Rugby - PC Games

Rugby 2001 is a port of the title released last year for the PC and has retained the twitchy camera system, which has a tendency to go walkabout at crucial moments. However, the PlayStation 2 controller makes for a more intuitive interface than the mouse/keyboard combo, especially at rucks and mauls, when you'll be doing more button bashing than during a bout of Tekken. As with all EA sports titles there's a very slick front end and menu system with 20 international teams (though disappointingly no representative sides such as the Lions or Barbarians) with reasonably up-to-date rosters and 23 stadia. You can choose to play a Six Nations, Tri Nations or World Cup tournament or a one-off friendly. Performance levels of all the teams can be altered, so if you support one of the minor nations you can play against the likes of Australia and still have a chance of winning. Tactically rugby can be very complicated and this is reflected in the Dynamic Team Control, which lets you determine your set plays for line-outs, scrums etc. These can be altered on the fly during play and provide a tactical depth that will appeal to fans of the Madden NFL series.

Rugby 2001 is not a complete simulation--that would be virtually impossible given the complexity of the laws of the game--but it is an exciting arcade-style experience. Anyone who has played FIFA in any of its guises will feel at home. If you already own Jonah Lomu then consider trading up--the gameplay isn't much different but the stats are more up-to-date and the graphics are much improved (even if they don't do full justice to the PS2's capabilities). This is a fast-moving and enjoyable title, especially in two-player mode. --Michael Bartley