Graham Gooch's Test Cricket

Your Sinclair

Graphics 3/10

Playability 3/10

Value For Money 3/10

Addictiveness 2/10

Overall 3/10

Rick Robson 3/10

Audiogenic £9.95 Reviewer: Rick Robson That Golden Boy of Leytonstone, Graham Gooch often looks good but fails to deliver on the cricket field, and I'm afraid the same goes for the simulation that bears his name. Gooch is known as Zapata to his colleagues cos of his habit of taking siestas during a game - and I think the programmers must've dozed off half way though this one. The game purports to simuLate 40, 55, 60 overs and 2 innings games. You also have a two player facility as well as the had computer opposition. You can punch in your own team or accept the program of current England/Australian players - more accurate here than some football games I could mention. You give the players their batting and bowling averages and must pick a wicket keeper. The computer rejects too low an average but not very high ones, regardless of batting order, so your number 11 can average 100 with the bat. The computer seems to completely disregard this anyhow during gameplay - so is it all just padding anyway? The gameplay's really peculiar. We all know one day games and Gooch in particular, zap along, but at 12-15 runs an over? The graphics give you a behind the bowler's arm closeup - good bowling simulation here - showing batsman, 'keeper and slip. When the ball is struck you get the same view of the off or leg side - and you've no choice of field placings. You can control line but not length or speed when bowling. When batting you have minimal control over whether you defend or attack - but you only have two shots within that mode. Technically, you have more control in the two Innings game - but it still rattles along at the one day rate, and very low scores regularly ensue. So, if you're a real fan of leather on willow this one's worth a very cautious look.

Read it at Your Sinclair Rock'n'Roll Years

Crash

Use of Computer 72%

Graphics 60%

Playability 73%

Getting Started 69%

Addictive Qualities 68%

Value For Money 64%

Overall 65%

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Producer: Audiogenic Retail Price: £9.95 Language: Machine code 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 a 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 only one player may take part. First you have to decide how long the match will actually be: 40, 55 or 60 overs. If you're in arcade mode then there's a choice of nine levels of play, the computer to battle against and a squad of twenty men from which to choose your team. You have to be careful to choose all the correct members of the team, taking into account each potential member's skills in batting, bowling and fielding. If simulation is chosen you don't actually take part as such but make tactical decisions when selecting. Once started it becomes a sit-back-and-watch strategy game with some interaction after every innings. If you are bowling then you can choose between the bowler attacking on the offside or the legside. If 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 in real time. 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 batting 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 the stroke right then the ball is knocked for some runs. Get it spot on and you get a four or even a boundary 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! COMMENTS Control keys: Player One: 6/7 left/right, 8/9 down/up, 0 fire Player Two: 1/2 left/right, 3/4 down/up 5 fire Joystick: Kempston, Interface 2 Keyboard play: adequate Use of colour: good. Not much attribute clash Graphics: rather blobby Sound: good crowd cheer, not much else Skill levels: one, two types of game Screens: main screen, plus menus and automatic fielding screen