Rugby 2004

 PC
User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 19
  3. Negative: 8 out of 19
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  1. IrishSurfer
    Oct 2, 2003
    2
    I had huge expectations for this game before I bought it. As a big rugby fan, I also bought EA Rugby 2001. Although that game was buggy & frustrating and came with an incomplete, error-filled manual, it did have a few positive aspects (a good passing game, for example) that made the purchase worthwhile. So when I opened the box for the 2004 version, I was expecting big improvements: I had huge expectations for this game before I bought it. As a big rugby fan, I also bought EA Rugby 2001. Although that game was buggy & frustrating and came with an incomplete, error-filled manual, it did have a few positive aspects (a good passing game, for example) that made the purchase worthwhile. So when I opened the box for the 2004 version, I was expecting big improvements: easy-to-control players, a proper system for controlling scrums, rucks, mauls & lineouts and a good manual. I was VERY wrong. I never thought it was possible, but this game is probably far worse than the 2001 version. In fact, it may be one of the worst games I have ever purchased. So where can I start? This is just a few issues I've had with this game. - Controlling rucks and mauls. This appears to be completely random. There is no description in the so-called manual about committing players to a ruck/maul when you have possession, simply because it appears that you can't ? it's all done automatically. - Selecting players when defending is a complete mess. The manual describes how to bind and remove players when defending, but on the PC it has very little effect. But then again, when you don't have the ball, you're normally too busy figuring out what player you're controlling at any particular time to even care. - It's runs slow and jerky ? my machine is 2.0ghz, 256MB RAM with a TNT2 Ultra Gamer Video Card. Note that I can play FIFA 2003 at near-maximum setting and it runs like a dream. - It's very buggy ? for example, I've had to restart numerous games because all the graphics disappear (except for the radar at the bottom) and the screen turns green after the opposition kicked the ball into touch. However, despite the vanishing graphics, I can still hear the... ...Terrible Commentary. It's very badly stitched together and repetitive - in fact the 2001 commentary was FAR better. Plus, I've found that the sound disappears for 10-second periods every so often. - Killing/Grabbing Ball when defending a ruck - Apparently you can press Left/Right Alt to Kill/Grab a ball when defending. However, if you use a joypad, forget it because EA don't seem to have bothered mapping these keys to my Gravis controller. - The mouse is not supported for in-game menus. - Although the graphics display some good player animations, they're still very dated in quality. Any good points? Well, passing in open play is still good (though not as good as the 2001 game), and scrums and lineouts have improved. That's about it. Everything else about the game reeks of bad coding and a hurried release date (the World Cup starts on October 10). The old "World Cup Rugby" for the MegaDrive and "Jonah Lomu Rugby" for the PC proved that good Rugby simulations can be made. EA Rugby 2004, on the other hand, is frustrating to play, doesn't "flow" like rugby should and is terribly designed. I would say that it's nothing more than an embarrassment to EA. … Expand
  2. MarkP.
    Nov 21, 2003
    3
    This is a disapointment compared to MADDEN 2004 it is shocking... the graphics are bad the reaction time of the players is even worse and it is so bad i am a rugby player and sidesteppin in real life did not look anything like it did in the game.
  3. Andrew
    Nov 16, 2003
    1
    First u can now download the original game only the demo second it doesn't even have the controls for it plz send me an email of the controls and i will rate it 10.
  4. RobW.
    Jan 18, 2005
    2
    This is an insult to the great game of rugby. I'm just glad I bought it very, very, very cheaply, and that I can offload it to the ignorant and gullible.

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Most Discussed PC Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 9
  3. Negative: 3 out of 9
  1. Computer Games Magazine
    40
    Attention to detail doesn't go far when core gameplay is this scattered. You could make a good rugby game for the PC, but Rugby 2004 isn't it. [Mar 2004, p.83]
  2. BBC Sport
    65
    Passing between players is slow and cumbersome, kick-offs are genuinely ugly, rucks are something of a lottery and to top it all off the game is far too easy.
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  3. PC Gamer
    68
    A dreadful-looking but surprisingly playable simulation of a truly complex game. [Feb 2004, p.84]
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