International Rugby League (video game)
| International Rugby League | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Creative Assembly |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Platforms | Windows, DOS |
| Release | 1996 |
| Genre | Sports |
| Modes | Single-player, Multiplayer |
International Rugby League (distributed in Australia as ARL 96) is a 1996 sports video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows and DOS.
Gameplay
Players compete in rugby league matches in isometric perspective,[1] featurng 20 Optus Cup teams from the Australian rugby league, 12 teams from the English rugby league and 8 international teams.[2] Team members can be controlled using the computer keyboard or joystick, and keys are used to control whether selected players run, pass, kick or tackle.[3] Ray Warren and Paul Vautin provide live commentary on the game.[4][2]
Reception
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Computer Gaming World | 1/5[5] |
| PC Gamer (UK) | 71%[1] |
PC Gamer UK felt International Rugby League was "realistic" for its range of moves and found it "well animated", but disliked its "sedate pace" and felt that its isometric perspective was not suited to tactical gameplay.[1] Computer Gaming World faulted the game as "a wholly unsatisfying gaming experience" due to "unresponsive" controls, a "steep" learning curve, and no difficulty adjustments, although found it played "fairly smooth and looked okay".[5]
Retrospectively describing International Rugby League as "still an excellent game" that captured the sport well, Stevivor praised the delivery of its announcer, its "tight" running and passing controls and upgraded SVGA graphics, although found the game simplistic and was "hardly an accurate simulation of rugby league tactics".[4]
References
- 1 2 3 Donald, Mark (December 1996). "Australian Rugby League". PC Gamer UK. p. 149.
- 1 2 "Win a league CD-ROM". The Sun-Herald. 26 September 1996. p. 106.
- ↑ Moore, Richard (29 October 1996). "Running rugby at your fingertips". The Age. p. 48.
- 1 2 Gollan, Stuart (6 April 2016). "One game at a time: Video games of the rugby codes (Part VI)". Stevivor. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- 1 2 "International Rugby League". Computer Gaming World. No. 167. June 1998. pp. S26.