Rugby 2004 - PS2

Rugby has always struggled to make its presence felt in video games, despite releases featuring the game's most popular players. Electronic Arts is one of the few developers that has taken the time and effort to produce a series of respectable Rugby titles. If any of you already own a rugby game, it’s most likely one of EA’s, and following in tradition with the company’s sports updates, players can now look forward to Rugby 2004 for PlayStation 2.

First of all, rugby games are notoriously difficult to develop, and like its predecessors, Rugby 2004 features a very complex game engine. But fortunately this attribute isn’t passed down to the player, and game controls are surprisingly simple thanks to a new and intuitive interface, making tackles, running, scrums and the like enjoyable, not frustrating.

But most EA gamers don’t buy updates just for enhanced gameplay, they want to see better graphics and updated season statistics, and Rugby 2004 offers just that. It offers 20 international teams, all of the Super teams and even some domestic teams, including the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks. With updated statistics, up and coming star players and a choice of 65 venues including Twickenham, Murrayfield and Ellis Park, Rugby 2004 is unarguably the most extensive rugby game in its league.

There’s newly recorded commentary, some spectacular motion-captured animations and some very nice second-generation visuals that include weather effects and pitch effects. EA hasn’t disappointed with its latest virtual incarnation of this rough and tumble sport. more