Rugby World Cup 2011 previews

This game will only and I repeat ONLY feature 20 teams in the rugby world cup. No club teams what so ever. Sure it will be fun to play but after about a couple of weeks it will just get boring, simply because you are only playing the world cup.

No Franchise mode and no create-a-player or create-a-team mode. Seeing as The All Blacks and Wallabies will NOT feature in this game, your gunna be stuck with players that dont look like the REAL players.

I loved rugby 08 but the thing that made it replayable was all the different game modes, Super Rugby, English Premiership etc. And most of all World League. None of these will feature in this game.

If you're a rugby fan and want to play as your favourite teams, I recommend you buy Rugby Challenge, made by a NZ developer called Sidhe. Http://rugbycha­llengegame.com/ Rugby Challenge features 95 teams from around the world and most of all Franchise mode with multiple seasons.

I would recommend only to hire this game whereas Rugby Challange would be a keeper.

AND THATS THE TRUTH

Get Rugby Challenge instead, this game is developed by Canadians HB Studios, and lacks the licenses secured by Rugby Challenge which is being developed by Sidhe Interactive in Wellington. Both games are looking good however but if you're pre-ordering the safe bet is Rugby Challenge which looks to be shaping up into a great game.

The screen shots for Rugby Challenge look awesome, lomu's in it (lomu's rugby was the best) itm cup and super rugby too. There maybe other comps to come, its also designed and made in nz a first for rugby games as far as I know but about time. RWC is the offical world cup game with S.A and european licencing rights. Rugby challenge has Wallaby and A.B rights and 30 odd real stadiums with a great player/team editor to iron out those licence issues, I'm taking a calculated punt (forgive pun) and going for Rugby Challenge. Oh one more thing to remember its gonna cost the NZRU to host the RWC and the big fish heads in the northern hemisphere are taking all the profits from that and RWC licenced goods (like the game) buying Rugby Challenge will help boost up the NZRU coffers and not the fish heads!!

Played the demo on XBOX live......in a word **** cant say the word. Game play and collision mechanics exactly as in 08 and game play options even more limited. A definite steer clear of for rugby fans unless Rugby Challenge is sold out.....even then best to hire it.

Since rugby challenge got the NZRU and THE ARU license that means both games are going to be annoying with changing names (hopefully its not the case) but from what i've seen rugby challenge has the edge on graphics.

Judging from online preview articles and initial screen shots, there are two things that strike me with this game. One, the visuals are a bit of a let down, and Two, the gameplay apparently is gonna be second to none. HB Studios have guaranteed this game to be the best rugby title to be ever released, setting the benchmark in both visuals and gameplay. The thing I find interesting though is that my first impressions of the game weren't very good. Upon viewing the first couple of slides I was very disappointed with the quality of the graphics despite there have being a promise of next gen quality. In saying all that though RWC 2011 could be saved if in fact the first screens were from early stage development and if the gameplay is as they promised, fast paced and fluid. After the big disappointment that was Rugby 08 I hope RWC 2011 as well as the All Blacks delivers the goods this time around.

I agree with the other comments on here. I have downloaded the demo and this game is rubbish. I am going to get Rugby Challange instead and will refuse to play this game

After playing the demo there are slight improvements in the ruck system which means more penalties occur, but otherwise this is Rugby 08 repackaged with less teams and less game modes. No update in graphics and little other gameplay updates, and with only RWC and Warm-Up tours as proper game modes it is a weak offering.

Rugby Challenge by Sidhe is looking far better and will be released around the same time, give or take a few days. Buy that as it is far more impressive, updated and detailed or just stick with Rugby 08

The EA Sports Rugby gaming franchise has somewhat stalled, the last title being the average Rugby 08 version. EA Sports obviously doesn't want anything to do with the Rugby franchise, so the studio that helped develop the EA Sports Rugby titles (HB Studios) is bringing us the game for the Rugby World Cup 2011. I expect the gameplay to be similar to the older titles but with updated rosters. One big flaw from the older titles was that the player ratings weren't accurate so I hope that they fix that issue. It would be foolish to only have the World Cup tournament in the gameplay. I hope that they are including the Super Rugby, Tri and Six Nations and European Club Competitions as that would go nicely with the Rugby World Cup mode. The last thing I hope for is that ALL the teams and players are fully licensed. It is really irritable that in sport games different brands always squabble over game licenses. The last EA Sports rugby game didn't have all the teams licensed which was a big downer, considering that there wasn't really any competition for them from other developers.

Hes not- excellent, im buying it!

Was no different to the first rugby game I played in the 1990's. WTF no All Blacks or Wallabies whose idea was that

Played the demo the other day and was pretty average wasn't to different to old rugby games, hopefully the actual game is better than the demo

Very poor game i'd rather rugby 08 on ps2 than this game played the demo cant really tell much has changed sine 08 and it sould of considering how far games have come since then. I would say dont buy this, im no even going to rent it BUY RUGBY CHALLENGE

To previous commentator Dan, It's because Sidhe have the licenses to AB's and Wallabee's, I knew HB Studio's were in trouble when they lost EA as a Publisher, they could of had the money to make this game a whole lot better if they still had EA backing them. This game is basically Rugby 08 version 1.5, LMAO. stay away at all costs.

Your best bet for this game is to try it via the Playstation Network demo's before you think about getting it. The graphics are terrible sitting somewhere between rugby 05 and 08 and is very limiting in terms of stadiums and what you can do, All in all go for Rugby challenge.

Played the Demo that just came out. I will be buying Rugby Challenge easily. This is a downgrade from Rugby 08 sadly. No improvements.

But I fear, with the games always being years apart, that they will omit the super 15 etc etc – and they shouldn't… It is a new format comp and thus the last one is already inconsequential and irrelevant… Plus its ps2 and will (it already is) unplayable with a ps3 version out… But the club stuff is awesome. Essential to many.

The All Blacks alone will mean only 30 new zealand players, that is a bit weak IMHO… But, as stated, a must-buy, if only for a game chocker with New Zealand venues – classic. And… Well.. It's rugby folks!

Short ball! Stepping!! LOL… Hope the collsion impact zone is well implemented (allowing late passing, kicking and steps)

I am hopeful for online but suspect that cheesers will ruin it somehow, as they always do… (league – lag/super fend/dummyhalf run every play, mw2 – quick scopers, hold your breath cheeser, cricket – bowl wide every ball right on the crease when there is no skill to doing this – impossible in real life.. Etc etc… I pray, PRAY, that it is skill-based and also that it awards all people quitted on with a win, after 50 seconds has elapsed of the game – to account for laggers)

This should be cracker though – hell, I liked the ps2 version, albeit that they ruined multi-player by not allowing your partner to take control of the pass receiver until they ahd caught the ball – something that was no issue on their older 2006 version… Please reverse/fix this… It's a dealbreaker… We go forwards in sequels, not backwards… (these are games not films, lol)

Hanging out for this… Go the All Blacks!!

• 4.7 stars