November 20, 2014
HB Studios

Rugby 15

Rugby 15 isn’t just a disappointment; it’s significantly worse than its forebears. The simple stuff is over-complicated, and the basic tenets of Rugby Union are wrong. A nightmare vision of sporting hell.

23%Game Brain Score

gameplay, optimization

graphics, stability

27% User Score Based on 38 reviews

Critic Score 20%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

Rugby 15 is a single player and multiplayer sport game. It was developed by HB Studios and was released on November 20, 2014. It received negative reviews from both critics and players.

Next-generation graphics unrivalled in a rugby union game, voices by the real TV commentators, accessible and precise controls, and emergent AI that dynamically adapts to situations and your playing style, so you experience all of the emotions of rugby union with the only official Top 14 simulation! Take the helm of official teams and clubs from the most prestigious leagues: the Aviva Premiership…

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27%

Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

graphics6 negative mentions

The game features licensed teams from various leagues, including French, English, Irish, and Scottish divisions.
The scrum, ruck, and maul controls are well-designed and add to the gameplay experience.
The game is playable and can be enjoyable, especially if purchased at a discounted price.

The passing mechanics are poorly implemented, often resulting in inaccurate throws and frustrating gameplay.
The graphics are outdated, with players looking generic and lacking distinct features, and the animations can be glitchy and poorly timed.
There is no online multiplayer mode, and the AI is often unresponsive, leading to a lack of depth and strategy in gameplay.

gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
57%
19%
The gameplay of this rugby game attempts to innovate within the genre but suffers from numerous glitches and overly simplistic mechanics, such as accidental forward passes and awkward ruck animations. While the fluidity of play is praised, the lack of tactical depth and poor graphics detract from the overall experience, leaving players disappointed despite some enjoyable aspects. Overall, the game shows potential for future improvements but currently falls short in delivering a polished and engaging gameplay experience.
- “This game seriously wanted to try something new, not only to rugby video games, but to every sporting video game.”
- “In terms of gameplay, the controls are fairly smooth and it does play well, certainly less button mashing than other rugby games of the past.”
- “Fun gameplay, but disappointing graphics... we were warned by the makers that it was only a base for future games and if you look at it in that respect, this is a very promising game.”
- “This mechanic sadly, however, causes many glitches in this game, such as the ball going through an opposing team player, simply phasing through them.”
- “Glitches galore, overly simple gameplay, really awful graphics and no online features to speak of; there's very little to praise the game for, and even then I'd be looking at minor things. Then I'm reminded that players can implode and turn invisible during a match.”
- “A lack of quality in gameplay, as well as the graphics, really makes this game a sight for sore eyes.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
52%
32%
The graphics of the game, powered by the Unity engine, are generally considered subpar and outdated, with many reviewers noting a lack of detail and realism compared to modern standards. While some improvements over previous titles are acknowledged, issues such as glitches, basic character models, and a simplistic visual style detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics receive mixed to negative feedback, with many players expressing disappointment in their quality.
- “Running on the Unity engine, the game is optimized and looks good enough; however, I wouldn't call it 'next-gen.' Rugby Challenge 2 crushes Rugby 15 graphically, although it too had glitches in animation.”
- “Updated graphics compared to the older rugby games.”
- “But for what it is, it's definitely a graphical improvement over the last few iterations.”
- “The graphics are extremely poor, which I could probably deal with if the physics and gameplay weren't terrible as well.”
- “The graphics seem outdated and all of the players look alike.”
- “Glitches galore, overly simple gameplay, really awful graphics and no online features to speak of; there's very little to praise the game for.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous glitches and bugs reported, including issues like players turning invisible and the ball phasing through characters. While it runs on the Unity engine and has decent graphics, the overall experience is marred by these technical problems, leading to a perception of the game as broken and poorly optimized.
- “This mechanic sadly however causes many glitches in this game, such as the ball going through an opposing team player simply phasing through them.”
- “Glitches galore, overly simple gameplay, really awful graphics and no online features to speak of, there's very little to praise the game for and even then I'd be looking at minor things, then I'm reminded that players can implode and turn invisible during a match.”
- “The game is broken and has numerous bugs and glitches.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game, built on the Unity engine, is generally well-optimized and visually appealing, though it doesn't fully meet "next-gen" standards. While Rugby Challenge 2 outperforms Rugby 15 in graphics, both titles experience animation glitches.
- “Running on the Unity engine, the game is optimized and looks good enough; however, I wouldn't call it 'next-gen.' Rugby Challenge 2 crushes Rugby 15 graphically, but it too had glitches in animation.”