Don Bradman Cricket 14

Don Bradman Cricket is a fine, fine game. As a simulation of a sport, it's right up there in terms of quality. A sharp learning curve and a few minor oversights do hinder Big Ant's title, but that doesn't mean that the beautiful cricketing sandbox that they've put together isn't massively impressive. But is it the best cricket game ever made? The way in which it simulates the battle between bowler and batsman as well as all of the other nice little touches it provides, means that it knocks the opposition for six.

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Don Bradman Cricket 14 offers a fresh take on cricket games with its realistic cricket simulation. Create your own cricket career, control every shot and delivery with unique batting and bowling controls, and experience full-featured fielding and physics systems. Play with over 100 teams or choose from 14,000 online from the Academy, and expect realistic ball physics and player attributes.

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Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 756 reviews

graphics44 positive mentions

stability17 negative mentions

The game offers a very realistic cricket experience with excellent gameplay mechanics, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore cricket fans.
The customization options are extensive, allowing players to create teams, players, and even download community-created content, enhancing the game's longevity.
Despite some bugs, the game has received regular updates from the developers, showing their commitment to improving the player experience.

The game frequently crashes, especially on Windows 11, leading to frustration and loss of progress during matches.
The commentary can be repetitive and lacks depth, which detracts from the overall immersion of the game.
The requirement for an internet connection to play, even in single-player mode, is a significant drawback for many players.

graphics
84 mentions
52 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their realism and fluidity, especially considering the game's age. While some users highlight impressive visuals and detailed features, others point out that certain aspects, such as player models and occasional glitches, could use improvement. Despite these criticisms, the graphics are generally deemed good enough to enhance the gameplay experience, making it a solid choice for cricket fans.
- “The graphics are very realistic even for a decade-old game.”
- “Graphics are fluid and easy on the eyes; the stadiums, the equipment, and the game mechanics as a whole are well designed.”
- “The graphics are the best I have seen in any cricket game, and with the ability to download player-made content adding depth, I see this game being around for a while!”
- “The graphics quality from the stadium models to the actual textures are anywhere from average to extremely poor.”
- “The graphics aren't great, but I am sure they will be improved in the next iteration.”
- “Sub-par graphics”
gameplay
83 mentions
47 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the cricket game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its depth, realism, and innovative mechanics, particularly in batting and bowling. However, some players have noted issues with fielding mechanics and occasional crashes, especially on newer PCs. Overall, while the game offers a rewarding and engaging experience, it may require a learning curve and has some areas that could benefit from further refinement.
- “It's arguably the most realistic game in terms of depth, mechanics, physics, and customization options.”
- “Really enjoying this game, the gameplay has the right amount of complexity to bring in important aspects of batting and bowling, while remaining simple enough to pick up quickly.”
- “Easily the greatest cricket game ever... the depth of its gameplay is unparalleled, and deserves to be played so that we can get a sequel at some stage.”
- “Gameplay doesn't make sense sometimes, and you'll probably have more fun creating caricatures as playable characters for the laughs.”
- “The basic mechanics of the game are not so good.”
- “Clunky mechanics, and they're hitching a ride on Bradman's name in a shameless cash-in attempt.”
stability
17 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes and freezes, particularly on PC, despite having high-end specifications. While some acknowledge that it is less buggy than other current games, the overall experience is marred by glitches that disrupt gameplay, especially during matches. Players express hope for improvements in future updates, recognizing the game's potential despite its current stability issues.
- “In Windows 10, it freezes a lot even though my specs are way beyond the required ones.”
- “You start a match, the game freezes; the solution is to kill the game from Task Manager manually and restart the game.”
- “Great game - shocking stability, freezes on PC constantly.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is notably inconsistent; while some users report smooth performance and good graphics, others find it unplayable due to significant issues. The 'be a pro' career mode is praised for its depth and realism, but optimization problems detract from the overall experience.
- “Other bigger games run smoothly on my laptop.”
- “As a result, the games are quicker (you can simulate the bits you're not playing), and your performance is more in the spotlight.”
- “Graphics are pretty good too and the game runs smoothly.”
- “Optimization: now here comes a part that makes the game literally unplayable.”
music
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with users criticizing the main menu tracks as repetitive and uninspired, leading to a desire for more licensed content and the ability to add custom music. The limited selection of songs quickly becomes tiresome, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The only thing that is missing is the option to replace the title music with 'Soul Limbo' by Booker T & the MG's.”
- “I guess my biggest complaints are the lack of licensed content (addressed by the Don Bradman Academy system, but it's not quite the same), and the menu music.”
- “Main menu music is awful; it feels as though none would have been better.”
- “I guess my biggest complaints are the lack of licensed content (addressed by the Don Bradman Academy system, but it's not quite the same) and the menu music.”
- “They only included a handful of tracks that get quite tiresome after a while, and I haven't found any way to add custom music to the game.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is derived from its quirky animations and unexpected moments, such as the wicketkeeper's unconventional catching style, which adds a comedic touch despite the game's shortcomings. Additionally, the commentary is noted for being entertaining and enjoyable, enhancing the overall humorous experience.
- “The game seems incomplete, jarring, baffling, and sometimes just straight funny in its shortcomings.”
- “Catching animations are also a little odd, especially when the wicketkeeper is catching edges. Instead of just taking a regulation catch, they will turn their back towards the ball and somehow dive on it but catch it nonetheless. Although funny, I don't think we would see MS Dhoni do that! :p”
- “Commentary is good, funny, and enjoyable.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with developers initially offering quality content only to later resort to subpar offerings aimed at maximizing profits.
- “They introduce a gem and then follow it up with garbage for a cash grab.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
story
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received criticism for its linearity and lack of an engaging narrative, particularly in the career mode, which many players found disappointing.
- “I was quite disappointed with the career mode, which is very linear and lacks any engaging story elements.”
- “The narrative felt shallow and uninspired, leaving me wanting more depth and character development.”
- “The story was predictable and failed to capture my interest, making it hard to stay invested in the game.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly immersive, making players feel as though they are truly present in the game world.
- “Atmospherically, it's like being there.”
- “The immersive environment truly pulls you in.”
- “Every sound and visual detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”