Rugby 06 (Xbox)

It was easy - once I'd learnt the complex controls, I was running through supposedly better teams with ease. The graphics were acceptable, the range of competition verging on woeful. But Rugby 06 is a massive evolution. Yes, it still had the vast array of controls, which were surprisingly simple to remember and use, but the requirements for differing tactics meant that, even on Club (easy), and playing a much lower rated team, I had to sweat out a result. The graphics have also a much better polish, the tutorials are again concise and clear, but the commentry, as with every EA Sport game, gets rapidly old and repetitive.

But what I like the most is that, unlike the ancient Jonah Lumo Rugby on the original PS, there is no frantic button bashing, resulting in the wearing away of fingers to the 2nd knuckle. Just smooth, intuitive gameplay that taxes the tactical mind. With lots of varying competitions to maintain interest.


Rugby 06, a game that will keep you playing for months!   March 16, 2006
T. Norman (Dorchester, U.K.)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Gone are the days of EA sports Rugby 04 and Rugby 05! Rugby 06 is the closest that you can get to being on the pitch yourself!
in previous versions, the computer AI was woeful and matches could be won with ease by any team on the hardest difficulty. Rugby 06 has corrected this. now you must use a whole range of tactics to get across the opposition game line, such as offensive kicking for touch, mauls, side steps, (and even the occasional foul). I have had this game for three weeks and found that it's not easy. Even on club level (easy), never mind pro (Normal)
The new additions to this game of the quick line out and offload passing really do make a big differance to the way that the game shapes up.
This game will not be out of my Xbox for a long time


Its a little better   February 27, 2006
2 out of 7 found this review helpful

Its a good game, not great but good. The new quick throws, penailties and hight tackles are great and open up new tactics for you in the game.
However i think the player ratings are a little off as some great internationals are given some of the lowest ratings i've seen. The so called 'impact players' are quite dodgey to.


Waste of space   February 16, 2006
3 out of 13 found this review helpful

I was waiting for this game for a very, very long time. after being promised that all the flaws of EA Rugby '05 were corrected in the '06 version I was so excited on the dya of arrival. At first I thought this game was the dogs nuts as their are things added such as: Offloads in the tackle, Quick lineouts, Quick penalties, High tackles and licensed Guinness premiership teams. all of the above are true and work extremly well, except for the Licensed teams.

There is no point to the season as there is no transfer window or anything, so if you chose a pretty crap team then you are stuck with that team with no oppurtunity to buy/sell new players. For some reason they also kept the awful idea that there should be a mode where you start as a real team with non-existant characters.

All in all this game is just EA Rugby '06 with some new skill and graphics, no real improvement to the game modes at all.


The Game Rugby Fans Have Been Waiting For.....   February 16, 2006
A R (Liverpool, England)
19 out of 21 found this review helpful

At last, the run of mediocre rugby games has come to an end. Significant progress was made with Rugby 05 but it still fell short of what it could and should have been.

Rugby 06 is different from other rugby games in that the computer actually makes mistakes i.e. knock on's and penalties. Quick line-outs and penalties are a stroke of genious and add realism, depth and playability to the game. In this way EA have avoided falling into the trap of making a fractious, stop-start game.

The game plays like those who designed it are familiar with rugby union which is something that cannot be said about Rugby Challenge 2006, for example. Players are responsive and the AI intelligent. The many stadia included in the game are detailed and true-to-life.

The in-depth career mode is simply the icing on the cake and will add longevity to this great game.

The game does have several shortcomings but not enough to detract from the five star rating. Ian Robertson's commentary is woeful and expressionless. I would also like to see EA getting the licence for the Celtic League teams.

All in all, this really is the Rugby game fans have been waiting for. Best £30 quid I've ever spent!