‘Cricket 22’ video game review: Intended for a specific audience

Cricket 22 released in the beginning of December across consoles – the PSes, the PC, the Xboxes, and soon in the Nintendo Switch. This is Big Ant’s latest cricket-based game, featuring The Ashes, multiple championships, and representing men’s and women’s games.

I am not the best person to review this game. In fact, I am ill-equipped to review virtually any video game based off a mainstream sport for the following reasons. Firstly, I don’t follow sports enough to have opinions.

Secondly, FIFA has always been my most disliked game. However, I was quite enthused to try Cricket 22. It reminded me of the last cricket game I played – Cricket 2004 by EA sports. Perhaps, it reminded me a little too much of it. It was as if no time had passed.  

Cricket 22 is intended for a specific audience. This audience consists of fans of the sports, who like it and understand it enough to play a video game based on it. This is because the game subtly gatekeeps any potential appreciators of the sport. I would not have minded an elaborate, textual tutorial of the game.

I wanted more information on fielding positions, and why certain bowling actions would suit certain batspeople. I specifically wanted the difference between offside and legside repeated constantly in my ear, so that I would never forget it.

I felt like I started the career mode with an insufficient understanding of how the game was played. It was like I lucked my way through kindergarten (a tutorial that truly stirred my stumps) and was suddenly faced with competing against fifth graders.

The best compliment I can give Cricket 22 is that I liked it better than any FIFA game I have played so far. I agree, FIFA may be amazing with its accuracy in simulating the real game, and undoubtedly has better graphics.

But Cricket’s gameplay is a little less chaotic on screen, especially while batting. I also give it additional points for featuring Indian regional teams (although, I believe FIFA 22 is bringing in ISL). Although I haven’t played the online version of Cricket 19, Cricket 22’s online event seems to have been received better. I rate the game a bowling strike rate of 10, because I simply couldn’t hit a boundary.