PS2 - PLAYSTATION 2 - RUGBY

While rugby isn't a mainstream American sport, it is nonetheless a terrific action-packed team sport that can be best described as a cross between football and soccer. It's played on a professional level in other countries, mainly throughout Europe, which has seen many rugby video games over the years. Why Electronic Arts has released this one here is unclear--however, in spite of this fact, Rugby 2002 is certainly an accurate and fairly entertaining re-creation of the sport.

The game features all the usual modes of play you'd find in a football game, including quick start, friendly (exhibition mode), and tournament. The tournament mode has three different international competitions to choose from. You can select a full world championship tournament, which features every rugby-playing nation in it, or you can choose to play in two other tournaments that offer competition with select countries. The game contains 20 different rugby teams from all over the world, all of which are rated differently in several categories, ranging from strength to awareness.

Rugby also has an excellent tutorial mode that shows you what the sport is all about. The tutorial mode takes you through every aspect of the game by showing examples of every particular action in rugby. Before moving on to the next example, however, the computer asks that you successfully complete the same play that was shown. Everything--from the proper way to scrum to passing--is covered in the tutorial mode and really helps newcomers understand the game