Krafton Cricket All Stars First Impressions: Does It Stand Out From the Rest?

Krafton Cricket All Stars is the newest cricket simulation game, captivating the interests of thousands of cricket fans. The game promises to deliver realistic gameplay similar to watching live matches on the screen. I found that players can enjoy multiple modes built for both casual play and hard grind. You get to build a ‘Dream Squad’ and take on other teams.

The offline modes are more fun as they let you play with authentic teams, customise stadiums, and fully immerse yourself in the exhilarating world of cricket. This Krafton Cricket All Stars review will cover every corner of the game and give you honest feedback based on first-hand experience.

Cricket All Stars's Console-Like Graphics Hooks You Up

Let's first address the elephant in the room, the graphics, since it's the most essential element in drawing the attention of the players. When I first logged in to the game on my Oppo F23 5G with specifications of 8GB RAM powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, it ran smoothly on default settings. The UI felt smooth, but the matches were a bit clingy, probably because the game is still very new.

The in-game graphics are clear even in the lowest 'Lite' settings, which is quite impressive. The player designs and models are perfect, and the game does a good job with the batting, bowling, fielding, and basic celebration animations.

I personally found the cut-in cinematic animations to be the best due to their perfect timing. There is a scope for improvement when it comes to the stadium and crowd, even with customisation features, as many animations feel forced.

The Gameplay feels Repetitive

Honestly, the gameplay is the weakest link of Cricket All Stars at this point. It adds nothing more than what other titles provide better. It feels like Krafton served the same product as their other title, Real Cricket, with just a new branding and packaging. You build a team, play leagues, and try to win tournaments, what's new in that?

The game mechanics feel inconsistent and, at times, too detailed. Also, it is the only game where I found that there is no separate 'Run between the wickets' button. Too much stuff can be simulated and is controlled by AI. Although it's a time-saving measure, it's a red flag for grinders like me.

Limited Licenses Limit the Authentic Experience

While hovering through the various modes for writing this Krafton Cricket All Stars review, I found it has only two licensed IPL teams, the Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants. A large pool of random cricketers instantly turns off the authentic and realistic cricket experience. While the player models are fine, they need further polishing, as at times player movement feels robotic, especially during bowling.

More bowling actions and batting stances in place of filler cut-scenes could improve its gameplay. Additionally, not all the national teams are licensed, and hence, you can't play with the authentic kits as well. This drawback, however, could easily have been overlooked, had the gameplay been more engaging.

AI Commentary Kills the Match Atmosphere

Our Krafton Cricket All Stars review will be incomplete without discussing the audio features. Even for an early access phase, the game has let me down. Firstly, the commentators have AI voices, which kills the 'realistic' aspect of the game. Not only the dialogues but also the pitch and tone of the commentary fall flat on many occasions.

They don't match the intensity of the situations. I feel that incorporating real voices will improve the overall experience. The commentators have very limited dialogue, and it's repeated for the entirety of the match. This area needs a major upgrade before Krafton Cricket All Stars launches its full version.

Cricket All Stars First Impressions Leave Room for Improvements

This concludes our Krafton Cricket All Stars Review. The ratings mentioned below for Krafton Cricket All Stars reflect my personal opinion. I rated all the segments out of 10 based on my gameplay experience.

• Graphics - 8/10
• Gameplay - 5/10
• Realism - 6.5/10
• Players Models - 8/10
• Audio - 5.5/10
• Control and UI- 6/10.

Cricket All Stars shows potential but appears to be a cash grab rather than a passion project. Not only does the game's UI appear eerily similar to FC Mobile, but its gameplay gives you RC Cricket vibes. The fewer licensed IPL teams make little sense, since Krafton's Real Cricket has 6 of them already, and actually allows you to play IPL in Real Cricket

It would have been better if Krafton Cricket All Stars explored career mode, since that segment is still untouched, especially on mobile platforms. The future updates may turn this game into some sensation, but as of now, this barely makes our list of the best mobile cricket games.