Rugby World Cup 2011 Review

Rugby is a sport that you do not hear about much in the United States. Most people have probably never seen a game in their life. I count myself as one of them. Likewise, they probably have never played a rugby video game, either. Ditto. 505 Games hopes to change that with the release of Rugby World Cup 2011, the first rugby game released on PS3 and Xbox 360 in North America.

Not knowing the first thing about rugby, I went into this game expecting something similar to what I have always heard: a sport that is similar to football only more aggressive and without the pads. That is a pretty apt way of putting it, although I would say that it is more like the outcome of a one-night stand between American football and soccer.

I did not find it to be a very welcoming experience for a game that is undoubtedly an introduction to the sport for a lot of Americans. A nice tutorial to show you the ins-and-outs of the sport would have been much appreciated. Rugby veterans will find this gripe to be inconsequential, but as a first impression for the sport, the developers could have done a better job.

Once you figure out how the game works a bit better the experience becomes somewhat enjoyable. It is actually quite easy to score off of the AI. I can only imagine what it would be like if playing as someone more familiar with rugby. Personally, I don’t mind the fact that the computer isn’t overpowering since it allowed me to compete. It is a lot more difficult, though, if you try to play co-op with another player against the computer.

The game only features five modes to choose from: Tournament, International Test, Warm-Up Tour, Place-Kick Shootout and Online Play. It is pretty disappointing that you cannot even create your own character and play through a season like pretty much any other sports game would allow you to do. Instead you will find yourself replaying the Tournament mode or hopping online to take on other players.

Rugby World Cup 2011 is a disappointingly shallow experience overall. As the first rugby title on next-gen consoles, you would expect it to act as an ambassador for the sport. Instead you get left guessing what to do and playing five measly game modes, only two of which are worth the time. I found it to be entertaining as a novelty, but wouldn’t find myself playing it regularly. Fans of the sport might feel differently, although with little depth, they also may feel pretty disappointed. Without any competition on the market, Rugby World Cup 2011 wins by default.