All Blacks Rugby Challenge

Rugby Challenge is set to be the most comprehensive digital representation of the sport of Rugby ever made. With 98 different teams, a host of different competitions, a 13 year long franchise mode, commentary by New Zealand’s own Grant Nesbit and Justin Marshall, customisable and creatable players/teams/com­petitions, and up to 4v4 online multiplayer, Rugby Challenge should keep any rugby fan busy for a long time.

Rugby Challenge is being developed by Sidhe, the makers of the old Rugby League games, however game play and graphics have been improved greatly for their first foray into union.

Not all the international teams are licensed, however other than the South African national and Super teams, this will have no real negative result other than an unofficial national jersey, as all the other players are licensed through their club competitions.

Support a New Zealand made rugby game and give yourself a treat. Buy Rugby Challenge.

This game is good, but leaves me wanting more. I bought this game because it was summer and I was missing my rugby fix. It takes a while to get used to the controls, and the defense aspect of the game is really frustrating. Its so hard to defend! I like going through and playing all the different sides and chapionships, but really, there are no differences in the gameplay from team to team – apart from the skins. This makes it get super boring after you've played it a bit. Still if you're a rugby geek you will like this.

Sure, it's the first Rugby game to come out in four years – but the updated squads are the only thing advanced about it. Yes, it has brilliant graphics, but the gameplay is atrocious. Lineouts are probably the hardest thing to do, along with clearance kicking (due to the opposition offside line being so close to you, you never have time).

But what really annoys me is the huge jump from Medium to Hard. Medium is simple for me, if you learn to get around the difficulties the game engine presents you with. However, Hard results in the following things; The opposition goalkicker never misses no matter where he is, you drop about 1/10 passes, you easily loose the ball in a ruck due to your players not running in support, and the opposition just offloads and offloads until they score 100m down the field.

It took me two whole days of trying to win a game on Hard. I finally did, 27–21, missing four kicks from in front, as you only get half a second to press the button before the marker passes and you miss.

I only gave it a two-star rating as it is playable on Medium, and even I think that's being a bit generous…

What a hassle, havn't managed to open game yet as you have to download and become a member of something called STEAM. Have done all that several times over the last 3 days and it still will not open. Think this game will be going back if I don't have any success over the next week with it–I'll persevere a little longer..--