Two years - that’s how long it’s been since we had a new Ashes cricket game, during which time the English national team have played nine test series, ripped through three captains and watched dumbfounded as Monty Panesar went from word-class spinner to world-class spanner. But the waiting is over, and we’ve been given an update from Codemasters, the same chaps who brought us the Brian Lara International Cricket series - which have been a little hit and miss. Let’s hope Codemasters have learned from their previous cricket game on the 360, (Brian Lara 2007) and given this game the “next gen” polish.

Gameplay:

In terms of game modes there’s everything here most cricket fans will want, the Ashes themselves being the main game mode, but outside of the Ashes there’s one day matches, 20-20s, numerous challenges to complete set by cricketing legends Sir Ian Botham and Shane Warne and a multiplayer option too.

The multiplayer was a very bad experience, as most players disconnected if they didn’t get to bat first, or soon disappeared if they started to lose –and the games that we stayed connected to were very laggy. The gameplay at first seemed great, a nice change from playing the same old football and tennis sport games, but after a very short while the boredom and repetitiveness sets in.

Often you can bowl a great ball and the CPU will slog it for six, and most of the wickets seemed to be lucky run outs. When you are batting the same can be said - no matter what kind of bowl the CPU sent our way it could easily be hit for a four or a six, even when the game is set to hard.

I encountered a very annoying bug that occurred a few times within the first 10 minutes of me playing the game: I ran a single, started to run a second but opted against it and sent my batsman back. The fielder threw the ball at the stumps but missed, and although my batsman was safely in his crease another fielder ran him out. It continued to happen - not great for a “next gen” game.

Graphics:

The graphics are a big let-down - the players seem cartoony and whilst most are recognisable against their real-life counterparts, I just can’t help thinking how much more realistic and immersive the game would be if they received a graphical overhaul similar to Fifa. The crowd graphics are horrible, and the individuals look like sticks with raisins stuck on top. Obviously the graphical side of things wouldn’t be the be all and end if the actual gameplay was solid enough to hold it all together – unfortunately, it wasn’t.

Sound:

The sound is average at best. The commentary sounds dull with Jonathan Agnew, Tony Greig and Ian Bishop sounding bored and dreary. The crowd sound so lifeless that at one point I had to check to see if I hadn’t hit the mute button on my TV remote. While this obviously isn’t a football sim, what would be wrong with putting some chants and some booing in every now and again?

Longevity:

With all the game modes this has to offer you could rack up hours of game time. The only problem is, if like me you have the attention span of a fish, after you have hit a few sixes and a couple of fours, or you have bowled a few different balls at the opponent with none of the desired effect, you will soon be looking at your games rack wondering to yourself that you have something else better to play. But I guess that if you are a hardened cricket fan you will find endless hours of enjoyment out of Ashes 2009.

Overall:

Overall the foundations are there to produce an excellent cricket game, however Codemasters will be ultimately very disappointed with this release, rushed with total lack of detail. The game still looks and plays like a late Xbox or very early 360 game, and has not been given the “next gen” polish. So overall a below average attempt, and in my opinion probably a game rushed for release in time for the Ashes. If you are in two minds on whether to buy this game just ask yourself - how many times are you going to want to play the Ashes series before you get bored?