As WRC 2 is the official licensed game for the World-Rally-Championship, the game has just about everything that a rally enthusiast can hope for. The cars, the tracks, the drivers and the season are all mirrored straight from the WRC.

Blackbean haven’t exactly produced the most graphically advanced games to date, and unfortunately WRC 2 carries the same misfortune. Cars are relatively well-modeled, although the enviroments and interface seem really bland and often resemble Dirt’s asthetic a little too closely.

On the plus side, the gameplay is extraordinary. Not only is it a massive jump from last year’s original, it gives the game so much character that you will find yourself coming back for more and more. There is so much that they’ve done right in this game, for example, the different track surfaces feel unique and have a large affect on handling. The handling models of each car feel more realistic than ever as there’s a good sense of speed, which makes cornering and braking a real challenge.

The career is very involving. It starts off quite basic and becomes a lot more challenging and advanced. Hiring team managers and technicians to look after your chosen sponsors and do research on better performing components are some of the career criteria at your disposal. All of these options take time and cost money, the less time you allocate towards your research, the less you have for repairs for the following tournament. So allocate and plan wisely.

The aspect that makes the game so enjoyable is the variety, length and overall layout of the tracks. Each track has different surface levels and will give many, a hard time on deciding what setup to choose.

The sound department leaves quite a bit to be desired. There’s nothing worse than having to listen to someone rambling on with a very flat monotonous tone of voice. Playing this game with no audio and your own music in the background will save you from going crazy. Mix one of the most boring, flat, unexpressive voice with the same constant popping sound of your engine backfiring, will have you tearing your hair out in no time.

WRC2 is the rally game for enthusiasts. The career is long, it will keep you playing for hours on end as there is so much to unlock in terms of cars, sponsors and tracks. I recommend it for those who are fans of the WRC and want to race against their favourite drivers on the world’s most prestigious rally tracks. Unfortunately, the game is so focused on conventional rally, there there is not much else. Those searching for a more relaxed and varied game, should look elsewhere.

Huge overhauls in the game’s visuals are immediately apparent. While maintaining the same graphical style as previous games, PES 2012 sharpens up on just about everything on the pitch. The game really does look gorgeous and is now feels that way to, as the player movement is fluid and even more flexible than ever before. There are still certain graphical issues in some of the cut-scenes, but when they work out, they’re absolutely gorgeous.

The passing mechanic, where you push the ball into space as opposed to directing it at a player, has been reinvigorated this year. The difference is that the passing seems a lot faster and more responsive, changing the pace and manner in which the game is played, mostly for the better. This results in a general improvement on the all-round control of the ball.

The AI also seems more active and prominent than before, with better and more frequent timed runs and sticking to strong defensive patterns, making the attack and tackling aspects of the game much more dynamic.

The PES series has been looking to have more and more potential with each release and this year’s title appears to have all the franchise’s strong points in place while sharpening up it’s gameplay to provide something different, yet familiar. PES 2012 doesn’t necessarily exceed expectations, it simply meets them. We’d like to see some more innovation from Konami, but it doesn’t take anything away from the fact that PES 2012 is a great football title.

The first thing gamers noticed about Rage were the glorious screenshots, and the attention was fair given that the game is absolutely gorgeous. The new id tech 4 engine produces an stunning environment, with huge draw-distances and lighting that leaves players staring in awe. Character models and the astonishing enemy AI highlight the game’s beauty as enemies move beautifully and fluidly, even though they usually want to pull your head off. There is some texture pop-in here and there, but it doesn’t detract anything from the stellar visuals you’ll be treated to.

The premise for Rage is pretty simple – after waking from cryogenic freezing, you find Earth has been devastated by a meteor strike and all that’s left is barren wastelands and sporadic settlements, while bandits and mutants terrorize all that’s left. While the premise does sound quite exciting, you also thinking that it sounds incredibly familiar. It just seems that the post-apocalyptic setting and plot has become a sense of déjà-vu over recent years; and given the game’s technical prowess, it’s a bit of a downer that the story is so uninventive.

Players have to find their way around their new environments and engage with a number of different characters and factions in order to access missions and objectives. Missions usually entail you travelling to certain locations in order to acquire an item, deliver a package or help the settlement, although they all end up in the same manner – some awesome shooting. And this is where Rage shines as the shooting mechanics are as solid as they come, where every gun has a great feel and impact to it. Developers id really do know how to make shooters and they prove it with Rage.

The map is pretty spread out and you’ll be travelling some pretty big distances, therefore vehicles were a necessity in the game. The driving component of Rage could be a game of its own, with vehicles having the ability to be mounted with guns, upgraded and even taken into races. The driving is definitely not a highlight, but it rounds off the experience very well.

Multiplayer does exist in the form of competitive races and a broken-down co-op mode which lets you and friends play through certain segments of particular levels. It’s a nice addition, but the emphasis is on the campaign, and we’re ok with that.

When the dust settles, Rage isn’t anything revolutionary. It may have been the extremely high expectations set by fans, but that said, it’s still one of the best and most gorgeous shooters out there. There’s enough here to keep you busy for 20+ hours and the stuff id does right is phenomenal. So if you’re looking for a well-rounded shooter that’s had some serious spit-and-polish, Rage should be on your list.

Pros

• Amazing gun-play
• Gorgeous visuals
• Enemy AI keeps you on your toes

Cons

• Story is a bit weak
• Some mission objectives feel mundane
• Post-apocalyptic setting leaves déjà vu feeling  right from the start

The story kicks off 4 years after the events of Resistance 2, where you take control of a new protagonist, Joseph Capelli, who made his debut in the last entry, although I don’t delve into that to avoid spoilers. The Chimera have now taken over Earth and only small pockets of humans try to survive in harsh conditions across the globe. It’s discovered that the Chimera have created a machine over New York City that is freezing the planet in order to make Earth habitable for the Chimera. Joseph, along with Dr. Malikov, must travel across America to make a last stand against the Chimera and their machine in New York. The story itself is the strongest of the whole series and makes a bold move away from the military-esque plot of previous games, into a more personal and relatable story. The relationship between Joseph and his family, along with witnessing the pain, anguish and despair the Chimera have caused provides a powerful and meaningful narrative throughout

The gameplay remains largely unchanged from previous installments, although the first-person shooting mechanics have been tightened up and tweaked in order to deliver one of the most visceral and satisfying experiences on the system. Shooting packs more punch than ever before as Chimera dismember, growl and collapse as bullets tear through them, while the movement and whole feel of the game feels more organic and natural with some really immersive moments.

Developer Insomniac have always prided themselves on the inventive weapons in their games, such as the Ratchet and Clank series, and this time they really come through on their promises. All the favourite weapons from the previous games, like the Bullseye and Auger, are back but this time have the ability to be upgraded with extensive use. The existing and alternate fires change and deliver even more damage and chaotic eye-candy this time around, and this adds a lot of variety to the combat.

The presentation and visuals have taken a huge step-up this time around as everything from the Chimera to the level design is flawlessly detailed and gorgeous. Amazing particle effects of dust, wind and flowing debris highlight every gun battle and the entire game has a beautiful shine to it. The little details, such as the hand-drawn enemy journals, are immaculately designed and really bring an authenticity to the story and world of Resistance.

The multiplayer component is also a highlight of Resistance 3, and although it’s been scaled back to 15 players (where Resistance 2 supported 60) the sci-fi weapons and specific pros and cons of the Chimera and human sides provides a relatively unique experience in the online arena. You won’t find the depth or longevity of Call of Duty or Battlefield here, but it’s something worth a try.

Resistance 3 manages to exceed all the expectations put forward by it’s predecessors by delivering a heart-stopping campaign, complete with a touching story which sums up the somber mood of the game. This is the best the series has to offer and if you’re slightly interested, pick it up because the fight against the Chimera is one worth joining the resistance for.

Pros

• Compelling campaign
• Co-op
• Strong humanized story
• Weapons

Cons

• Some scenarios re-used

Right away, the first initial difference is definitely in the visuals. FIFA 11’s wax-like figures have been replaced with more natural and fluid moving characters, which now resemble their real-life counterparts more than ever. This new look does the game wonders and gives each player more character and uniqueness on-field and in the short but dynamic cut-scenes.

Pro-player intelligence is also a new feature whereby players are ‘aware’ and use their heightened characteristics and attributes more than ever, such as Barcelona, who use Messi’s direct passing and Villa’s clever running as opposed to using unnecessary crosses.

Power dribbling may not sound like a new feature because previous FIFA’s seem to have offered this year after year. However, it is rather prevalent within FIFA 12 given the fact that the ball physics are much looser, making the close control dribbling seems a lot more precise when used.

Probably the most hyped new feature is EA’s Impact Engine which was specifically designed for FIFA 12 over the last two years. This generates different animations and outcomes after a collision between two players occur. Think GTA’s Euphoria engine, except not as advanced, yet. It adds a lot of physicality to the game but also makes you hold off on your barges, which can work for or against you.

Another flagship addition this year is the inclusion of FIFA’s Ultimate Team, where in previous installments it was a downloadable extra. Ultimate Team allows players to build their own club from scratch and manage their ‘nobody’ players to wins and rewards for their club, eventually getting the chance to nab one of the big names for your club. Chemistry, signings, training and coaches all make a huge difference and it’s up to you to make your club work. It’s a great addition to the actual game and the inclusion of it this time around will give players that accessibility to the online that they wanted.

Overall, FIFA 12 manages to stand on its own two feet and create a new identity for itself. The Player Impact Engine, new tackling system and re-worked physics are the core components of the game’s new feel, and veteran, newcomers and critics should be pleased at the changes this time around.

Pros

Tackling system adds new defensive strategy

Physics allow for more dynamic goals and passes

Ultimate team

Cons

Impact Engine sometimes results in soft fouls

Playing a match for the first time can be slightly confusing, but the sport is easy enough to pick up. There are 3 sections of each team, offensive (when you have possession), defensive (when the other team has possession) and a team specific to dead ball situations like converting a touchdown. American Football does not flow, this might be the biggest adjustment new players have to make, but the more you play the more comfortable the constant pauses feel. The mini-game mode splits the game into its different phases of play, and pit the player against the computer to score points by completing certain actions. This is a fun way to kill time but also a useful way to get familiar with the rules.

The gameplay feels intuitive, as in offense, buttons are assigned to players making runs and tapping that button makes the controlled player pass to the assigned player. Defense pretty much amounts to trying to get to the guy with the ball and hopefully making a decisive tackle. Considering how many players are on the field and how difficult it can be to lose track of the ball carrier, defense is definitely the toughest part to get use to. There are a few aides to players that might not want to be too involved or need some help, two of them being auto-sprint and defense assistance. Defense assistance can be activated by holding A, this gives the CPU control and means that less experienced players won’t be torn to shreds by the opposing team’s passes and runs because the CPU will complete most defensive tasks for you. Various different plays are available, and on-field control is extensive. You can adjust the runs your CPU team mates will make or shift your defensive structure based on what the opposing team does.

The game has all the different modes associated with EA’s sport games, “Play Now” featuring exhibition matches and the option to play through the Superbowl. Ultimate Team, Be a Superstar (I.e, Be a Pro) and Franchise (I.e, Tournament) Mode are standard fare for sports games. It also has an online where most of the features from single player Franchise Mode are available, and with the presence of a massive online community.

The real value of the game comes from Franchise Mode, comparable to a rugby or soccer season. EA has put in a lot of work to make this an exceptionally realistic and involved experience. Everything from a player’s form, his traits (Similar to Fifa) and types of injuries sustained are present and will influence how that player performs. Real-time bidding wars for players are an interesting feature that allow you to bid against the other teams, which makes landing a good signing very satisfying. Franchise mode is an extremely involving and in-depth, giving the player complete control over most aspects of the game, making each successful game feel like a real accomplishment not only on the field but off as well.

Control is definitely the focal point of the game. Making a ridiculously cool 30 yard pass with a rookie quarterback you’re giving a debut game to, or going on a run and dummying your way past three linebackers to surge into a touchdown feel so much more satisfying when you know you controlled a lot of the aspects leading to that success.

Overall it has the feel of a quality game, and given the time will grow on most people who are fans of sport games. There are a few faults, the commentary can get a little stale, with somewhat over-enthusiastic commentators becoming a possible earache. There are also instances where a tackler seems to float or stumble past (and occasionally through) the person he should be tackling, which can be a bit frustrating but not game-breaking. At the end of the day its a solid game with a cool soundtrack, and where it might not live up to the expectations or desires of Madden and NFL enthusiasts, its definitely worth adding to your shelf if you’re up for something new and want some good fun.

Pros

• Mini-games provide good introduction to American
  football
• Presentation
• Extensive career mode

Cons

• Some technical hiccups
• Overwhelming at first

Players take control of Captain Titus (voiced by Mark Strong), a superhuman space marine who is sent into battle to help the human forces fight off an alien orc invasion, as well as get to the bottom of their operations. The story itself isn’t anything new, but the universe and world of Warhammer makes for a great backdrop to a battle narrative, and Mark Strong’s voice acting gives the character a surprising amount of gravity.

While Space Marine may look like Gears, it certainly doesn’t play in that manner. There is no cover system and the game relies heavily on the melee component of combat in addition to range attacks. Space marines wield a variety of guns, including machine guns, pistols, shotguns and sniper-rifles to vary up their arsenal. The melee weapons are unique in their own right, as everything from chainsaw swords to pulse hammers can be used. The integration of both combat elements is done excellently, as you’ll be hacking and slashing up enemy orcs, while still pulling out your guns to peck off some shooting enemies when you get a chance. The levels also compliment this as there is a great degree of vertical variation, causing you to think tactically when approaching a situation.

Titus also gets the ability to wield a jet-pack in certain segments. These allow the player to get to high ground with ease and attack from above. This may be sounding like the space marines are overpowered, and that is the case, but that doesn’t make it easy. You are constantly fighting hordes and hordes of enemies, with the inclusion of some stronger mini-bosses thrown into the mix. It’s then all about fighting as strongly as you can and making the right decisions.

The emphasis on going head-on into battle is highlighted through the health system. Players acquire health by doing executions on enemies. These are like small grapple moves which sees Titus causing some serious pain through a number of brutal melee moves. This mechanic keeps up the visceral nature of the game and ‘find cover and wait’ mentality of regenerating health.

There is a rather beefy multiplayer component to Space Marine. 8v8 competitive and co-operative multiplayer is available and the game uses full force of the shooting / melee hybrid gameplay style. All the classes and weapons feel balanced and fun, although the melee combat doesn’t have the same splattering satisfaction as it does in single-player.

Warhammer has always been a stalwart of innovation and design and that is shown in the games visuals. While the actual polish of the graphics leaves a little to be desired, the inventiveness and creative design of the look and feel is what stand out in the game. Resembling the look and style similar to Darksiders, Space Marine carries a unique visual flair that many should take notice of.

Unfortunately, Space Marine will probably be the game that is most overlooked this year with big titles such as Gears 3 and Battlefield 3 on the horizon. However, if you manage to get your hands on this, you’ll find one of the most brutal and visceral experiences of the year, with a hybrid combat system that emphasizes where Space Marine excels.

Pros

• Fast-paced viceral action
• Warhammer universe is awesome
• Dynamic between melee and ranged combat

Cons

• Some monotonous enemy types
• No custom load-out

First and foremost, Rugby Challenge doesn’t attempt to be like HB-Studios’ Rugby World Cup 2011 in any way; this game feels, plays and looks different in every aspect – and it looks good. Everything from the intro video and menus to the team layouts and title cards ooze style. The character models are truly worthy of the ‘current-gen’ label and players represent their real-life counterparts, right down to the smallest of tattoos. It’s evident that Sidhe really have put a lot into the visual presentation of the game, and it’s something fans definitely deserve.

While the game looks phenomenal, it sometimes struggles when the action heats up. The framerate does suffer during gameplay and even the dynamic commentary duo of Grant Nisbett and Justin Marshall seems really sketchy at times as you can clearly distinguish the separately recorded words or phrases thrown together. This said, it’s nothing game breaking and that’s where sports games count – the gameplay.

For those who may of played a Rugby League title, Rugby Challenge may be fairly familiar at first. The gameplay has a slower pace than other rugby titles on the market and patience is required with the different elements of the game. Passing uses the shoulder buttons, with skip passes becoming available when the shoulder buttons are held. The passing is dynamic and allows for a lot of variety to distributions, such as inside balls and long cut-out passes, but sometimes passes will not meet their man and just launch into touch. Off-loads also play a pivotal role as players can release a late mid-tackle pass to a supporting player, although they are similar to the normal passes and can go awry if the timing is off. It seems the game is more about when to pass, as opposed to when not to pass.

Kicking follows the mechanics of the Rugby League titles with the ability to kick a punt, grubber, up-and-under or drop-goal quickly with the tap of the respective button. Although players can also hold down the kick button and enter a slow-mo type scenario where more precision and accuracy can be executed. On the whole, the kicking works well and adds a lot of variety to the game.

Defensively, players can use either a normal and heavy tackle depending on their playing style and intention. You never know if you are going to wrap up a player or he may slip free, so it’s all about getting the timing right and staying on your marked man.

The general running feels really smooth and players carry a certain weight to them, which is refreshing for the genre as a whole. Sidestepping, fends and dummys are also available with the use of the right analog stick, and feel really dynamic as each has different outcomes depending on the angle of the incoming tackler, the speed of the attacking player and obviously the skill attributes of the ball carrier.

Rucks also have a unique mechanic to them as players are offered the opportunity to enter with a quick or heavy bind when a breakdown occurs. Quick bind is faster and basically just secures the ball if there isn’t much resistance. Heavy bind is when you really want to compete for the ball, although it plays out as a bit of a risk/reward scenario as you could pull in a lot of players and leave space for the opponent to attack.

Lineouts and scrums are nothing revolutionary and use timed sequences in order to win your scrum or throw in straight to your lineout. Theses work well although their barebone nature bring out the bizarre omissions in the game. There is no option to pick up off the back of a scrum, as the ball always goes straight to the scrum-half who suddenly pop up and waits for you to make your move. Similarly, there are no choices to maul after a lineout,  as the ball is immediately taken into contact to form a ruck or once again popped to the scrum-half. There is also no option for a quick-lineout and tap penalties become pointless as the AI is always set back in their defensive positions after a quick cut-scene, throwing away the chance for you to catch them unaware and offsides. While these are strange things to leave out of a current-gen rugby title, they end up being mere annoyances as opposed to game-breaking omissions.

Sidhe seemed to of have compensated for the lack of in-game spontaneity with an incredibly extensive customization tool. Everything from teams, to players, to tournaments and even logos can be edited and customized within the game. This does solve the lack-of-South-African-licenses issue, as team names and players can be renamed and rebuilt to represent your favourite SA team.

The online component also works well and offers some interesting fun with 4v4 options and a leaderboards that you can track to show your virtual rugby worth.

At the end of the day, rugby fans and gamers have been eager for a meritable game that recreates one of the world’s favourite sports, and Sidhe have definitely delivered that with Rugby Challenge. While it does miss out on some of the finer details, the grand scale of gameplay, visuals and extensive customization will not disappoint those who have been eagerly waiting for their rugby fix.

Pros

• Great player likenesses
• Free-flowing gameplay
• Extensive customisation options

Cons

• Some features of gameplay missing
• No custom replay camera
• Some AI bugs

The game’s use of “augments” to customize and improve your character boils down to very cool and useful perks. Completing an objective rewards the player with EXP, and a certain  amount of EXP is then converted into one “Praxis Point”. Augments cost either one or two Praxis Points depending on how good they are. The augments are divided into neat segments related to hacking, vision upgrades, armor, strength, etc. This setup makes it easy to customize Adam to your playing style, with cloaking, lifting heavier objects or stabilizing your aim all keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting

The game has a pretty standard objective-based point A to B structure. A small orange icon on both the mini-map and on-screen will direct you to your next destination. A larger and more comprehensive map is available, never making it necessary to pointlessly run around in search of hard to find mission starting point.

Graphically the game delivers; anybody that has played a Square-Enix game can see that they know about making colorful and vibrant environments. You won’t mistake what’s on screen for something real, but it is realistic enough to imagine the world possibly looking like that in the near future. The sound and musical score also contribute to an involving experience, accurately recreating sounds in the environment and adding some tension building music before a boss fight.

The game is not without faults though, one of the inclusions I find puzzling is the occurrence of occasional “boss fights”. This pretty much consists of being thrown into an enclosed space with somebody that has infinite ammo and ridiculous amounts of health. Now although the boss fights make a good break from just knocking out/stealth killing normal guards, the execution is slightly off the mark. The game is extremely realistic in most ways, as physics and what your character and other NPC’s are capable of are quite spot-on, until you fight a boss. The bosses feel either like they’re massively overpowered and you have to patiently (and safely) chip away at their health until finally killing them, or the only way to do it is by using some sort of cheap method (flashbanging and repeatedly headshotting come to mind). The patient and resourceful nature of the game is abruptly abandoned with a “shoot it ’til it dies” mentality in regard to the bosses.

Another possible criticism is that ammo is somewhat scarce, but in truth all that does is reinforce the notion that the game is not to be approached like the average shooter. Although the game lacks an online mode, the different ways of playing the game certainly make for a bit of replay value.

Overall it’s a rewarding experience and is quite different from a lot of games on the market. If trying something fresh and outside the “grab LMG and sprint through respawning enemies” monotony sounds good, Deus Ex is definitely worth checking out. Fans of RPG Shooters like Fallout or Bioshock won’t be disappointed with what Deus Ex has to offer.

Pros:

• Fun upgrade system.
• Freedom and availability of choices when accomplishing mission objectives.
• Good-looking game and realistic environments.
• Menu interface is intuitive and easy to use.

Cons:

• Boss fights can be somewhat annoying.
• Combination of auto and manual saving can be confusing.

As the title suggests, RWC 2011 is all about the World Cup. The game therefore only features a mode to play through all the stages of the world’s most prestigious rugby tournament. While this makes up the core of the experience with RWC 2011, although there are other modes, such as Warm-Up Tours to the southern and northern hemispheres, as well as a place-kick shootout, which essentially is little more than a mini-game.

While the modes are bare to say the least in RWC 2011, what matters most is the gameplay and thankfully the game delivers on that front. The game is fast and fluid and tweaks up all the minor and major irritations from Rugby 08. Passing is accurate and responsive, running feels weighty and direct, and the kicking (which unfortunately still uses the very 90-esque arrows) is solid; with the fancy stuff, like off-loads, dummys, slide stepping and hand-offs remaining unchanged but a lot more natural.

New additions such as the new rucking mechanic, which requires players to commit players a ruck with a small mashing mini-game of sorts, although commit too many players and ruck too fast, and you give away a penalty. While it’s not the most dynamic and inventive, it works well and gives any team or player a chance to fairly turn over possession.

Another new addition, in which Rugby 08 sorely missed, is a chip kick. Instead of holding for an up-and-under kick, a simple tap of the button puts in a small chip kick which adds another dimension to breaking the line and fooling defenders.

The more structured aspects of the game, such as lineouts and scrums, play out very similar to Rugby 08. Set-pieces, while also operate in the same way, are more available than ever before. Rugby 08 always saw the ruck or maul collapsing before you can execute your elaborate backline moves, but in RWC 2011, once a ruck has been secured, you get enough time to launch some flashy moves, such as cross-kicks and loops, from anywhere on the field. All this does add a lot to the attacking strategy of the game and makes good use of the underrated set-piece system.

The game’s major downfall is its visuals. It’s not ‘ugly’ by any token, but the game does feel very dated and fans of Rugby 08 will have a lot of déjà-vu with most of the animations. The player likenesses are a mixed-bunch with some players resembling somewhat of their real-life counterparts, while some look like bizarre to say the least. On the plus side, the game runs incredibly smoothly and the frame-rate holds up with the fast action. The presentation of the World Cup is also there, with the official ‘World in Union’ song playing and all the pre-game team-sheets and commentary (most notably Greg Clark and Sean Fitzpatrick) is superb.

Online play is also a major consideration when looking at the game given that sports games get their longevity from their multiplayer modes. At this point in time, the online does work, just not very well. A few international games were played with a fair amount of lag. The good to come from it is that it’s much more fun playing actual opponents as they tend to fall for dummies and mix up their attack from the AI’s straight forward approach.

While everyone is probably still shaking their heads and saying that RWC 2011 is a rehash of Rugby 08, it’s not all true. And yes, to be honest there are large portions of the game that remain largely unchanged from HB-Studios’ previous installment, however they provide a great foundation to build on from. Rugby World Cup 2011 doesn’t have all the game modes to keep you hooked for too long, and there are still some issues here and there, but it manages to deliver a rugby experience (one that is hard to capture in virtual form) pretty damn well. If you get your friends around, you’ll have a blast; and on a side note: for those of you who keep saying “it hasn’t changed; I wish it was like FIFA”, how much has FIFA really changed in the last few years?

Pros

• Fast and fluid gameplay
• Easy to pick up controls
• Commentary is awesome

Cons

• Lack of game modes
• Limited teams
• A lot of things may feel all too familiar to Rugby 08