Rugby 20

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
49

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 8
  3. Negative: 2 out of 8
  1. PlayStation Country
    Feb 2, 2020
    60
    Rugby 20 is a playable effort completely let down by the fact, in over two years of development, very little has changed. Game modes remain slim, rigid and it hamstrings a player who wants to devote more time to it. It's more enjoyable to play and carving together tries has a satisfaction to it, but so much of Rugby 20 feels like a shallow retread.
  2. Push Square
    Feb 10, 2020
    50
    To be fair, the title does a good job of simulating the territorial battles that occur in real-world rugby matches, but it’s generally clumsy and there’s no real consistency to the way players move. The ball physics can be unpredictable, and the overall experience is glitchy. But it’s strangely moreish in a way that all arcade sports games can be, and its bargain bin adaptation of FIFA Ultimate Team deserves credit for eschewing microtransactions – even if its unlockable players are pooled from the depths of Ireland’s lower leagues.
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Feb 9, 2020
    50
    Overall this is unimpressive, yet oddly playable through all its flaws. Still, the agonising wait for a formidable rugby game on PS4 goes on. Anyone for tennis? [Issue#172, p.97]
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  5. Screen Rant
    Jan 27, 2020
    50
    The game is far from perfect, and although it gets the basics right, there are a fair few issues. Some of these problems will hopefully be addressed with patches, such as the stilted animations, but there are other elements that leave Rugby 20 feeling like a missed opportunity.
  6. Gameblog.fr
    Jan 27, 2020
    50
    Rugby 20 promised great technical improvements, the addition of new tactical options and a good batch of official licenses. A game plan respected by Eko Software whose limited means do not allow this title to compete with the best sports simulations. But given that he remains the ONLY one to fight on the field, and that he stands rather well on his legs with his farandole of diagrams and his accessible gameplay, he could satisfy lovers of the oval ball. On the condition of not being too greedy on the technical level.
  7. Jeuxvideo.com
    Jan 25, 2020
    50
    Quotation forthcoming.
  8. Critical Hit
    Feb 10, 2020
    40
    If you desperately need a new Rugby game to fill the void, you might still consider picking Rugby 20 up, but even then you might be better off going back to Rugby Challenge and playing that with some of the new community squads.
  9. TheSixthAxis
    Jan 23, 2020
    40
    Rugby 20 is like a Northern Hemisphere team's World Cup campaign. It's full of big ideas and good intentions, but a shock defeat here and an expected loss to the South's big boys there, and it soon comes off the rails. There's some fun to be had, but it's often at the expense of the game, not because of it.

User Reviews

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User Score
3.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 9 out of 15
  1. realityrealized
    Feb 7, 2020
    4
    Great potential, horrific execution not worthy of the full game price tag. I had high hopes for this game, even after watching lacklusterGreat potential, horrific execution not worthy of the full game price tag. I had high hopes for this game, even after watching lackluster gameplay footage before the game came out. I purchased the game being hopeful that it would still be a fun rugby experience on PS4. I should have trusted my gut instinct. The game is barely playable. They actually got a lot of things right about this game but it has the general feel of a game still in production stages. It's unfortunate that they didn't spend more time fixing the game before releasing it to the market as they did get some things right. I enjoyed the kicking in this game. The rucks are a little annoying but passable. Scrums are a silly immersion breaking minigame. Tackles are quite good although it's difficult to make ground as tackles are almost always successful. To summarize the flaws of this game I'll just write a short list.
    Frequent game breaking glitches,
    Awful commentary (really bad trust me),
    General dead feeling to the game.

    The game is playable (barely). I can't recommend buying it at full price unless they put a lot of work into fixing this game with updates which I don't see happening. The developers knew the game was not good enough for the market and released it anyway. So we're still left waiting for a decent rugby game on PS4. I give it a 4/10 because as awful as the game is I'm still playing it occasionally because there is no other playable rugby game on PS4. I want to like the game but it's just too poorly executed to not be left feeling frustrated.    … Full Review »
  2. AltReviewUK
    Jan 30, 2020
    5
    A valiant attempt but falling way short once again for the EKO/BigBen duo. Yes the sport is a hard one to translate to the video game formatA valiant attempt but falling way short once again for the EKO/BigBen duo. Yes the sport is a hard one to translate to the video game format but it doesn't excuse the amount of bugs, glitches and unrealistic gameplay. From imaginary characters in presentation sequences to unrealistic amounts of 'dangerous tackle' penalties it's just a bit of a mess, but an enjoyable one at times.

    Check my Alternative Review on YouTube for an impressions video.    … Full Review »
  3. Vibby_Xo
    Mar 9, 2021
    4
    Lots of potential and a perfectly passable experience but really let down by a basket load of technical issues and last last gen graphics.Lots of potential and a perfectly passable experience but really let down by a basket load of technical issues and last last gen graphics. Despite its flaws I’ve had a good time with it (40 hours and counting) but I don’t think I can justify rating it any higher due to so many fundamental issues with the game. Due to lack of competition if you are really itching for a rugby video game this is really all there is, and it will provide a the gameplay you are looking for if you are able to work pass all the flaws.

    Despite everything it has the really good foundation for a great rugby game, if only it had more money and time put in and they were about to work out all the kinks but sadly I don’t know if this game has enough support to justify the investment.

    I’ll start with the good points, as I said it satisfies that itch of a rugby game and definitely has it moments, building your own club of dream played is good fun if not flawed and being a being able to avenge the teams I supports loses virtual makes me feel better. I would put the flaws in three categories; what needs to be fixed for a sequel/update, what should be fixed and what would be nice to be fixed/added.


    What needs to be fixed:

    Technical issues and input issues. I can’t recall how many times I’ve tried to get the ball out of the ruck only for nothing to happen when I press X and then the ball is turned over, or suddenly not being able to pass the ball or when I try and tackle and my player just watches them pass as they do nothing. There are also issues when the ball goes between the posts for a conversion and it registers as a miss, or when I get a penalty and kick it to touch only for the other team to get the throw in.

    The way you switch players is very awkward and I find when I am tackling with a player I’m not controlling the player I was controlling is just running off into the distance while I am dealing with the ruck/breakdown. Seems like an easy fix that it’ll auto swap to the plays involved in the action.

    The AI is also braindead, the players I’m not controlling seem to always be offside conceding penalties. Or the opposing team will just run or kick the ball out of touch for no reason. The AI also can swap from going into the tackle with one player to tacking the player I just passed to in a second which feels cheap and unrealistic.

    Difficulty is an issue too, have to play on the hardest difficulty to avoid winning every line out/scrum/ruck with ease and even in the hardest difficulty it feels the only reason it is more difficult to score a century is the above technical issues. What should be fixed:

    The commentary is terrible and repetitive, very awkward and choppy. They constantly are getting things wrong and more often than not are declaring the wrong team to have won the match.

    Having alternate kits for the teams and being able to choose before the match. So many times I was playing games with the kits of both teams looking identical and sometimes even the ref matched too. Nearly made these matches unplayable.

    Opening the packs is very anticlimactic and most of the awards are a bit pointless if it was more refined and polished to maybe mostly players it would be better.


    What would be nice to be fixed:

    Graphics are very very dated and none of the players even remotely resemble who they should. Graphics aren’t too big a deal if gameplay is strong and as a smaller studio with less money maybe for for a more stylised and less realistic art style so the game looks better without being too taxing on the engine. (Stylised to a degree not saying going completely cartoony)


    Overall I am torn as I feel bad giving it such a low rating but I feel all the criticism is justified. I really really hope they can get another try (no pun intended) at a sequel and fix the most prominent issues. It feels that rugby games are about 10 years behind football games at the moment so I hope someone will stick with them and get them to the higher quality they deserve.    … Full Review »
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