SHANE WARNE CRICKET '99


Close, but no cigar...

By PATRICK ANDREWS

It has been a long wait for the first great PC cricket game. 

While soccer and various American sports are represented by an ever more realistic string of games, the thwack of leather on willow, the clunk of leather on helmet and the jingle of bookmakers' money into leather wallets have never quite made a satisfactory transition from lush playing fields to cyberspace.  

The International Cricket Captain series is quite accomplished, but cricket management? Now,  there's a niche market for you . 

Shane Warne Cricket '99 (a southern hemisphere version of Brian Lara Cricket) can't quite claim gaming greatness but it is probably the best effort yet, offering a better-looking version of the Playstation title of the same name and, in this reviewer's mind, a better-playing title than the disappointing Cricket World Cup. 

It is packed with options - 240 players with real names and statistics, 46 stadiums, 15 international teams, variable weather and the option to play anything from a 10-over-a-side slog to a Test series.

You can play as South Africa in the World Cup and flog everyone in sight until the games that count, or try to rewrite the history of the game by replaying classic matches. 

The northern hemisphere roots do show a little with England's Geoff Boycott and Jonathon Agnew providing the commentary, but like most sports games - even the ones you watch live on television, come to think of it - the commentary wears thin after a while. 

The controls are simple enough to pick up but not always quite as responsive as they could be. Batting and bowling aren't too bad, but running between the wickets takes some getting used to and the optional manual fielding is clumsy. 

With all the options providing good long-term interest, and the fact you can play a fun, recognisable game of cricket, this is a good release. Just not the great one.

ORIGINALITY 70%
SOUND/GRAPHICS 85%
PLAYABILITY 75%
ADDICTION 70%
ENJOYMENT 80%