keep playing....the answer for me is still a resolute 'No'.

...mind you a Wii rendition which lets you launch a bouncer at your screen (just remember to keep a tight grip on the controller..) or hook a six over silly mid-on (watch out for that vase of flowers..) might change my mind...

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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Rated - 4 starsWhere's The Skill?

SuperSi SuperSi from Crawley [Highly rated reviewer] , 07/01/2008

This Game Was Exceptional GraphicallyAnd ALways Has Benn But In My Personal Opinion It's Just Too Easy! I Got Austrailia Out In A Test Match In The First Day For 33 All Out!!!!!! Then Hit 629 - 4 Before Falling Asleep And Declaring! There Is No Skill As You Can Just Hit Six After Six Even With Bowlers. Clever Trigger Play With Catching And Fielding But Overall Too Easy Can Be Improved But Stil Recommended!

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 2 starsBoring and Repetitive

A customer from Surrey, England , 13/10/2007

Like real life cricket; long winded and pointless

Its either because i'm not a huge cricket fan or becuase this game is just dull..... Objectively its gotta be a little from column A & and alittle from column B.

Failed to keep my attention longer than the Rockstar Table Tennis game, but is definately in the same league with the limited control style and repetitive gameplay.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Read all highest rated reviews

Rated - 3 starsEither love or hate...

Phil Bailey from Wirral , 19/07/2007

First time I'd played a game from this series, and will probably be the last.

Plus points - good graphics & sound and tutorials.

Minus points - tricky to remember controls when split-second decisions required. Flawed gameplay, especially with fielding as previously mentioned by another reviewer.

Ultimately, despite perennial attempts to improve cricket games (on any format..) I am always left with the nagging question whether the game of cricket translates well enough to a console or PC to make you want to keep playing....the answer for me is still a resolute 'No'.

...mind you a Wii rendition which lets you launch a bouncer at your screen (just remember to keep a tight grip on the controller..) or hook a six over silly mid-on (watch out for that vase of flowers..) might change my mind...

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Read all highest rated reviews