So I've finally managed to play the demo [after the complications we've had in South Africa], and again providing my 2 cents:
Rucking:
so the punching of buttons provides some level of fun, but almost seems pointless in the context in the actual game [aside from increasing your meter]. Definitely arcade-like, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but id imagine stats playing more of a role as to whether or not you winning the ball, and not whats happening in the game at the moment [you commit more players than your opposition]
I've tried using the various rucking options, and its a bit difficult to judge within one half [even though i played it like a million times] if they actually mean anything.
It seems there are always equal numbers to breakdown, and defense always ready. You hardly going to get a good overlap. What you do find that players tend to ignore you and that's how you beat them[I'm assuming that on harder difficulty levels, they don't]
The ball does not come out quick enough [when you're have forward momentum], and by the time you have access to the ball the defense has formed already, and you lose that advantage.
Nobody is running on the inside shoulder of the scrumhalf.
The scrumhalf cannot pick the ball up and draw defenders, and pop the ball to a forward into a gap. When you press the pass button it goes to the backline instead of the forward who is right next to him
Kicking:
So the kicking seems very much the same as 08, with the addition of the chip kick.
Place kicking should be made slightly more difficult [even if you Morne Steyn or Dan Carter], which should be based on factors such as:
- current score[if your team's trailing there's obviously more pressure on the kicker / if the kick will put your team ahead or on par when trailing with little time remaining]
- time remaining [again - related to pressure]
- field position
How: simply vary the meter speeds [based on those factors, as well as the players overall kicking ability]
Lineouts:
The one button lineout doesn't allow for a contest anymore, does make one use the middle option a lot more now
General:
- Bunching [on attack]
I thought this would've been an area that would received some attention, but clearly not. The players bunch like your typical U/13 team.
Is there no way to adjust the attacking formations either(similar to defense) like...[Tight, Wide, Standard, Kick], seeing that the set plays are now controlled by the R3 stick?
One's options on attack just seems very limiting because players are always so close to each other
- Bunching [on defense]
When a player breaks the line you still end up finding the entire team chasing this one player.
Is there not a way to be able to set your defensive pattern while running back, so players don't all ruck to one spot [tackled area] and then shift from there?
- Try scoring dives
I'm pretty sure in one threads I read it stated that the was work done around this.
On several occasions when at the 5 meter mark I ended up kicking the ball, rather than dived for the try line.
Also when I get tackled 5 meters before try line, the offload option comes up, rather than trying to make me attempt at placing the ball on/over the try line.
Lastly, when already over the try line players tend to take very long to jot the ball down and on many occasions almost got tackled over the dead ball line.
- Quick tap
Players not 10 meters back, and if you get tackled you are not given advantage for the tackler not being back 10
- Stuttering when passing
I noticed that when passing inside the play stutters, or players tend to slow down.
This also happens after you break the line, straighten, and pass to the inside player.
Overall, I think that the game is good, but with these few tweeks/bug fixes it could be great.
Essentially the game of rugby is about creating a mismatch in [numbers, forwards vs backs, stronger vs weaker, faster vs slower etc...], if HB Studios kept this in their rugby ***les, they will be well on their way along the FIFA path.
To the guys claiming this is ****,what were you expecting?
how drastically does the FIFA games change from version to version? But look at them from an overall point of view and you can see how far they've come [btw can't wait for FIFA 12]. Expect the same progression for the rugby ***les {in versions, rather than years}
