The 24 Seven Lax Game Testing Team Reviews College Lacrosse 2011. Wastes Entire Day at Work. (Click to read the review from the source.)
Lax fans have been harping for a lacrosse video game since Sega Genesis introduced the world to NHL 94 and FIFA International Soccer in 1995. The game play and graphics of those games could easily have been converted from those sports to lacrosse, both the outdoor and indoor versions. I recall spending many a night hooked up with several buddies to the Sega 4-way controller and playing both of these games for hours on end. I also recall realizing that if I didn’t put down the controller, get off of the couch and get a job there was little chance of ever meeting girls. Needless to say I got my act together and found a nice girl. I sold that couch and got a job as well. And now that I have several kids there’s no time for video games. Wow, full-circle complete. So, how can I blog about a game I can’t access?
No worries, bring in the 24 Seven Lax Game Testing Team. Meet Jeffery Butts and Tony Montana, the foremost authorities on all things gaming related. You wouldn’t believe what we had to do at 24 Seven Lax to get these guys on our team, not to mention getting them fired up to play a lax game. Tony usually won’t play any games in which shooting law enforcement isn’t involved and Mr. Butts likes all of the titles of his games to begin with “Gran”, “Final”, or “Call of”. Oh, have I not mentioned that Mr. Butts and Mr. Montana do not play lacrosse? Never have and probably never will? They don’t understand the rules either. So why am I using these guys and spending a small fortune?
The 24 Seven Lax Game Team after 14 hours of testing and no Red Bull. So far, every review of Crosse Studio’s new indie game release, “College Lacrosse 2011″ has been written by lacrosse players. That’s no good. They’re biased reviews for the most part. In order for a larger game producer such as EA Sports to release a college lacrosse game on the level of Madden 2011 or NHL 2011 the game must appeal to a broader market. Lets face it, the majority of the video game market these days is comprised of non-lacrosse players. Therefore, the game must appeal to the average Joe, or Jeff and yes, even Tony Montana. Without a large market of interested buyers, no company will mass produce a high level lax video game. Now that you understand my madness, lets get to their reviews.
Lets start with Jeff Butts
Coming from someone who does not play Lacrosse the game is very entertaining. I liken it to playing an EA sports game without the fancy production. There are no bells and whistles, like managing everything from the ground up, but for me that’s just fine. Jumping into the game was easy and the action starts immediately. Pick your team and uniform and that’s it.
Face-offs were too easy to win. Always winning just wasn’t that fun (yeah right, did I just say that?). I learned early you must cradle the ball running down the field or you will lose it. The controls are very good. I was expecting them to be slow and non responsive, but was very surprised how well they actually worked. Within 2 minutes I pretty much had the game down, short of knowing any actual rules. I’m assuming the circle around the goal is not meant to be stepped in? Pretty sure I got a penalty for that, but maybe it was something else. It’s a shame this probably won’t be picked up by a big production house. The game is really fun and easy to play.
I would recommend it to anyone that likes sports games.
Apparently all players must pass through TSA screening before entering the field
Now Tony Montana
Considering I do not know anything about Lacrosse except that you beat the guy carrying the ball, College Lacrosse 2011 is a very entertaining game. It does seem, on a basic level, to have everything necessary to get the feel that you are playing in a real lacrosse game. The game is very responsive to controls. So much in fact, that I never lost a face off against the computer. Passing does seem easy mainly because a white line shows who the ball will travel towards. This does keep the action alive while running down the field versus the ball spending most of the time on the ground due to errant passes. Sprinting does work but seems to be a bit of a joke. Yes, you must cradle the ball while running down the field but does it really need to look like you have a broom handle up your a** while you’re doing it? Didn’t think so. When taking shots the angles are pretty precise. It is easy to place the ball well beyond your target if you shoot off angle.
On defense, the controls are about the same. Switching players may take a few tries to get the player you want but this is typical of most on-the-fly type sports games. Checks and pokes work fine except when you are behind another player. It seems that 100% of the time if you try any defensive tactics while you are behind the offensive player it will result in a penalty. While I am sure this is true most of the time, I would prefer that occasionally a legal defensive move could be made while chasing an offensive player from behind.
The game does remind me of the late 90s EA sports titles . The game is easy enough for someone with little or no gaming skill or lacrosse skill to be entertained and play with their friends for hours.
Recommend: Yes
Shocker. Honestly, I thought they’d hate it. Their review makes me want to go purchase an Xbox and give it a try. But then again I haven’t owned a gaming system since Super Nintendo! I’m so out of touch with technology these days, it’s quite sad. I still sport one of those old Zach Morris from “Saved By the Bell” cell phones. I should be calling in air strikes with this thing.
Hello, is this 24 Seven Lax? Yes, Md did get hosed on selection Sunday!
Anyway check out College Lacrosse 2011 on Xbox Live and let me know what you think. I’ll be sure to forward all dissenting comments to Mr. Butts and Mr. Montana.
