One of the joys of watching live rugby is the mixing up of supporters in the stands, an experience lost on the football terraces. You can even expect a tongue-lashing from the referee for penalties, which may well earn you a stretch in the sin bin. Nevertheless, as you become more practised, the game is made hugely enjoyable by new features such as realistic set plays in both attack and defence and a mechanism for controlling rucks, mauls and scrums more effectively. Despite the significantly improved controls compared with earlier versions of EA Rugby, the game can descend into the inevitable button-bashing, which can be clumsy and unresponsive. Rugby 08 hasn't quite bridged this gap and your players' interaction with the ball never quite seems in your control. The latest version of PES, to be released in October, promises to take this even further by 'learning' your style of play, adapting to prevent defensive errors and building effective counter attacks against you, meaning a greater challenge and increasing the longevity of the game.
Rugby 08 pc button allocation pro#
As an alternative to the then still dominant Fifa Football and the emerging Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), Lomu built up a cult virtual rugby fan base that has since been disappointed by a lack of quality follow-up games.įootball games have developed much faster than their rugby counterparts, with new complex physics engines to replicate independent movement of the players as separate entities to the ball and sophisticated artificial intelligence to provide tougher opponents. The evolution of virtual rugby games has been slow and frustrating ever since Jonah Lomu Rugby arrived in 2001, where the archaic graphics were overlookable because of the fluid and challenging gameplay that enabled textbook link-up moves and thumping tackles.
Released later this month on PC and PlayStation 2, EA have secured an impressive spread of licences for Rugby 08, from the World Cup to the Six Nations, Tri Nations and even the English Premiership, guaranteeing plenty of challenges in this highly anticipated release. With the Rugby World Cup looming and England's hopes of retaining it looking decidedly unconvincing, here's a chance to intervene, and give them a leg up (or crush them, depending on your persuasion).