AFL Live - A Brief Review (PS3 Edition)

Howdy Folks, here is what we have a very short and non-too-detailed review of the new AFL Game that's been out since yesterday on the PS3. (Or Friday if you were lucky enough to live in Western Australia)

First of all, the last AFL game that was released was all the way back in 2007. The last AFL game I probably played was 2004. In comparison those games were crap. The best AFL games ever made were AFL 98 and 99. Thanks to a little bit of help from EA Sports.

 

However AFL live makes a pretty good claim at taking the crown from those EA released games. Last night I spent about 4 hours playing, after a bloody long day at work, followed by another 3.5 hours of Tafe. So I was pretty tried, but excited about having a crack at this game.

Here's a little list of pros and cons that I have thought about after playing the game so far. 

Pros:

* An AFL game for the next gen console, at last.

* Gameplay is excellent. I think its going to always be a challenging game. Previous AFL games were pretty simple to master (even on the harder difficulties) after a couple of matches, I get the feeling that whilst you may be able to dominate some games easily, it won't always be the case. 

* Momentum is huge! Just like in real life. We had a few games last night where our team was cruising 3-4 goals in front before the opposition scored a quick goal  and suddnely got on a roll and started to dominate. We still squeezed home by 4 points in the end, with some good defense. But that situation is very true to life.

Cons

* Graphics. Aren't terrible, aren't awesome. For a game made on a shoestring budget its probably a little unfair to criticise the graphics of this game. However at the same time its an improvement over the older games, where all the plays looked pretty much the same, the only difference was their number on the back of the jersey (obviousness)

* Commentary TERRIBLE! As excepted, if there is one thing that has never improved since AFL '98 its the commentary. Don't get me wrong, commentary in sports games can get stale over time, (NBA 2k11 fans know of the "spurt-ability is what I call it" line that the special comments guy uses pretty much at the start of every fourth period.) AFL live gets stale after about 30 minutes of play.

* Lack of a Career mode, VFL ect. The Wii version has both of these, and it baffles me why the consoles (not sure on the PC version) miss out.  There is a promise that next year's game (if it gets made) will have career mode across the board, I hope so.

* A few stupid little glitches that aren't game destroying or anything, just niggling little issues. For instance a smothered kick can go about 50 meters in the opposite direction (not very realistic)

At the end of the day, I'm just happy to have an AFL Game on the PS3. One that isn't infact complete rubbish. It'll never be as fluid as say FIFA, but its getting there, and a pretty accurate representation of the real thing (except my first game saw North Melbourne absoultley demolish Collingwood (hardly realistic)

Can't wait to play it some more! 

Back to Etihad Round 2 - Collingwood Vs North Melbourne

Okay this is going to be short and sweet, didn't exactly take notes at this match. In reality, after about 25 minutes of play, there was not a lot to talk about anyway.

Its been a big day already, and its not yet 2:10. We have just finished a stop over at eastland shopping center, on route to the footy via Werribee. why Werribee you ask? AFL Live is on the PS3 is being demoed there from 10am till 2pm, and we htave to be at the footy by 2:10 for kickoff. To be honest, I'm not really sure which I'm more excited about, the chance of seeing my Pies finally beat both my mates side, "Norf" or the game. (I think it was the game)

No a nice decent 45 minute trip, probably closer to an hour actually from Ringwood to Werribee, all for a good 20 minute hit out at EB games at Werribee's big shopping center. Fun times. One game I played with three randoms, we were Essendon, they were Gold Coast, Nathan Ablett dominated, the next game my two mates got in on the act it was Pies Vs "Norf". Norf won, convincingly, it's going to take a little while longer to master this AFL game than any previous one, it seems. With part one of the AFL day done, we then set sail for Etihad Stadium, which wasn't a bad drive in, consider that one of the lanes on the west gate was down (which I think has been the case for the 6 years I have driven over it!) 

The start was even, North had a few advances forward, but to no avail. The pies dominated possession by applying early pressure, it seems the hunger in the 2011 magpies was even greater than that of 2010. Maybe it was men against boys, which it most certainly was, North Melbourne have been rebuilding since about 2007, and haven't had much success since they were smashed by Port Adelaide by 10+ goals in a Preliminary final, Port then were smashed by 100+ in the most lob sided grand final since Lleyton Hewitt wiped the floor vs a young David Nalbandian. Before anyone knows it, the pies are clear by 3 goals and it looks like they have about 10 extra players on the field, man as fan this is great to watch. The umpiring is pretty ordinary during the start, for both sides. A couple of frees against north in their attacking area that probably weren't there, North are unable to convert from close in front, missing shots in the run, for set shots and just about any way possible. The Pies are up 5.5 to 1.4 at quarter time.

The second quarter is when you can just about declare the game over. North kick a terrible 1.5. Collingwood capitalise when it matters, only outscoring north with 4.3 but the goal from turnovers count is rising. 

The second half was all Collingwood, a bit of a demolition job in fact. 12.9 to 5.5 in the last two quarters, assured the Magpies of comfortable win. 

Votes for this week.

1. Cloke - 5 goals STRAIGHT! okay a few that went out of bounds, but still.
2. Pendlebury 39 touches, 1 goal. Silky smooth.
3. Swan 40 touches, ball magnet. leather poisoning whatever stupid term you'd like to use, this guy was everywhere.

My mates could only sit and watch, and say what I used to say about Geelong when they destroyed us in a Preliminary final in 2009, "Geez they are good" No offense, but the Pies haven't exactly ran into any world beaters yet. Carlton this Friday night should be an interesting one, the blue are up and coming, still maybe missing a big forward, but you never know in Collingwood V Carlton games. I've only seen two wins in probably 15 years of going to Pies V Blues games, and both of those came last year. Usually we'd either get smashed, or as it happend in 2004, 25 points up and 3 quarter time, Leon Davis boots the first goal of the final term, 31 points clear, and then chillax, and LOST! I remember countless beltings against those Blues in the 90's

Which is why it will be only so sweet to unveil the flag against the old enemy this Friday night!