EA Sports Rugby 2004

List Price: $19.99 Discount Price: $39.95

Features:

• Features every World Cup Rugby team, every Super 12 and European Cup team, and more
• Over 1,500 players from around the world including all the top stars
• 65+ authentic stadiums with dynamic crowds that support the home team
• New in-game audio captures actual rugby crowds for realistic sound and atmosphere
• All-new game engine with new motion capture, animations, and character models

Accessories:
PC Gamer (1-year)	Games for Windows: The Official Magazine

Customer Reviews:

Wanted to like it, but despise it [Posted on 2003-12-17]
I am a fan of rugby, an ex-player, and a current coach. I really wanted to like this game, but I despise it. There are so many reasons it is hard to know where to begin.

There is none of the flow of rugby in this game whatsoever. I purchased the game, in part because I was excited about this fall's world cup, but I was utterly disappointed. The rucks move at a snail's pace, and the breaks in the game to call lineouts and backline plays are neverending. Not only that, but set plays can only be called from a scrum, not in the loose as is done in real life. There is little control as to what happens in the rucks, and the things you can do seem to have no impact on the game other than the occasional penalty. The speed of the game is pathetic, and the graphics look as though they were produced three years ago.

If you have never played rugby before, don't get this game. It will bore you and make you never want to watch or play ther real thing.

If you have played rugby before, don't get this game. It will frustrate you and make you want to put a ball through your television monitor.

It seems like EA sports got the licensing rights but spent their entire budget doing so, leaving no resources to develop the game itself. OH, MY! This game is absolutely and utterly HORRENDOUS...

This game is so bad I feel sorry for anyone who has already bought it. I have already given it on a keep-it-as-long-as-you-like-it loan to a friend of mine, and to be honest I hope I never see it again. That is how bad this game is. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SPEND YOUR MONEY ON SOMETHING ELSE...I would suggest Winning Eleven 6, especially if you like soccer--now that is a game worth playing.

Awesome.....a must for Rugby fans. [Posted on 2004-01-29]
What can I say except that I love this game. The passing is great and the tackling and ball physics true to life. The lineouts are great and a game in itself. The graphics need work as does the commentary but overall it is a very rewarding experience. Hopefully if this version does well EA will pump a bit more cash into the next edition.

Great for Rugby fans [Posted on 2004-10-29]
I am a Rugby player and fan. this game is a must-have for true fans! It has authentic tournaments like the World Cup, Tri-Nations, and European trophy, to name a few. The player detail is bad, but that's really the only bad part. THIS IS A MUST-HAVE FOR ALL RUGBY FANS!!

Great game for Enthusiasts of Rugby [Posted on 2004-10-29]
If you are a Rugby fan or are looking for an exciting game, you have found it! The game is as realistic as the real thing. You can play one of several different tournaments, or just play a normal match. It has all the best teams, international and club level, and 67 stadiums to choose from. Though the graphics are terrible! OVERALL GOOD GAME!!!!!!!!!!!

They could do a lot better... [Posted on 2004-11-20]
I read the reviews that said the graphics were horrible, but I didn't care as long as I had a good rugby game to play in the off-season. I bought Rugby 2004 and Madden 2004 and they arrived on the same day. Talk about a huge difference. Madden's graphics are extraordinary, the level of gameplay is extensive, nearly everything about it is top notch. Rugby, even though it is the same year-edition as Madden, is atrocious by comparison. The graphics really are terrible, the gameplay is choppy and hard to get a handle on, the sound and music sucks, and it's just not very fun to play. This game seems more like Rugby 1998 compared to other EA games. I agree with the other review that said EA probably spent most of their budget on licensing rights, and little on the game itself. Even if you love rugby, save your money. It's not worth it.

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