Rugby World Cup 2011

I've never written a review of a product I have purchased before but I feel so strongly about this game that I feel I have to comment.

Having been a big fan of Rugby 08 I pre-ordered this latest effort as soon as I heard about it. I received it today and was immediately dissapointed. The game is no different to Rugby 08 apart from the graphics, particularly player likenesses, are almost inferior, there are no other competitions other than the RWC, friendlies and pre-tournament tours, you can't select your international squad from a pool of eligible players so have to make do with what your given by the game producers (no Manu Tuilagi for those of an English disposition), and there are fewer licenced teams (notable omissions are New Zealand and Austalia as well as several lower tier nations so no official kits or players).

The physics of the game are unbelievably unrealistic, with players seemingly being able to run at incredible speeds yet maintain the agility and cornering ability of a house fly! In addition, poor AI causes players out wide in the defensive line to suddenly dart infield towards the last breakdown when the opposition scrum half passes the ball. Combined, these issues make defence almost impossible and really very frustrating. Defensive and rucking tactics are difficult to alter quickly in game while the ability of the first defending player to arrive at a newly formed ruck to simply pick up the ball and scoot off with it, while a gaggle of attacking forwards inches from him simply stand there and watch, is ridiculous.

There are also a couple of technical issues - when it comes to set piece moves, unless you initiate the move as soon as the backline are ready, you are penalised for taking too long and making the ball unplayable. On top of this, if the opposition kick out on the full from a kick off, a lineout is automatically awarded rather than a choice of a retake, a scrum or a lineout on halfway.

As well as the competitions you can take part in a place kick shootout. In my 20 odd years of watching rugby, I have only ever seen one place kick/drop goal shootout in a competitive game so why they felt the need to include this is anyone's guess. A total waste of everyone's time!

I've been waiting for a decent rugby game to come out for almost 4 years. Unfortunately it looks like I'll be waiting for some time yet. I'm massively disappointed that this has fallen so short of expectations. I strongly urge you to save your cash if you're considering buying this game. The gamers of the rugby community deserves a game of high quality to enjoy. What a massive shame that it has not been provided in this instance.

Having read other people's comments and having gone through the disappointment 4 years ago when we all realized that Rugby 2008 was little more than a roster-update of Rugby 2006 I wasn't really expecting much from this edition.

However I was pleasantly surprised by the gameplay itself. I'll concede that it's pathetic that you release a game called Rugby World Cup but then don't even licence the number one rugby side in the world who also happen to be this year's hosts. I'm also not too fond of the fact that your only option is basically to replay the world cup time and again without being able to play other tournaments with teams other than those competing for this year's world cup.

For me the appeal of Rugby 2006 and 2008 has always been - and for this edition is - the controls and the rugby match itself. I'm glad they kept the same controls, and I'm glad they've updated the AI to not only make teams behave more realistically, but also to make it harder on the most difficult level.

Gameplay feels like it has been slowed down, which turns out to be a good thing, as you now have more opportunities to spot a gap in defensive lines and to break through that gap. Rugby 2008 had some glitches that really made 2-player matches frustrating - I'm referring specifically to the ability of players to change direction by 180 degrees and yet not lose a yard of pace in the process, and thus allowing them to successfully charge down opposing flyhalves 99% of times. Mercifully this has been fixed.

I liked the graphics - I know a lot of reviewers have stated their dissatisfaction at this, but I've been playing Rugby 08 the past few weeks in anticipation of the RWC and this game, and there is a marked difference in the quality of graphics.

All in all this game for me is an improvement over Rugby 08 in terms of gameplay and graphics. Where Rugby 08 was merely a Rugby 06 patch, this edition feels like a new game with elements of Rugby 08.

I would definitely recommend it, even to someone who has played Rugby 06/08 and doesn't feel that Rugby World Cup might be enough of an improvement.

I'd been waiting AGES for a rugby game to appear on the XBOX, and boy what a disappointment when this arrived!. While it boasts up to date teams (except NZ and Australia) and good commentary. The main problems are the graphics and the gameplay. The so-called player likenesses are laughable, with the graphics looking like a PS2 game. What's most infuriating though is the gameplay. Hampered by retarted AI (watching all 15 of the opposing team in a huddle chase after my ball carrier made me laugh), this game could have been so much more. Save your money and wait for Rugby Challenge instead