Lacrosse is a sport similar to our very own Australian Rules football; loved by those that play and follow it, but mostly unknown on a global scale. America is considered the motherland of lacrosse, with the sport proving popular among college students and a couple of professional leagues. Although no longer playing, Casey Powell is considered one of lacrosse’s biggest stars, so much so that publisher Crosse Studios has decided to name yet another game after the retired superstar. Developed by Melbourne’s very own Big Ant Studios, Casey Powell Lacrosse 2018 (CPL18) aims to improve on 2016’s iteration and give lacrosse fans something to cheer about. So does Big Ant deliver a game worth chugging a celebratory beer for, frat-party style? Or is it another obscure sports title destined for the bargain bin?
Scoring goals is what it’s all about
For those wanting a quick training session in lacrosse, it’s a four-quarter match played on a rectangular field with ten players a side, some with restrictions on where they can venture on the field (think netball). Each player uses a lacrosse stick (similar to an ice hockey stick but with a net on the end) to carry, catch, pass and shoot the ball. As a contact sport, players can check one another from the front as well as hit each other on the stick or gloves to try and win and protect the ball. If the ball goes out of play from a misplaced pass, the opposing team gets the ball, however if it goes out from a shot (which is common in the game) then the team with the closest player gets the ball.
From a video game point of view, it’s a relatively simple enough sport to translate into a game. There are very few complex mechanics that make the gameplay difficult, unlike AFL, where the array of varying factors (such as marking, ball physics, etc.) make it quite challenging for a team with limited resources, and it goes without saying that CPL18 was made with a limited budget.
For the most part the gameplay is fairly competent. Players are responsive enough, the AI when defending provide a challenge and passing and shooting requires more accuracy than just hitting the mapped button. In my first few games I was running around like a headless chook, getting towelled up with no real idea what I was doing or what the rules were. But then the boys started to click and I went from zero to hero in a matter of games, carrying the lacrosse hopes and dreams of the city of Milwaukee on my shoulders. Although I began to score with ease, my defence was still as leaky as a sieve. As a rookie I played mostly on Junior difficulty (third of five difficulties) with a decent success rate. I did brave the game’s highest All American difficulty, however I was blown out of the water within the first quarter and had to accept that lacrosse was just not my sport.
Man on man
As it’s not a licenced product, both the college and professional teams are made up, players and all (except Mr Powell). I do have to give props to the people who were tasked to come up with team names though. We have some real pearlers like New Jersey Orange & Blacks, Syracuse Citrus, Delaware Game Hens and Greenville Twelve Peers. Although it is frustrating to play a sports primary video game adaptation without proper licensing, the community works together to reproduce authentic teams and players.
Like any sports game, there’s a variety of game modes available. From your stock standard exhibition match and tournaments to career modes and online play, there are options for lacrosse casuals and enthusiasts. I decided to test my mettle to see if I had what it took to work my way from the ground up. Career Mode lets you either forge a career as a player or coach, I chose the former. From there you get to create your player, edit their appearance and stats and select a team worthy of your presence. Despite my impressive stints in the forward line, the bulk of my game time was spent warming the pine. Thankfully you can choose to play as either your own player or the entire team, meaning you don’t have to spend the majority of your time watching from the sidelines.
CPL18 features a decent amount of creation tools. Players can create their own teams, leagues, players, coaches, referees, logos, stadiums and even their own equipment. Players can upload their creations and share it with the wider community.
Meet Galahad Galahad. The hottest prospect in all the kingdom
The biggest downfall is the game’s production values. The visuals are what you would expect, decent enough but with player models and stadiums looking rather generic (it looks better with HDR enabled). However, perhaps the worst element is the commentary, which is often plain wrong. More often than not the commentator will say it’s a free pass to the wrong team and occasionally will get final scores wrong. It’s not a deal breaker but it can create confusion, especially if you are trying to learn the ropes. Also the soundtrack sounds like it was made in Garageband, or worse Audacity, with songs sounding like a mesh of loops.
Final Thoughts
CPL18 is a decent enough service to the sport of lacrosse. Thankfully it’s a sport that is simple enough to recreate digitally without the need for a massive budget. Despite its lack of licensing, Australian-based Big Ant Studios has created a game that should keep lacrosse diehards satisfied until the next iteration. Although, the $75 AUD entry fee may deter the masses.
Reviewed on Xbox One X | Review code supplied by publisher
- Big Ant
- Crosse Studios
- PS4 / Xbox One / PC
- April 16, 2018
