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Happiness
I've never actually PLAYED the other rugby video games so I can't compare it to others.

I definately recommend this to anyone who plays/has played rugby or is well acquainted with the game. Two guys I played with didn't like it because even though they did the tutorial, they didn't understand what exactly they were doing. Like at all. So I ended up having to explain the rules and gameplay.

Back to the game: I thoroughly enjoyed it, but prefer two player better rather than just me because the computer is pretty hard even when you set it on easy.

So if you like sports games and like rugby, here ya go!

The graphics are decent as well as load time. You can adjust camra angles (yay!). It made me remember when I used to play for real, so it gets nostalgia points too. Breakdown on the ratings 4 stars because you have to know what you're doing first (like any sports game, but there are always newbies) and 5 overall, just cuz I like it. :-)

TOTALMENTE ADICTIVO!!!
Ok,soy un fanatico del Rugby, mas nunca se me habia ocurrido jugar en una consola... solo puedo decir que es espectacular, te podes colgar horas jugando, tienen a todos los jugadores y hubiese sido mas real si los rostros eran mas parecidos, aunque de los mas conocidos los hay... en fin un muy buen juego... Recomendado...

Probably more fun than the real World Cup!
Rugby 08 for PS2 is a solid, though low-fi rugger game. I wouldn't use it as a simulator, but if you're a lonely North American rugby fan who wants to have some relatively cheap fun, this would be where you'd get it.

The game apparently uses the same graphics engine as Rugby 06 and therefore looks and feels old, but the controls are simple and remarkably responsive for an EA Sports game, with virtually every phase of rugby union reasonably accounted for. A nice change from 06 is that drop goals have been retooled- I found them to be virtually impossible in the previous version of the game.

In the few matches I played through, I found things to flow pretty much like a real rugger match except for a much lower frequency of penalties. However, I have yet to experiment with the highest difficulty settings, so things may change there.

Aside from some presentation issues and the lack of real graphical development- even by EA standards- the bottom line is that this is an enjoyable video game. Be warned though that you need to have a basic understanding of rugby union to enjoy this. Don't expect to learn the nuances of the sport by playing it- find a decent real match or two to watch, then dig in. As far as Rugby 06 owners go, this IS worth buying because it tweaks a few of the more annoying aspects of that title and is definately worth the price. Just, shh, don't tell EA you bought it- it doesn't really exist.

This game features the following sides:

"International": every 2007 IRB World Cup side (Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Namibia, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, USA and Wales) plus Russia, Spain, and Uruguay.

"Super 14": all fourteen sides from the top southern hemisphere club league, featuring teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

"European": every Guinness (English) Premiership side except for recently promoted Leeds Carnegie (relegated side Northampton Saints are still present); Biarritz, Bourgoin, Castres, Cleremont, Stade Francais (known as "Paris"), Perpignon & Toulouse from France's Top 14; nine of the ten Magners (Celtic) League sides- for some reason Connacht is missing; and finally Treviso & Rugby Calvisano (known in the game as "Brescia") from Italy's Super 10.

"Representative": Australia A, Barbarians, Jr All Blacks, & Pacific Isles.

Rugby rules
If your Rugby fan you'll love this game it represents all the teams that played in the 2007 World Cup and of course the champs South Africa!! Go bokkies!

a lot of fun, though replayability isn't all that high
this game is great right off the bat...with the world cup starting this weekend, its an exciting time and this game definitely has gotten me pumped for the cup. besides that it has all your favorite league teams from around the world, so it isnt limited to just current international teams. i havent fully tried the development mode(like madden's franchise), but when i have more time i will explore more fully this game, which so far has been a great purchase. recommended