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Best Rugby Game...yet

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: July 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I am an American Rugby player and have bought all of the previous EA Rugby games as they have become available. I thought that EA had abandoned their notions of an American rugby video game, but the 08 was a nice surprise. The updated gameplay: realistic turnovers, setpieces improvements, kicking, and catching at pace; the updated challenge mode adds difficulty and challenges for the advanced and newbie players; together these really make Rugby 08 an attempt from EA to make not just a game that might sell a few copies, but a game that they are really trying to perfect. Rugby 08 is a must have for any gamer, regardless of understanding and knowledge of the game. This game is fun. What else could anyone want?

similar to 06

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: August 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If you have 06, there isn't any need to purchase this game. You will not find this version more enjoyable. The commentary is exactly the same. The roster is horrible, it seems like they did not put in much effort to make sure the players and teams are correct. It seems the rosters are two years old. For example, the top young winger, Turner, from the Waratahs and Australian-U19 is rated only 49. Most of the Tongan players are white.
In addition, the new drop goal kick system is extremely difficult to execute, its actually easier to score a try. Its 'Authentic Defensive Formations' is basically standard, wide, narrow and kick. I don't seem whats so special about it, its like playing Madden and choosing between nickel and 4-3. There are nothing special about the set piece systems. There is no enhanced scrum controls and the advanced control for line-outs is utterly pointless. Its difficult to see the entire field with the camera angels, so you do have to rely on the map. But the map disappears at breakdown and then reappears after a few seconds, so its not helpful when planning your offense if you want to keep the pace up. You have to rely on your feel, which can be wrong. For example, I had a fast break with a flanker on the left. It seemed the defense was very tight. Since I had almost the whole field to the right, I wanted to to keep up the pace so that the defense don't regroup and take it wide as fast as possible to cause overlaps. But I realized too late that my inside center disappeared and my flyhalf and outside center were too far apart. The pass went to nobody. But I was right that my fullback came up and I only had two opponents defending my outside center, fullback and wing.
Its World Cup tournament is fun at the start but it gets boring after two tries, it uses the same groups as the real tournament and you don't have the option to randomize the groups. You always play against the same teams. For the world league, you still have to start with three teams that you absolutely don't care anything about. oh another thing is don't press the score try button in the in-goal area when there are opponents next to you. Its the same button as off-load and you will pass the ball instead of scoring a try.

a lot of fun, though replayability isn't all that high

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: September 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

this game is great right off the bat...with the world cup starting this weekend, its an exciting time and this game definitely has gotten me pumped for the cup. besides that it has all your favorite league teams from around the world, so it isnt limited to just current international teams. i havent fully tried the development mode(like madden's franchise), but when i have more time i will explore more fully this game, which so far has been a great purchase. recommended

Rugby 08 = GREAT!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User

New and improved viewing angles, more teams, and better game play than Rugby 06. It was well worth the wait.

Probably more fun than the real World Cup!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: December 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Rugby 08 for PS2 is a solid, though low-fi rugger game. I wouldn't use it as a simulator, but if you're a lonely North American rugby fan who wants to have some relatively cheap fun, this would be where you'd get it.

The game apparently uses the same graphics engine as Rugby 06 and therefore looks and feels old, but the controls are simple and remarkably responsive for an EA Sports game, with virtually every phase of rugby union reasonably accounted for. A nice change from 06 is that drop goals have been retooled- I found them to be virtually impossible in the previous version of the game.

In the few matches I played through, I found things to flow pretty much like a real rugger match except for a much lower frequency of penalties. However, I have yet to experiment with the highest difficulty settings, so things may change there.

Aside from some presentation issues and the lack of real graphical development- even by EA standards- the bottom line is that this is an enjoyable video game. Be warned though that you need to have a basic understanding of rugby union to enjoy this. Don't expect to learn the nuances of the sport by playing it- find a decent real match or two to watch, then dig in. As far as Rugby 06 owners go, this IS worth buying because it tweaks a few of the more annoying aspects of that title and is definately worth the price. Just, shh, don't tell EA you bought it- it doesn't really exist.

This game features the following sides:

"International": every 2007 IRB World Cup side (Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Namibia, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, USA and Wales) plus Russia, Spain, and Uruguay.

"Super 14": all fourteen sides from the top southern hemisphere club league, featuring teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

"European": every Guinness (English) Premiership side except for recently promoted Leeds Carnegie (relegated side Northampton Saints are still present); Biarritz, Bourgoin, Castres, Cleremont, Stade Francais (known as "Paris"), Perpignon & Toulouse from France's Top 14; nine of the ten Magners (Celtic) League sides- for some reason Connacht is missing; and finally Treviso & Rugby Calvisano (known in the game as "Brescia") from Italy's Super 10.

"Representative": Australia A, Barbarians, Jr All Blacks, & Pacific Isles.

Rugby rules

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If your Rugby fan you'll love this game it represents all the teams that played in the 2007 World Cup and of course the champs South Africa!! Go bokkies!

TOTALMENTE ADICTIVO!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 14, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Ok,soy un fanatico del Rugby, mas nunca se me habia ocurrido jugar en una consola... solo puedo decir que es espectacular, te podes colgar horas jugando, tienen a todos los jugadores y hubiese sido mas real si los rostros eran mas parecidos, aunque de los mas conocidos los hay... en fin un muy buen juego... Recomendado...

Happiness

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 14, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I've never actually PLAYED the other rugby video games so I can't compare it to others.

I definately recommend this to anyone who plays/has played rugby or is well acquainted with the game. Two guys I played with didn't like it because even though they did the tutorial, they didn't understand what exactly they were doing. Like at all. So I ended up having to explain the rules and gameplay.

Back to the game: I thoroughly enjoyed it, but prefer two player better rather than just me because the computer is pretty hard even when you set it on easy.

So if you like sports games and like rugby, here ya go!

The graphics are decent as well as load time. You can adjust camra angles (yay!). It made me remember when I used to play for real, so it gets nostalgia points too. Breakdown on the ratings 4 stars because you have to know what you're doing first (like any sports game, but there are always newbies) and 5 overall, just cuz I like it. :-)

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