Full disclosure: I’m a football fan. Granted I’m a fan of pretty much any sport you can find, stick it on the TV and give me a beer and I’ll be perfectly content to sit there all day telling the ref/umpire/commentator that they don’t know what they are doing and that I know best.

But I’m still more of a football fan and only really get into Rugby when the World Cup rolls around so when I first got Rugby World Cup 2015 I was a bit wary as I don’t know the ins and outs of the rules and was worried I’d get lost in the technical detail of what is a pretty complex sport.

I needn’t have worried.

Gameplay

RWC_2015_1-1024x575

Rugby WC 15 is probably the most simplistic game I’ve played in many years; the left stick makes your little man run, the X button makes him super-man dive at someone and then when in a ruck/maul/scrum all you need to do is push the right stick when they tell you to and when the gauge is green you hit R2 and then use the left stick to run again.

Then repeat ad nauseam.

In my first few games I was getting smashed as I wasn’t sure how the controls all worked and the tutorial, which is seriously just death by powerpoint, tried to make the game seem pretty complex. But once you realise they can’t block your diving superman tackles and that they never get ruled dangerous or illegal the game really does become pretty easy.

I changed the difficulty from easy to hard and the only difference is that you now won’t win every scrum, but it doesn’t matter since your diving tackles often push the opponent back 5-10m so just keep doing that until you get the ball and then score.

Modes

RWC_2015_2-1024x577

As expected in a sports game there are a ton of modes to sink your time into… oh no wait that’s a filthy lie. There is the world cup mode where you take your team to the Webb Ellis trophy, there is a friendly match mode and then there is a practice mode.

Practice mode was my favourite as you can choose to practice taking penalties, scrums, rucks or mauls. The best though was free roam mode which removed everyone from the field and let you run around by yourself, doing nothing. No team mates to practice moves with, nothing. Just you and the ball; I guess they could call it the meditation mode?

RWC 2015 (6)

The world cup mode is obvious, you pick a team and then try get through the pool and into the knock out rounds and then win. And then the friendly mode is when you and your friend would likely take each other on over a beer, and then get bored.

There is no online multiplayer mode of any sort.

The tutorial mode is simply 6 or 7 screenshots of what you can do in the game. It’s so laughably bad; No set moves for you to practice or perfect, because once again you can just superman tackle everyone, all the time.

Graphics

RWC_2015_3-1024x575

World Cup 15 looks terrible. The graphics reminded me of the great PlayStation 2 days and the movements of the players are stiff and lumbering. Somehow, despite this, I got screen stutter and tearing which is a feat in itself when you think of how shoddy the graphics are and the power of the PS4 they were running on.

Realism, immersion, anything?

The stadiums were all generic, the players were a mix of retired players and made up names and I honestly didn’t see much difference between playing with South Africa, New Zealand or Namibia.

RWC 2015 (5)

99% of all passes go direct to someone – rarely who you were aiming at but someone on your team at least. The kicking mechanic is janky as hell where at times it simply decides not to work at all while other times the guy will kick the ball, but it could just as easily go behind you as in front.

I kept getting called for offsides because the AI players weren’t returned behind the ball after I was tackled, at other times they all just stood around looking for the ball while waiting for the clock to tick down.

RWC 2015 (3)

But honestly the thing that completely ruined the game for me is the advantage rule. Say I was offside but the opposing team got the ball and started for the tri line. They would have the advantage so if I got the ball off them now it would be pulled back for a penalty.

Nothing wrong with that – however that advantage needs to be removed at some point but when I played it was only removed once, a full 20 game minutes after the original foul was committed.

Now as I said I’m not Rugby expert but I’m pretty sure the opposing team can’t have an advantage on their side for 20 minutes of a half just because my idiot AI player wasn’t moved back behind the ball.

RWC 2015 (1)

I think what makes this game really bad though is that it is simply a quick skin on an already terrible game that was released last year. In the 8 months since their last title got savaged I can’t see that any effort was put into the game to make it better or to resolve some of those issues. That, to me just smacks of arrogance and a lackadaisical attitude that fans will buy it just because it has the label.

I hope the sales prove them wrong, this title deserves to tank.

 

Last Updated: September 7, 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015
Rugby World Cup 15 is bad, really bad. If it was being sold for peanuts it could be forgiven, maybe. But it's a full retail game, and that is shameful. The game is absolutely not worth your time and if you are a fan of Rugby then either wait until something better comes along or go buy the Rugby 15 game that was released last year and is just as terrible as this one, but at half the price.
2.0
Rugby World Cup 2015 was reviewed on PlayStation 4

87 Comments

  1. WitWolfy

    September 7, 2015 at 13:33

    Wasn’t expecting this to be on the same caliber as FIFA games anyways. No wonder this franchise cant get a break. All of them are rushed quick buck cash ins.

    Reply

  2. Spathi

    September 7, 2015 at 13:34

    So back to Jono Lomu Rugby it seems…

    Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      September 7, 2015 at 13:37

      Or organize a few friends and go play a bout of Touch rugby at the nearest park…

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Returns

        September 7, 2015 at 13:41

        I don’t want you to touch my friends

        Reply

        • Dutch Matrix

          September 7, 2015 at 13:47

          At my current level of fitness, the bones of my deceased Grandma can outrun me. So your friends are safe!

          Reply

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            September 7, 2015 at 13:50

            But they’re no longer articulated. How could they outrun anybody or anything?

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 7, 2015 at 13:51

            Figure of speech?

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            September 7, 2015 at 13:54

            Sorry. I’ve never heard that figure of speech used before. Especially one that’s so specific.

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 7, 2015 at 13:55

            I am the creative sort…

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            September 7, 2015 at 13:57

            Wait. How creative do you think your statement was. On a scale of 1 to Dutch? 😛

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 7, 2015 at 13:58

            I kind of believe that what I wanted to say came across in the message/post/comment/thingy. Are you high or just reaching for new levels of retarded?

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            September 7, 2015 at 14:01

            Ah. Answering a question with a question. I see. I see. You’re one of THOSE.

            Pssssht. Agents. Agents EVERYWHERE.

      • Spathi

        September 7, 2015 at 13:48

        I tried going outside once, it was awful.

        Reply

        • VampyreSquirrel

          September 7, 2015 at 13:51

          The GUI sucks!

          Reply

          • Spathi

            September 7, 2015 at 13:54

            Save system is broken as well and everything is hidden behind pay-walls. NO thank you life, you can go f&$k yourself, I’m staying inside.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            September 7, 2015 at 13:55

            Life. Designed by EA. Now I finally understand.

          • Thats_how_I_Troll

            September 7, 2015 at 16:14

            Anything to “console” yourself?

          • Hammersteyn

            September 7, 2015 at 13:58

            Also I can’t get igni working

        • Thats_how_I_Troll

          September 7, 2015 at 16:11

          It was a bit buggy? At least it was full HD and over 60FPS 😛

          Reply

  3. VampyreSquirrel

    September 7, 2015 at 13:44

    Boom! Kick to the head… when the kick works…

    Rugby games have never been that great anyway.

    Reply

    • iusedtobe(a)regular

      September 8, 2015 at 14:38

      I beg to differ, Rugby 2008 was fantastic, for its time anyway.

      Reply

  4. Weanerdog

    September 7, 2015 at 13:46

    I was just wondering how to get a 1 then, not complaining or anything but reading the review 2 seems a little high, or are ones only reserved for buggy messes.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Returns

      September 7, 2015 at 13:50

      I think the buggy messes get the 1’s

      Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      September 7, 2015 at 13:51

      It depends on the reviewer I guess; Gavin tends to be a lot more lenient than the rest of us. I’d probably have given this thing a negative score.

      Reply

      • willjam

        September 7, 2015 at 13:57

        You mean you would have SUPER MAN TACKLED the shit out of it. After reading the review I want to super man tackle everything and I’m not even drunk yet

        Reply

    • WitWolfy

      September 7, 2015 at 13:51

      • Gavin Mannion

        September 7, 2015 at 13:56

        I want that game so badly

        Reply

        • WitWolfy

          September 7, 2015 at 14:00

          I bet its for those sex scene you pervert, am I right? LOL

          Reply

          • Gavin Mannion

            September 7, 2015 at 14:06

            There are sex scenes? Now I REALLY need this

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 7, 2015 at 14:13

            Rather go buy yourself a porno…

          • Spathi

            September 7, 2015 at 14:14

            The game sucks harder than any porn star could ever do…

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 7, 2015 at 14:26

            At least if a porn star sucks, chances are you might enjoy it. This game not so much…

          • WitWolfy

            September 7, 2015 at 14:14

            Watching real people fornicate is too mainstream!

    • Gavin Mannion

      September 7, 2015 at 13:56

      It’s still a game that works.. you can play it..

      To be fair I put 1.5 – 2.5 as my range and then we discuss it and came to 2… might be the best review these guys get

      Reply

      • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

        September 7, 2015 at 13:58

        Well IGN gave it a 15. But their scale doesn’t include a decimal place that your brain automatically feels better about rounding up and/or down. So brain bias aside… 😉

        Reply

      • Brady miaau

        September 7, 2015 at 14:01

        WAIT: So a game that sort of works (i.e. more or less bug free) gets a score like this?.

        Yeah, good going on releasing this.

        Reply

  5. SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

    September 7, 2015 at 13:49

    <3 this review. Please review ALL sports games ever released Gavin. 😀

    Reply

  6. oVg SPACE MONKEY

    September 7, 2015 at 13:50

    Not enough Blacks in the All Blacks team 😛

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      September 7, 2015 at 13:56

      • oVg SPACE MONKEY

        September 7, 2015 at 14:04

        lol

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          September 7, 2015 at 14:05

          indeed. My little girl, 21 month’s, old now, loves his music. Me, not the biggest fan.

          But my daughter also loves classical and Baroque music, so a I think a lot of people here may question her taste. Or mine……

          Reply

          • oVg SPACE MONKEY

            September 7, 2015 at 14:09

            No Kanya West? 😛

          • Brady miaau

            September 7, 2015 at 14:10

            No. and I think it is spelt kanye, with an e.

            Have no idea what sort of music that is, let alone what it sounds like.

            Waldstein. Now that is a piece of music. Clever, intricate and easy to listen to, all in one package. Yeah.

          • oVg SPACE MONKEY

            September 7, 2015 at 14:18

            I can die happy knowing I dont know how to spell his name 😛

    • WitWolfy

      September 7, 2015 at 13:57

      I know that was a joke but I can loose my shit when people say that.

      Reply

      • Brady miaau

        September 7, 2015 at 14:00

        check out the music video link I posted.

        Reply

        • WitWolfy

          September 7, 2015 at 14:04

          I miss the days Robbie did the leeu loop… I feel so old right now…

          Reply

          • Brady miaau

            September 7, 2015 at 14:05

            Yeah, I met him in once, in those days. No sarcasm, was a normal, likeable, quiet chap. Really.

          • WitWolfy

            September 7, 2015 at 14:07

            Ya went to see him live a few times when I was younger at Firkins. We were in the front row and my cousin unknowingly kept blowing cigarette smoke in his eyes the whole time so he just kept squinting when my cousin smoked. Good times… good times…

          • Brady miaau

            September 7, 2015 at 14:09

            And, by the way, thanks for the Xbox One invite to the beta testing. In the same week you did, they announced no new people for preview program.

            Not your fault, of course. Thanks for trying.

          • WitWolfy

            September 7, 2015 at 14:10

            Damn, sorry bro… Next time?

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 7, 2015 at 14:16

            What she said…

      • oVg SPACE MONKEY

        September 7, 2015 at 14:05

        They need COSATU as their Coach.

        Reply

        • WitWolfy

          September 7, 2015 at 14:08

          And EFF hoedjies…

          Reply

          • oVg SPACE MONKEY

            September 7, 2015 at 14:13

            and like South African football, one white dude at the back 😛

    • RinceThis

      September 7, 2015 at 14:06

      lol

      Reply

    • oVg SPACE MONKEY

      September 7, 2015 at 14:11

      lol Imagine if Sarfu decided to go balls to the wall and call the International team the All Whites? 😛

      Reply

      • Brady miaau

        September 7, 2015 at 14:13

        Snarfu. And New Zealand calls their soccer team the All Whites.

        Reply

        • oVg SPACE MONKEY

          September 7, 2015 at 14:14

          lol I suppose when one lives in a country that was founded on British humor one can laugh at themselves. Unlike SA. Everybody is always offended over here.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 7, 2015 at 14:18

            IT’S THE FALKLANDS ALL OVER AGAIN!

          • oVg SPACE MONKEY

            September 7, 2015 at 14:20

            The Falklands had a tough crowed. Nelly the Sheep was not happy.

        • oVg SPACE MONKEY

          September 7, 2015 at 14:22

          Poor Jake White, if only his surname was Black. They might have rehired him after bringing back the cup.

          Reply

  7. The Sten

    September 7, 2015 at 13:53

    This literally looks the same as Rugby 2006

    Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

      September 7, 2015 at 13:55

      I thought it figuratively looked like Rugby 2007 personally.

      Reply

  8. Hammersteyn

    September 7, 2015 at 13:57

    Saw I guy buy this on Saturday for PS3. Wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if it was my place.

    Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

      September 7, 2015 at 13:59

      And to think. I thought you were the most helpful person in the entire community. THE SHAME, Hammersteyn! THE SHAME!

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 7, 2015 at 14:02

        I prordered Rugby Challenge 3 as loud as I could. but he wouldn’t listen

        Reply

        • Spathi

          September 7, 2015 at 14:03

          “prordered” indeed! Only an idiot would buy this.

          Reply

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            September 7, 2015 at 14:04

            That didn’t take us very long. 😀

        • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

          September 7, 2015 at 14:04

          The Hammersteyn Signature Move:

          The PROorder. For times when the Preorder just isn’t manly enough.
          *Geralt of Rivia beard sold separately.

          Reply

        • Gavin Mannion

          September 7, 2015 at 14:04

          I really hope it’s decent and they don’t just slack of because this one is so crap

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            September 7, 2015 at 14:24

            I hope the grb the opportunity to make a proper name for themselves

    • WitWolfy

      September 7, 2015 at 14:03

      Why not, did you think you were offside?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 7, 2015 at 14:04

        haha

        Reply

    • oVg SPACE MONKEY

      September 7, 2015 at 14:17

      Shame, he probably needed a change of pace from Destiny 😛

      RUNS

      Reply

  9. Brady miaau

    September 7, 2015 at 14:00

    I think I picked up, through your tone and wording, that you really, really did not like the game.

    Typically how this works is you moan about a game a lot and then find one or two redeeming features and sort of the game scrapes a five, right?

    I do not understand Rugby or the rules, but I feel for the fans in the big Rugby Countries, ours included.

    For a thought, the biggest sin is to release a tie in game for a world cup AND then not have licenses for the event. Generic Stadiums? Generic players? I think a redeeming feature could have bee a stadium tour of, say, Twickenham (spelling?) or Loftus. Actual player names also makes the fans more involved in the game. With this, perhaps some sort of forgiveness for the other crap.

    For the fan, then, nothing…… Sad.

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      September 7, 2015 at 14:04

      I’ve been told that they have some licenses for some teams… I need to verify that

      Reply

  10. RinceThis

    September 7, 2015 at 14:04

    Poor Gavin!

    Reply

    • BurninZ

      September 7, 2015 at 14:10

      Exactly what i was thinking! Its like “ok Gavin has been naughty, go to the corner, sit by yourself and review this!” haha did you enjoy the weekend Gavin?

      Reply

    • hairyknees

      September 7, 2015 at 19:32

      Even I feel bad for him 🙁

      Reply

  11. DragonSpirit009

    September 7, 2015 at 14:06

    Well this is kinda no surprise!
    Still not a fan of sport games but this is just sad!

    Reply

  12. HvR

    September 7, 2015 at 14:31

    A mode where you run around on the field by yourself, so Luke Watson is a playable character.

    Reply

  13. iusedtobe(a)regular

    September 8, 2015 at 14:36

    Whats the word on Rugby Challenge 3???

    Reply

  14. 40 Insane Frogs

    September 14, 2015 at 11:15

    Sweet mercy…. 😮

    Reply

  15. Clement Overpowered

    August 6, 2017 at 19:12

    rucking bad

    Reply

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