Rugby 08 Image
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

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  • Summary: Own the World. Power your way through a grueling six-week campaign during the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. Manage squad rotation and player injuries and track the progress of the entire tournament with a user-friendly, in-game information hub. Now you can emulate the style of yourOwn the World. Power your way through a grueling six-week campaign during the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. Manage squad rotation and player injuries and track the progress of the entire tournament with a user-friendly, in-game information hub. Now you can emulate the style of your favourite team with Authentic Defensive Formations. Adjust your defense on the fly to keep momentum on your side. Counter your opponent’s attacking style by changing your defensive strategy based on score, field position, and more. World Cup Challenge. Replay over 30 classic moments in World Cup history using modern teams and unlock exclusive World Cup highlight videos. All New Set Pieces. Take full command over every scrum and maul with enhanced push and rotation controls. Make lineout throw-ins look easy with a simplified pick-up-and-play control system for the novice player, or master the advanced mechanics to enhance your game strategy for the real pro. Use the new kicking meter to master your drop kicks and score those key penalties and converts. New Truck and Zoom camera angles. With an unprecedented level of customised camera angles, zero in on all the action on the field by zooming in on rucks and scrums. Have a clear angle of the uprights as you slot that game-winning convert. Play as your national side in its official World Cup kit as you go for the ultimate glory on the world stage for the Webb Ellis Cup. Scoring in single player action becomes more difficult as the action moves closer to the try line. Watch as the CPU tightens up defensively, forcing you to create more strategic ways to score. [Electronic Arts UK] Expand
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 21
  2. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. It’s a game of strategy and decision-making and, probably more than anything else, teamwork. EA Sports has pulled it off nicely and made a great game that that is both serious and fun at the same time. Very highly recommended.
  2. 82
    The various control options allow you to naturally acquire advanced techniques once you’ve mastered the basics. I still have a few niggling problems with the controls and the ever insufferable moments of omnipresent AI. But at the very least, Rugby 2008 will certainly tide you over until the World Cup.
  3. Ultimately, you don’t need to be well-schooled in the sport to get a kick out of Rugby 08 - and if you’re not, the rollicking good time you’ll have will pique your interest. Sporting all the best players in the world, plenty of depth, and the chance to smash some helmet-less faces into the mud, it’s a title that we can really sink our teeth into.
  4. Rugby 08 is enjoyable enough to warrant a rental by those curious about the sport, but only serious followers of the sport will find it holding their attention for longer.
  5. The gameplay itself holds up strong throughout any mode, despite the delayed controls and sudden difficulty spike, and playing with a friend is usually good fun. In the end, though, we had hoped to see a little more in Rugby 08 that would distinguish it from 06; something concrete that goes beyond cosmetic upgrades.
  6. Rugby 08 isn't much of a step-up from the previous game in the franchise, but it still offers pick-up-and-play fun for both novices and rugby fanatics.
  7. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    50
    For all its easy-going accessibility, it doesn't play anything like a realistic game of rugby, so those looking for authenticity should kick this one into touch. [Sept 2007, p.106]

See all 21 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 17
  2. Negative: 3 out of 17
  1. Jan 8, 2013
    10
    the best rugby game of all time hands down its better than any current gen game as great as jonah lomu ps1 game and that game is amazingthe best rugby game of all time hands down its better than any current gen game as great as jonah lomu ps1 game and that game is amazing aswell hopefully they make a rugby 14 Expand
  2. [Anonymous]
    Jul 25, 2007
    10
    Awesome Game!! Best one yet.
  3. Nov 20, 2022
    10
    This game is easily the best Rugby game there is to date. With the publishing of EA Sports this game got the financial backing it needed. ThisThis game is easily the best Rugby game there is to date. With the publishing of EA Sports this game got the financial backing it needed. This game is super fun with hard hits from tackles and tactical kicking you will find joy quickly. Cool sound track and sound design in general as the crowd gets so loud you can bearly hear the commentary, which makes for a realistic game. All round great game play and licensed teams/stadiums, what more can you ask. Rugby is a difficult sport to capture in a video game but EA and their team got it right hear. If only we can see EA publish another Rugby game in the Future. 10/10 for me. Played on PlayStation 2 and PC. Expand
  4. SiasS.
    Jul 31, 2007
    8
    Little flaws here and there does not keep this from being very entertaining, if you love rugby get it. Will sell well in serious rugby Little flaws here and there does not keep this from being very entertaining, if you love rugby get it. Will sell well in serious rugby playing countries. Get this because there wont be one next year. Expand
  5. KeirenM.
    Aug 31, 2007
    8
    The graphics are good and controls but why havent they still made it playable online fifa games do so why not rugby games its not fair.
  6. JamesW.
    Jul 31, 2007
    7
    Good game, but very little changed from previous edition, little faults in gameplay still apparent, would expect more from this sequel.
  7. DavidJ.
    Jul 31, 2007
    1
    Terrible game, it's Rugby 06 but with weird team selections.

See all 17 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

26
13
#13 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2007
34
#34 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2007