In terms of AFL games, apart from old games in the series, there are no other options and there is no competition. So, if a fan of the sport wants it in video game form, this is it. I said it twenty-years ago about AFL 99, and nothing has changed. It's a difficult sport to recreate as a video game and still, to this day, it hasn't been done well. In some areas the developers have made progress from previous AFL games, but all in all, there isn't a lot.
There are three big issues. The main problem with this is the marking contests. At times I time the pressing of the button correctly, and seem to be in the correct position but do not spoil or mark the ball. Sometimes as a quick kick from the AI can go off screen, there isn't enough time to see the circles required to be involved in the contest.
Connected to the previous issue is the camera. When you mark the ball, to be able to properly see downfield and aim for a teammate, the camera needs to be from behind the player, not the side. It ends up just being a long kick game which isn't truthful to how the sport is played. The sport has become more of a tightly congested, running game and in many ways that isn't reflected here.
The third is the problem with knowing if you have the ball in congested situations. When there are many players around the ball it's difficult to know if you or the opposition have the ball so I end up just tapping the tackle/tap button because on the harder difficulties the game is punishing if they break away from a stoppage.
Other minor problems include the wind and controls. It seems like every few games you have a tornado hurling around the stadium. I could accept it if you played your home games in Tasmania, but not when you're playing in Perth and at the MCG. The wind has way too much impact on the ball when shooting for goal. The controls are also more complicated than they need to be. To spoil the ball you need to hold L2, hit triangle and because you need to be a near perfect position, often hold R1 to sprint, plus the direction buttons. There is no reason why spoil couldn't just be one button. The other major control issue is that square is handball along with tap the ball along the ground. These need to be separate because often you think you have the ball only for it to tap.
Gameplay 3/5
Graphics 3/5
Sound 3.5/5
Difficulty 4/5
Originality 3/5
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