Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Cricket 97 offers a surprisingly deep batting and bowling system for its era, striking a fine balance between accessibility and challenge. Batters can choose from a range of stroke types, from orthodox drives to improvised sweeps, allowing players to tailor their approach based on field placement and bowler style. The timing window for shots is generous enough for newcomers yet tight enough to reward skillful play, making each inning feel dynamic and engaging.

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On the bowling side, Cricket 97 provides a roster of seam, swing, and spin options, complete with adjustable line and length settings. Players can manually set field positions or rely on the AI’s preset strategies, giving both casual and hardcore fans control over tactics. The control scheme is intuitive: a simple press-and-release mechanism determines delivery type and pace, while directional inputs fine-tune swing or spin, creating an engaging mini-game every time the ball is bowled.

Fielding mechanics blend auto-fielding with manual interventions. While the computer often takes care of routine catches and stops, the player can step in for diving saves, run-out attempts, or boundary stops. This hybrid system keeps the action flowing without becoming tedious. Coupled with match options like Test, ODI, and tournament modes, Cricket 97’s gameplay loop remains fresh, whether you’re chasing a target in a nail-biting final over or defending a slender lead over five days.

Graphics

By today’s standards, Cricket 97’s visuals feel dated, yet they capture the essence of late ’90s sports titles. Player models are blocky and animations somewhat stiff, but each stadium boasts distinct color palettes and pitch textures that help distinguish venues from packed urban grounds to sun-baked outfields. While the crowd is rendered as a static, pixelated mass, flickering banners and flags add a layer of atmosphere that complements the on-field action.

Pitch and ball physics rely heavily on clever sprite scaling and simple shading techniques. As the ball is delivered, users can track its trajectory against the grass texture, watching for subtle deviations that hint at swing or spin. Although there’s no dynamic lighting or high-resolution textures, the engineers behind Cricket 97 optimized performance so matches run smoothly on hardware of the time—ensuring consistent frame rates even in the most dramatic sledge-filled encounters.

Zoomed-in replays provide extra drama after a boundary or wicket, complete with rudimentary camera pans and slow-motion effects. These segments break the monotony of standard widescreen views and let you appreciate the finer details of a baller’s release or the bat’s sweet spot connecting with the ball. While modern cricket games have far surpassed these visuals, Cricket 97’s graphics still hold nostalgic value for fans who appreciate the foundational work done in early sports sim design.

Story

As with most sports simulations, Cricket 97 doesn’t have a traditional narrative-driven campaign, but it weaves a compelling “story” through its career and tournament modes. Players begin as a rookie cricketer, earning selection into national squads by performing well in domestic circuits. Each win advances you through the ranks, unlocking new venues and more formidable international opponents, effectively creating a player-driven arc that mirrors the ascent of a real-world star.

Dialog boxes and cut-scenes are minimal—usually limited to congratulatory messages on match victories or critical feedback after poor performances. However, the sense of progression comes from statistical tracking: batting averages, bowling strike rates, and player rankings evolve over seasons, crafting a personalized storyline of success, slump, and potential redemption. This RPG-lite approach to sports gaming keeps you invested in the career of your virtual team.

Special events, like World Cups or Ashes series, feature unique trophies and celebratory animations, lending distinct flavor to marquee tournaments. While you won’t find branching dialogue trees or voice-acted cutscenes, the game’s structure simulates the ebb and flow of a professional cricketer’s journey. For players who relish long-term goals and the thrill of building a legacy, Cricket 97’s “story” framework provides enough motivation to stay at the crease for hours on end.

Overall Experience

Cricket 97 stands as a testament to late 1990s sports simulation, offering an engrossing mix of strategy, skill, and statistical depth. Its controls strike a rare equilibrium between simplicity and nuance, making it a perfect starting point for cricket novices while still challenging seasoned veterans. The hybrid fielding system and array of match formats ensure that no two sessions feel identical, and the career progression hooks players long after the initial novelty wears off.

Though hampered by period-typical graphics and limited audio presentation—crowd noise loops and sparse commentary clips—the game’s strengths in gameplay and replayability shine through. Fans who grew up on modern cricket titles may find the visuals rudimentary, but the core mechanics laid the groundwork for many features that are standard in today’s editions. There’s an undeniable charm in facing down a hostile bowler at Lord’s, even if the polygon count is modest by contemporary standards.

For potential buyers seeking a historical perspective on cricket gaming or a lightweight, nostalgia-driven experience, Cricket 97 offers substantial value, especially given its accessibility on older hardware. While it lacks the polish and branding of official ICC licenses, its authentic feel and robust match options deliver hours of entertainment. Whether you’re reliving fond memories or discovering a piece of cricketing game history for the first time, Cricket 97 remains a noteworthy entry in the sport-simulation genre.

Retro Replay Score

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