R
Rothrich
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Didn't the press release say that further details would be revealed at E3?
Even though it's not yet confirmed for North American release, Hip Games and Swordfish Studios' Rugby Challenge 2006 was being shown at the 2005 E3. We had an opportunity to see the game and speak with one of the developers. And because of that we can offer up a few notable details regarding the ***le even though we didn't have an opportunity to actually lay our hands on the build shown.
Unlike last year, Rugby Challenge 2006 will feature all European licenses, save for France. It will also feature the Celtic Clubs and Euro Clubs as well as all Super 12 teams. Individual player likenesses are even being worked on. So this game is definitely official.
In terms of modes, Rugby Challenge 2006 boasts World Cup, Three Nations, Heineken / Guinness Cup, Tours (which are of course intercontinental), Leagues and Cups. According to Hip Games, the last two "fully take advantage of the licenses," though we unfortunately didn't have the time for Hip to detail how exactly they did that. In any event, each mode is said to be completely customizable.
In addition to those mainstays, the game will also feature a series of side challenges and extras. Expect to be able to relive classic matches from 15 years ago. Also anticipate playing around with the Survival and Hot Potato mini-games, among others. Challenge 2006 even boasts an Old Time Rugby mode that replicates the used and tattered black & white film reels of the eras its trying to portray. But, the deepest mode in the game will undoubtedly be Career, which lets players start their own Rugby franchise from the bottom up, eventually working into the big leagues and buying and trading players as they go.
Some other basic Rugby Challenge 2006 features include:
Six camera angles.
Seven stadiums (four of them licensed).
Extensive training and tutorial modes.
Variable weather conditions.
Hopefully a North American release will be announced shortly. Whether it is or not, expect additional information to start coming in before the game launches this September across applicable PAL territories.
[Editor's Note: Please forgive Ivan for any Rugby inaccuracies or slights that may be in this article. He's not the biggest Rugby player on the planet and he also hasn't slept for about six days. E3 can make even the most steely games editor wobbly, after all.][/b]
ROFL!!Originally posted by umosay@May 21 2005, 05:45 PM
7 stadiums, a whole 2 more than wcr lol!
Me neither... after playing Rugby 2005 (which I must confess I still enjoy on occasion) and with the impeding release of RL2, this game won't really impress me I don't think.Originally posted by JJ-@May 22 2005, 06:03 PM
Hmm. Graphics aren't too hot, and there is evidence of the disgusting tackling system of WCR in those screens.
I'm not that excited about this game right at the moment. We'll see.
...yeah,yeah...and better gameplay.....Originally posted by .:kaftka:.@May 22 2005, 07:44 PM
Damn man, that last sentence got my heart rate up. They could have NPC in it, a huge number of stadiums, realistic graphics, endless amount of animations, endless amount of unlockables (footage etc. a la RL1) *drool*
Also, the scoreline in the pic is too unrealistic!!!Originally posted by .:kaftka:.@May 22 2005, 06:21 PM
The white line paint is far too flat and 2d, making (among other things) the game look far too cartoony.
Perfect example: