Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9782 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2005-03-18
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Platform: PlayStation2

Manufacturer's Description
EA SPORTS Rugby 2005 incorporates all the major Rugby teams, players, and tournaments, including the Tri-Nations, Super 12 and many more authentic and prestigious events from the world of Rugby. The game incorporates a completely upgraded graphical engine with individually differentiated players, realistic motion-captured player animations, dramatic lighting and cameras, and stadiums that are accurate with details such as crowd reactions, songs, and chants. EA SPORTS Rugby 2005 plays realistically with on-the-fly play-calling, right analog stick controls for fakes and crushing hits and improved kicking control. The game also features a 'Rugby 101' training mode outlining the rules, controls, and tactics of the sport through videos and interactive challenges.

Customer Reviews

a major improvement, but one year more needed.
Anyone who hated rugby 2004, i don't blame you, it sucked. Rugby 2005 however, outclasses it in every way. The player graphics are much improved, the commentary no longer sounds like a broken record player, and The range of competitions are far more impressive as well.
However, the area where this product really makes up for its woeful predecessors is in the gameplay, especially in the opponent AI. I don't know about you, but i find defending against opponents that never fling it wide, call a play or ever kick, rather dull. On rugby 2005, they do all of this, and you have to actually play rugby as it should be played in order to break them down. You have to change tactics, call plays, time your passes just right, and kick for touch when you're in trouble, instead of starting an impossible counter attack. If you do it right, a 'momentum gauge' at the top of the screen swings in your favour. This is a neat little invention. In short, its harder to find holes in the programming which (while it usually makes for a lot of tries) ultimately makes the game boring. You have to play the long game here, and sometimes win by a last minute drop goal, instead of a dull 50-0 romp. Also, the hits are good, the rucks no longer depend on just blind luck, and the handoffs, sidesteps etc. can result in champagne rugby if you use them right.
However, before this product really flies, a little more is needed. The background graphics are still very poor, and the player graphics (while better) are still not smooth enough. The rucks (while improved) still need work, and the camera angles are not quite right. When using side angle, its much harder to see the gaps in the line, and using classic zooms out too far.

However, EA sports are finally almost there, now they just need to finish it off for next year.

One more year to get a truly great rugby game...
This is such a good game in so many areas, but it just needs those few extra tweaks to make it truly great. Graphics are lacking slightly if compared to equivalent football games such as Pro Evolution Soccer 4, for example, but the gameplay more than makes up for that. Ultimately, it is very playable, frustrating and addictive, all at once. Lineouts are suitably competitive, scrums can be won or lost based on timing, rucking and mauling are fairly straightforward once you get the basics, although the odd turnover is still possible. Penalty kicking is not so difficult to master, but kicking for touch in open play takes a bit more time and effort to get right and be warned, there always seems to be a winger waiting to catch the ball if you don't make the perfect touch.

The main criticisms centre around a not-quite-there AI, particularly in defence, where I'm still struggling to perfect the strategy. However, the best policy seems to be to take your finger off the X "diving tackle" button and rely on using your analog stick and L2 button to get a player close enough to automatically make a bone-crunching tackle, which, incidentally, is tremendously satisfying. In 2 player mode, it's immensely enjoyable to collapse scrums or put hands into a ruck, just to annoy your superior opponent. Sometimes the ref doesn't even notice the offence, which is a nice touch and a great way of really rubbing salt into the wound.

Another area that needs improving is the ease with which you can stray offside (it's just too easy to do if there is an unexpected turnover, even with the option to display the game line switched on), especially when the opposition never seem to offend to the same extent. Also, as another reviewer mentioned, there really need to be more penalties conceded by the opposition if you've been attacking over several phases and gaining ground all the time.

There are some nice special moves, like hand-offs, shoulder charges, sidesteps and you can execute garryowens, grubber kicks, etc., but the reality is that your best bet is probably to keep recycling the ball to the backs from rucks, until you are close enough to either drop kick, pass to your most prolific try scorer for a weaving run though the defence, or have your scrum half pick up from the ruck from 5 metres out and sneak through for a try under the posts.

Finally, what about some better celebrations in the event of a major tournament victory? I took Ireland to Grand Slam glory in the 6 Nations, with a series of impressive performances, and the commentators didn't even mention this feat, referrring merely to the fact that Ireland had won the championship. My players were naturally pleased, but didn't exactly do a lap of honour...

Good effort but not quite there yet
This is a much better game than rugby 2004, it looks better and plays better. The the gameplay is more realistic and matches don't seem to be as one sided as in 2004. However, I think the graphics could be improved further especially the stadium/crowd shots and the overhead camera angle - which I have to play on as I can't see what's going on from the side angle - is a bit too far from the action. I'm also quite disappointed that an element of 'button bashing' has been reintroduced in the rucks (when will EA Sports realise this stuff is for kids) surely there must be a better way of getting players to bind in the rucks than having to bash away on the console. EA needs to rethink this aspect of the game and lets have all the Zurich Premiership teams in future editions. A completely new comentary would be nice too instead of the same script but with different commentators as found on 2005. Good effort and a big improvement on the last one but needs more work.