We compare the latest rugby video games
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Action from EA Rugby 06 |
EA SPORTS Rugby 06 & Rugby Challenge 2006
Which game should you buy?
Extras
EA Rugby 06: Apart from a few menu options and player creation modes, there doesn’t seem to be too much to unlock. Although they allow you to unlock the British Lions team, surely this should be a basic feature of the game.
Rugby Challenge 2006: They have made an effort and have lots of fun unlockable features such as crazy balls and special effects. Although, some of the tasks needing to be accomplished to do them are pretty tough. We like some of the bizarre options here though, such as old time rugby: a grainy black and white mode wheere only converted tries really count.
Flaws
EA Rugby 06: What is it with rugby games and their inability to get the time keeping in rugby right? This game seems to correctly blow up for full time when the ball goes out for a lineout, yet it plays on if there is a knock on and a scrum is called.
Elsewhere, tap penalties still result in the scrum half getting flattened before he can do anything and second rows always get binned for collapsing the scrums.
Rugby Challenge 2006: Missing an attempt at a drop goal which flies over the dead ball line often sees the kicking team awarded a scrum. Strange.
Conclusion
Serious video game fans who know their rugby will still be disappointed that the rugby genre of games still doesn’t have its own Madden or Pro Evolution Soccer. Although there are some major steps in the right direction with EA’s offload system and options for quick lineouts and penalties.
Overall, we recommend EA SPORTS Rugby 06 as the better game if you are only planning to buy one. But Rugby Challenge has plenty of plus points. Ultimately its biggest failing is the difficulty of forcing a turnover: no rugby games should allow you to take the ball through as many phases as you like. But it would be good for the video gaming world if Rugby Challenge became a franchise. EA needs the regular competition.
The East Terrace would love to hear your feedback on the new rugby games. Please email us at webmaster@theeastterrace.com.