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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Rugby 2004
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 65 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: HB Studios
Genre(s): Sports
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: September 16, 2003
Summary
Choose from 20 international, all Super 12, and other domestic teams, then take your team to victory in the World Cup, Tri nations, Super 12 Series, Domestic, Master League and Friendly matches. Strap on your boots, this is World Cup Rugby at its body-ramming, bullet-passing, try-scoring best! More than 60 Teams From Around the World: Featuring every Rugby World Cup qualifying team plus international teams that did not qualify for the tournament, and every Super 12, and European Cup team. Over 1,500 Players Ready to Scrum: All the top players in the world, from Jonah Lomu to Jonny Wilkinson. With the revamped player editor, change every element of your players including height, weight, look, and playing attributes. Make a run for the cup with a wide variety of game and tournament modes including: Training Pitch, World Cup, Tri Nations, Bledisloe Cup, Super 12, European Cup, British Lions Tour, and Master League, the flagship tournament that lets you fully trade and customize your player, team, and tournament, and play through a career-style game mode. [Electronic Arts]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Rugby 2002 Rugby 2005
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Australian Rugby Union Developer Interview GameSpot Preview Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Maxim Online
After a thorough training mode on the finer points on scrums, tries, and lineouts, one (or two players cooperatively) can take the controls and realistically injure opponents on soggy, mud-rutted pitches. Think "Madden NFL Football" minus the pads, steroids, and senile announcer, mate.
Read Full Review >IGN
Sure, the graphics aren't top-notch, and there are some missing elements, but the bottom line is that fans of rugby will look past the little things and rejoice that the game provides an exciting and mostly realistic representation of the sport.
Read Full Review >PSM Magazine
Controls are fairly snappy, the AI is competent, and the playbooks offer some variety. However, if you're not already a fan, the choppy commentary, average graphics, and lack of a useful tutorial will keep you away. [Nov 2003, p.48]
BBC Sport
Passing between players is slow and cumbersome, kick-offs are genuinely ugly, rucks are something of a lottery and to top it all off the game is far too easy.
Read Full Review >Gamestyle
A decent translation with much to enjoy (primarily the sport itself); as a videogame, despite its problems - but hampered with the ruck to individual control flaw - the game seems more unfair, and less sporting.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
If you can find the '01 Rugby on a "used" rack, I'd pick it up before this one; it doesn't accurately emulate as many aspects of the sport, but it's a better video game.
Read Full Review >Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
As with early "FIFAs", I couldn't help feeling that my players were doing a hell of a lot better when I didn't get in the way by, y'know, pressing any buttons or anything. [Oct 2003, p.126]
Game Informer
These graphics look like they missed the PS2 boat entirely. What this game lacks in fun it doesn't even make up for in novelty. [Oct 2003, p.123]
GameBiz
You can't ruin a sport game for the fans of the game but HB Studios along with EA sports really put a lot of effort into achieving this.
Read Full Review >GameZone
It's just too slow to enjoy, making it hard for even the most diligent rugby fans to get into it.
Read Full Review >Operation Sports
If you're looking for a PS2 rugby game, I'd recommend the original EA title. It must be cheaper by now, and has better gameplay. If you need a PS2 rugby game with updated rosters, there are some upcoming titles you could wait for.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
A mediocre re-creation of the sport, but it doesn't have the level of polish or any of the bells and whistles that have become standard in other EA Sports series, like "Madden" or "NBA Live."
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
We've also come to take EA's high presentation values and their sports titles' accessibility for granted, and Rugby 2004 has neither. In essence, it feels like a cynical attempt to steal cash from dazzled armchair Wilkinsons, and we're yanking a point off for that alone.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 6.8 (out of 10) based on 65 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Maximus gave it a10:
It is such a good game, i could'nt stop playing.
Griffin M. gave it a10:
This is the greatest game in existence! The huge hits! and very realistic commentators make it the best game on my list.
8 Man gave it a 5:
EA really sh*t the bed on this one. Passing is slow, no backline plays in open play, player always goes down on ball even if there is no opposition within 10 metres of him (among other blaring inaccuracies). The addition of super 12 and other teams is a nice touch, but what about all of the other extras included in the other EA titles. How about dynasty mode, national anthems for international tests, the Haka, laying the boots, throwback jerseys, or a 7's mini game. Wasted potential. Definitely not champagne rugby. The previous version is much better.
Darren M. gave it a 0:
Very poor....come on EA. What happened? Give us something better by next world cup please!!
Don Knotts gave it a 1:
Truly sad. I played my old rugby game on the PS2 and it beats the hell out of this game. The only good thing is that I only spent $10 on this pile of crap.
Jamie D. gave it a 9:
Absolutely fantastic if you were a true rugby fan you wouldnt be bitchen and moanin bout b thankful they brought it out.
D gave it a 7:
This may lack a few points and the season mode is a real load of sh.t but besides these points it's a good game and a game not to miss for true fans of the game I give it a 7/10.
