Developer: Big Ant Studios
Publisher: Tru Blu Games
Genre: Sport



Introduction

Rugby League Live is the latest NRL game to hit the Xbox console since Rugby League 2 was released on Original Xbox back in 2006. Tru Blu Games has handed Big Ant Studios the duties to revive the great game of Rugby League on the leading consoles.
The game is of course set in the current 2010 season for both NRL and SL, with the line ups being taken from the beginning of the 2010 season.



When you first start up your Rugby League Live game, you will be pleased to not hear the lame music that was in the previous games RLL has a more rock n roll guitar introduction, and also a major improvement in the menu's apperance and how less laggy it is to navigate.

Gameplay

Now before I start I’m going to get straight to the point, the gameplay doesn't have that much of an improvement from the previous League games. There is still the major flaw in dummy half running, which allows you to break right through the ruck with too much ease. Though in saying this, they have addressed many other issues which appeared in previous Rugby games. There is no longer a free try when you pack the scrum, nor can you simply side step your way through the defence, though I’m not saying you can’t side step, the designers have neatly made the combo very obscure and difficult, making you do it less frequently.

One added improvement to defensive play I admired about the game was the fact you can shift the defence to compress on a certain part of the field, so for example: if the opposition has been tackled on the left wing, you can compress your defence holding the left trigger, shifting your line to the left, though obviously you do this at the risk of long passes.

They have also cleaned up the random knock on's, forward passes and held tackles. You only get penalised for these if you make it occur, for example: if you shape to kick, and before you do you get tackled, the player knocks it on most the time. No longer will you be running down the touch line about to score and you randomly fumble it, though you really don't need to worry about these, they can all be turned off at the menus or during the game.

Another feature I was hoping to see an improvement on was the goal kicking and kick-offs. Kick-offs I’m happy to say, there is no spot to just bounce the ball out - they have limited your angles making it sheer luck for it to bounce over. With goal kicking, it is still the same basic two-bar system, just looking simpler, though the wind and distance takes much, much more effect at distance, and makes it very difficult to kick from the sidelines.



Now to the not so great feature, the tackle bust. This one feature of this game has completely destroyed this game to being a truly fun and awesome game, if you use a player who generally is a great runner and line breaker in start, like Isaac Luke for the Rabbitohs, you simply rapid fire A when running at the defensive line and 90% of the time will break through every single tackle made. This really kills the Competition Mode, and makes it too easy and therefore plain boring.

This feature is also destroyed by the sprint button which conveniently is holding down A, so this means you can sprint, then as you approach the fullback, tap a break, and not be slowed down whatsoever. So if you are ever thinking about heading into ranked match prepare to be spammed by dummy half runs and tackle breaks.

One other feature I didn't find great was when you make a break and prepare for the old double team on the fullback, you offload to your support and he stands still to take the pass allowing the defence to catch up and tackle him. Come on! All that effort for the support to tire out!

The overall ratings of the game are pretty unbalanced and unrealistic, we would have to presume that they took most of their stats from the 2009 season, and minor changes due to player transfers, but if this was the case I still have yet to figure out why the 2009 wooden spooners, have an overall inside the top 4, and higher than the 2009/10 Minor Premiers.

Being a sports game, you can’t expect too much improvement, it’s not like a shooter where you can completely re-do the play style. The gameplay is bearable on easy, any higher and you’re looking at some high power A.I, and playing on Xbox Live isn’t much better than playing Fifa and getting chipped, though as always a great game with mates.

Graphics

Well for an Xbox 360 game in 2010 you will be highly disappointed, there is little improvement from what we saw 5 years ago on RL2, though the players faces have been gamefaced, and some do look quite life-like. But if you’re playing in high def, prepare for pixels.

The only positive thing I can say about the graphics is the menus, which I was highly impressed by. They looked really great, even without much to scroll through.



Sound

Well all you can say is at least they tried. The music in the menus is decent and wont drive you crazy from listening to it. But what we wanted to see improve was the smoothness of the commentary from Andrew Voss and Bill Harrigan. Once again the commentary is very jumpy, the pitch and tone just goes all over the place. One minute the commentator is calm, the next word he sounds like he jumped out of his chair! So if you were hoping to not get a headache from a jumpy commentary, go listen to Tyler and Townsand.

Replayability

Unless it’s about achievements I don't see you playing this to many times over. The major disappointment about this game is the loss of Franchise mode which was RL2's version of manager mode. So straight up - no you cannot transfer players and no, you cannot play more than the 2010 season. As soon as you finish one season of NRL you have to start a new save and play the same season all over again, which is highly disappointing as manager mode is one of the major game modes that makes sports game highly successful. I am yet to understand why they would take a backwards step and remove a feature which in my eyes, was the key to sales of RL2.

Achievements

Now if your one to care about achievements then yes this game may be for you, if you’re willing to put in some time to get the final few. The game only has 24 achievements worth 1000 gamerscore. But some of the achievements are majorly stupid. They can reward you for playing dirty, as well as dropping the ball. They are a good set for real fans of league and the game - you could most likely earn around 700 - 800 without playing to many play-throughs, but if you wanted to go hard out and receive the full 1000, you will have to grind. Which in my opinion, was set so that only true fans of the game will get that 1000 gamescore linked to their gamertag. Though one major flaw is the fact that you could sim a whole season of NRL or SL, and earn achievements from simulated results.

Conclusion

I am personally a huge NRL fan, and anything with that on it I'll buy. But in this case, I don't see this game being worth $80 - $109. It's modes are too limited and I believe you could find a more time-consuming, graphically up-to-date and fulfilling game in the Xbox Live Arcade.

Goods:
- Slightly Improved Gameplay
- No annoying theme music and good menus
- Its Rugby Bloody League

Bads:
- PS2 graphics
- Tackles breaking
- Limited game modes

The Numbers
Gameplay: 5/10
Graphics: 3/10
Sound: 6/10
Replayability: 6/10
Achievements: 8/10

Total: 5.6/10


Marshy
CG Review Team

wow i hate how it says xbox360 forums in front of general, sorry PCers, still might be worth a read , don't be to harsh when you criticize, my first public review, if a mod could move to xbox section, would be appreciated

lol Marshy how long did that take you? Good work though

like 1/2hr

nice Review man i always knew an aussie game will have shit graphics

i highly doubt there will be a ladder dylan, stop posting that in all my threads

Might just rent it or just return within 7days.

Marshy make me captain of BO team.
I'm getting this game tomoz so we'll have a couple of games.

I think the game is great.

If you want to stop a player who constantly breaks tackles, either aggressive tackle them (press/tap Y) or wait for an A.I to tackle first and join in for a double whammy.

If you want a perfectly passed ball after a break through the line and only the fullback left, throw a cut out pass. The player will receive the ball at speed. BUT it is crap that if you pass it to the next player he stands still. You can always shoulder barge, fend, side-step or dummy your way through the last line of defence.

ROFL. Need to work on your editing skills.

yeh i only have wordpad on my laptop as its just be re built, and wordpad doesnt have spell check so cut us a break!

and yes i know u can defend with heavy tackles, but it doesnt change the fact its all people do online, aswell as you cant decide wat the AI does on defence, so it still mkaes the game easy.

is it out in aussie yet?

Seems like a let down, probs get it to play against mates though, comeon Roosters!

I don't think ill get it has the worst graphics out PSP looks better then that...

Well done Marshy, the game looked average before coming out, but the gameplay flaws seem to have let it down even more. Dont think CG will be having a ladder, pretty dissapointing.

Moved, touched up and made an article.

Thats a shame,but I guess you guys know whats best for Cybergamer in the end. I personally rate this game higher than Marshy did(Great Review by the way Marshy). I'm hoping they try and improve this game and bring out another edition next year.

Annyway,we all know that EA Sports won't be making the same mistakes when they bring out Rugby 2012! BRING IT ON!