Rugby 2005

 Xbox
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
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  1. TeamXbox
    73
    Some very fun moments arise in the various tournament offerings. Hits in the game make "Madden" look like its players are playing patty cake with each other. Controls could have been handled a bit better but what we have is acceptable.
  2. PGNx Media
    73
    The commentary, though accurate, is repetitive and doesn't induce you to pay attention. It just isn't very interesting to hear the same lines over and over again.
  3. Official Xbox Magazine
    72
    In a market of precisely one, this package lacks a number of bells and whistles (decent multiplayer most of all), but it had me pursuing a repeat of England's World Cup victory for many hours. [Apr 2005, p.88]
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  5. GameSpot
    71
    While the game serves as only an adequate primer to this tough-guy sport, it's a fairly approachable and fun game, and it's one that does a decent job of conveying the finer aspects of the sport it portrays.
  6. GamePro
    70
    Defense is all about bone-jarring tackles, and after every one there's a mass shoving match (called "the ruck") for possession of the ball.
  7. GameSpy
    70
    Rugby lovers will love how far this franchise has come since last year's version.
  8. G4 TV
    60
    There is a bit of difficulty with the camera, however--that being the lack of a universally useful view of the pitch. The default side camera is restrictive when it comes to all that punting, and more than once a bit of critical action took place out of view. That's fine for art films, but frustrating here.

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Best Xbox Game of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. AlexK.
    Sep 7, 2005
    9
    Great for ne rugby fan, and to TotalGames.net turn up the difficulty and u find some of the smartest rugby played ever!
  2. GordyM.
    Mar 23, 2005
    7
    Game does have its faults and when I 1st played it I thought it was average. However in time I picked up a few more moves and are enjoying it Game does have its faults and when I 1st played it I thought it was average. However in time I picked up a few more moves and are enjoying it a lot more. For a rugger fan like myself, we have been waiting 4 a decent footy game like this since Lomu's Rugby on PS1. A big improvement on rugby 2004.… Full Review »
  3. JonnyW.
    Mar 22, 2005
    2
    Just not good enough. It looks good and the teams are all there, but overall it's an infuriating and disappointing game. The camera Just not good enough. It looks good and the teams are all there, but overall it's an infuriating and disappointing game. The camera system is poor - rucks and scrums occur behind graphics on screen so you can't see what is happening. Play on the far side is too small to see what's happening. All the alternative camera options are useless - in broadcast you can't see the opposition when attacking from your own half, and I passed to players off screen who I couldn't see!! The AI is terrible - opposition players lined up in my backline and tackled me and weren't called offside!?! Terrible. And the music in the Australasian version is horrible, tired, new Aussie rock. Ghastly. The Xbox controller doesn't help - not suited at all to this game.… Full Review »
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