Brian Lara International Cricket Xbox 360

Codemasters have hit back with a bang with their latest release in the Brian Lara for the Xbox 360 (and PS2) and without doubt makes the most of the latest technology with sumptuous graphics and awesome gameplay. Only a release on Nintendo's Wii would beat this; maybe Codemasters could consider this for the future! This is the first update in two years and has been long overdue.

So what has changed in the two years ? For a start Codemasters have gained recognition from the ICC and have been granted an official license for the Cricket World Cup, currently being played in the Caribbean and the ICC Trophy. What's the big deal ? Well it basically means that when playing either the World Cup or the ICC Trophy you play with real names. At all other times you have to put up with similar sounding names, and yes they are very similar without breaking any rules! The player names are easily recognisable so don't worry too much – anyway are we here to read the player names or hit a ball out of the park for a six?! Buy It Now

Along with the World Cup and ICC Trophy you will also find the usual suspects namely One Day Internationals, Test matches and of course the new boy on the block the Twenty/20. All games can be played on varying difficulty levels from Slog (easiest) to Test level being the hardest to master. Lara aficionados will no doubt leave Slog and Village alone and concentrate on County and Test levels.

Pure rookies and newcomers to the game will find the three tutorials the best place to begin each one teaching the player how to bat, bowl and field. The tutorials are of course optional and not a requirement to play any of the games but they certainly help if you haven't played the franchise before.

Other game modes include Test matches, one day internationals and Twenty-Twenty matches, all playable at a difficulty that suits you. Any Brian Lara veterans will want to start at County or Test level, while newcomers can get some practice in the tutorial mode and practice nets. The lower difficulty levels practically make the game into a completely different sport, but they do allow your average cricket hater to have an enjoyable game.

Batting and bowling controls are more or less the same as they ever were utilising the power and timing bars on-screen and the left thumbstick to aim the shot. The batsmen can now march down the wicket to attack the bowler (not literally of course) at the risk of being stumped and likewise bowlers can bowl a variety of deliveries.

Slog mode is far too easy but it does give either the non cricket fan a chance to enjoy the finer points of the game or a chance to vent some frustration while taking yor team to World Cup glory. As you increase the level of difficulty only then will you see a big improvement to gameplay and tactics – plus you have to think what you are doing as the going gets tough.

Fielding is a lot harder and I do wonder if they have made it a little too complex but the ability to set your own field and have more say in whether a catch is taken or dropped is nice. When the opportunity arises a timing bar appears on screen and you have to depress button 'A' when the timing bar reaches the midpoint on the scale. Hit it at the wrong time and you've dropped the catch and who knows, maybe even the World Cup at the same time – just like Gibbs! Buy It Now

My one major gripe with the release is the in match commentary failing to follow what is actually happening on the pitch, not all the time but often enough to be mildly annoying. It's a shame that no editing facility was included as this would have made the game a more complete package but this is only a minor inconvenience. But if these are the only shortfalls then it's doing pretty well in my book.

Brian Lara Cricket is for cricket what Pro Evolution has done for football. This is the only cricketing game you should own whether it be for the PS2 or the XBOX360. You certainly won't regret buying it, there really is no competition from EA with Cricket 2007. If you don't believe me try them both but if this is the only version you buy, you won't be disappointed!

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