Rugby World Cup '95

Rugby World Cup '95 is developer Electronic Arts' first attempt at a rugby union simulation and is graphically adapted from the company's previous association football title FIFA International Soccer.{{cite magazine | author1=Swan, Gus | author2=Merrett, Steve | date=December 1994 | title=MegaDrive Review: Rugby World Cup '95 | url=https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-26/page/n91/mode/2up | magazine=Mean Machines Sega | publisher=EMAP | issue=26 | issn=0960-4952 | pages=92–4}} The game utilizes an isometric viewpoint where the player controls one of the fifteen rugby players on their team at a time with the ability to switch players on command. It features multiplayer for up to four people simultaneously, each controlling a different rugby player. The human competitors can choose to control a rugby player on the same team or on opposing teams with the remainder controlled by the computer.

Four modes are available: Friendly, World Cup, World Cup 95 and League. Friendly engages the player in a single match between two teams of their choice. World Cup mode resembles the format of the Rugby World Cup, with the player controlling a team of their choice through a tournament with a knockout format. World Cup 95 mode features the same format, but with the teams taking part and the order of the matches at the group stage being the same as the 1995 edition of the event. League consists of eight teams who contest a double round-robin tournament.

The game features all twenty national teams that participated in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, a further ten countries that participated in the qualifying stages, plus two fictional teams: the EA Barbarians and the EA Maulers. The players on each of the teams have fictional names.

• {{ru|ARG}}
• {{ru|AUS}}
• {{ru|CAN}}
• {{ru|CZE}}
• {{ru|ENG}}
• {{ru|FIJ}}
• {{ru|FRA}}
• {{ru|GER}}
• {{ru|IRE}}
• {{ru|ITA|1946}}
• {{ru|CIV}}
• {{ru|JPN}}
• {{ru|LAT}}
• {{ru|MAR}}
• {{ru|NED}}
• {{ru|NAM}}
• {{ru|NZL}}
• {{ru|POR}}
• {{ru|ROU}}
• {{ru|RUS}}
• {{ru|SCO|1542}}
• {{ru|RSA}}
• {{ru|ESP}}
• {{ru|SWE}}
• {{ru|TON}}
• {{ru|URU}}
• {{ru|USA}}
• {{ru|WAL}}
• {{ru|SAM|name=Western Samoa}}
• {{ru|ZIM}}

Rugby World Cup '95 for the Sega Genesis was developed internally at the Slough branch of EA Sports, a division of the larger Electronic Arts. Leads Jules Burt and Jon Law were assigned to the project after work on 1993's FIFA International Soccer for Genesis was moved to the company's Canadian studio.{{cite magazine | author=Yarwood, Jack | date=December 26, 2023 | title=The Making of FIFA International Soccer, The Game That Launched A Billion Dollar Series | url=https://www.timeextension.com/features/the-making-of-fifa-international-soccer-the-game-that-launched-a-billion-dollar-series | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241231010057/https://www.timeextension.com/features/the-making-of-fifa-international-soccer-the-game-that-launched-a-billion-dollar-series | archive-date=December 31, 2024 | website=Time Extension | accessdate=February 2, 2025}} Rugby World Cup '95 uses the same game engine as its predecessor, borrowing its isometric viewpoint and drastically increasing the number of on-screen sprites and amount of animation. It contained over 2,000 unique sprites and over 100 animated moves.{{cite magazine | author=Marke, Chris | date=December 1995 | title=MegaDrive Preview: Rugby World Cup 1995 | url=https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-39/page/n23/mode/2up | magazine=Sega Pro | publisher=Paragon Publishing | issue=39 | issn=0964-2641 | pages=24–5}} Billy Cain, a designer at EA subsidiary Origin Systems, was brought to assist in during the final months of production because it was running behind schedule.{{cite book | author1=Moore, Michael E. | author2=Novak, Jeannie | date=2010 | title=Game Development Essentials: Game Industry Career Guide | url=https://archive.org/details/gamedevelopmente00unse/page/65/mode/1up?q=%22Kevin+Buckner%22 | publisher=Delmar, Cengage Learning | page=65 | isbn=978-1-4283-7647-2}}{{cite web | author=Lesnick, Ben | date=September 21, 2007 | title=WC2 SNES Revisited | url=https://www.wcnews.com/news/update/8190 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920170050/https://www.wcnews.com/news/update/8190 | archive-date=September 20, 2024 | website=Wing Commander Combat Information Center | accessdate=February 2, 2025}} The game was released on console in December 1994.{{cite magazine | author1=Patterson, Mark | author2=Lord, Gary | date=December 1994 | title=CVG Review: Rugby World Cup | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/6/6b/CVG_UK_157.pdf | magazine=Computer and Video Games | publisher=Future plc | issn=0261-3697 | issue=157 | pages=90–1| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226152627/https://retrocdn.net/images/6/6b/CVG_UK_157.pdf | archive-date=26 December 2024 }}{{cite magazine | author=EGM staff | date=December 1994 | title=Team EGM: Rugby World Cup 1995 | url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_65/page/n275/mode/1up | magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Sendai Publishing | issue=65 | issn=1058-918X | page=248}}

A DOS CD-ROM version was handled by Creative Assembly, a small UK team which got its start converting Amiga titles to PC. They had established a connection with EA by doing the same with FIFA International Soccer earlier in 1994 and had pioneered the use of live, reaction commentary within the game, a feature that would become an industry standard.{{cite magazine | author=PC Gamer staff | date=November 2011 | title=The Making of... Shogun: Total War | url=https://archive.org/details/pc-gamer-2011-11-november-uk/PC%20Gamer%202011%2011%20NOVEMBER%20UK/page/186/mode/1up | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Future plc | issn=1080-4471 | issue=232 | page=186}}{{cite web | author=Dean, Paul | date=September 17, 2012 | title=Creation Legend: The history of The Creative Assembly | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/creation-legend-the-history-of-the-creative-assembly | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004140210/https://www.eurogamer.net/creation-legend-the-history-of-the-creative-assembly | archive-date=October 4, 2024 | website=Eurogamer | accessdate=February 2, 2024}} Rugby World Cup '95, now fully-titled Rugby World Cup 1995 on PC, would also be upgraded with commentary.{{cite web | author=Gollan, Stuart | date=April 6, 2016 | title=One game at a time: Video games of the rugby codes (Part VI) | url=https://stevivor.com/features/in-depth/one-game-time-video-games-rugby-codes-part-vi/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509201201/https://stevivor.com/features/in-depth/one-game-time-video-games-rugby-codes-part-vi/ | archive-date=May 9, 2023 | website=Stevivor | accessdate=February 2, 2025}} The 1995 Genesis EA Sports title Australian Rugby League used the same engine as Rugby World Cup '95.{{cite web | author=Andreadis, Kosta | date=November 16, 2017 | title=Celebrating 30 Years of Creative Assembly | url=https://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/3587147 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113220714/https://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/3587147 | archive-date=November 13, 2024 | website=AusGamers | accessdate=February 2, 2025}}{{cite magazine | author=Stretch Armstrong | date=December 1995 | title=ARL Rugby League: Review Mega Drive | url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-025/page/47/mode/1up | magazine=Hyper | publisher=nextmedia | issue=25 | issn=1320-7458 | page=47}}

{{VG Reviews

| CVG = 91/100 (GEN)

| CGW = {{rating|3|5}} (DOS){{cite magazine | author=Jones, George | date=November 1995 | title=Review: Sophisticated Violence | url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_136/page/n215/mode/1up | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issn=0744-6667 | issue=136 | pages=212, 214}}

| EGM = 82% (GEN){{cite magazine | author1=Iceman | author2=Video Cowboy | title=Team EGM: Rugby World Cup 1995 by Electronic Arts | url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-066-january-1995/page/210/mode/1up | magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Sendai Publishing | issue=66 | issn=1058-918X | page=210}}

| GI = 7.75/10 (GEN){{cite magazine | author=Game Informer staff | date=January 1995 | title=At a Glance: Rugby World Cup – EA Sports | url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-21-january-1995/page/n18/mode/1up | magazine=Game Informer | publisher=Sunrise Publications | issn=1067-6392 | issue=21 | page=17}}

| GP = 90% (GEN){{cite magazine | author=Game Players | date=April 1995 | title=GP Sports Review: Rugby World Cup '95 | url=https://archive.org/details/game-players-issue-70/page/n59/mode/1up | magazine=Game Players | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=70 | issn=1087-2779 | page=58}}

| GamePro = {{rating|3.5|5}} (GEN){{cite magazine | author=Greasy Gus | date=February 1995 | title=The Sports Page: No Pads or Helmets, But Good Rugby Fun – Rugby World Cup '95 | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c7/GamePro_US_067.pdf | magazine=GamePro | publisher=IDG | issue=67 | page=114 | issn=1042-8658| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122201856/https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c7/GamePro_US_067.pdf | archive-date=22 January 2025 }}

| Hyper = 86% (GEN){{cite magazine | author=Stretch Armstrong | date=February 1995 | title=Review: Rugby World Cup 95 | url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-015/page/n45/mode/2up | magazine=Hyper | publisher=nextmedia | issue=15 | issn=1320-7458 | pages=46–7}}
80% (DOS){{cite magazine | author=Wheeler, Chris | date=September 1995 | title=bytesize: Rugby World Cup 1995 | url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-022/page/68/mode/1up | magazine=Hyper | publisher=nextmedia | issue=22 | issn=1320-7458 | page=68}}

| JS = 144/200 (DOS){{cite magazine | author=Bonnet, Jérôme | date=July 1995 | title=Rugby World Cup 1995: Une lacune de comblée! | trans-title=Rugby World Cup 1995: A gap filled! | url=https://archive.org/details/joystick062/page/n84/mode/1up | magazine=Joystick | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | issn=1145-4806 | issue=62 | page=85 | language=fr}}

| MMS = 90/100 (GEN)

| PCGUS = 52% (DOS){{cite journal |title=Rugby World Cup 95 Review|date=August 1995 |journal=PC Gamer |first=Stuart |last=Campbell |publisher=Future plc |issn=1080-4471 |issue=21}}

| NGen = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|issue=3|publisher=Imagine Media|date=March 1995|page=101|url=https://archive.org/details/next-generation-24-dec-1996/NEXT%20Generation%2003%20Mar%201995/page/101/mode/1up|author=Next Generation staff|issn=1078-9693}}

| rev1 = CD-ROM Today

| rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}} (DOS){{cite magazine | author=Webster, Garrick | date=September 1995 | title=Rugby World Cup 1995 | url=https://archive.org/details/cd-rom-today-issue-17-1995-09/page/83/mode/1up | magazine=CD-ROM Today | publisher=Imagine Publishing | issn=1069-4099 | issue=17 | page=83}}

| rev2 = MegaZone

| rev2Score = 83/100{{cite magazine | author=Sariban, Mark | date=March 1995 | title=Mega Drive Review: Rugby World Cup 1995 | url=https://archive.org/details/megazoneau49/page/n33/mode/2up | magazine=MegaZone | publisher=Mason Stewart Publishing | issue=49 | issn=1321-8131 | pages=34–5}}

| rev3 = PC Player

| rev3Score = 70/100 (DOS){{cite magazine | author=Stangl, Florian | date=September 1995 | title=Spiele-test: Rugby World Cup 1995 | url=https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1995-09/page/n91/mode/2up | magazine=PC Player | publisher=Future Verlag | issn=0943-6693 | language=de | pages=124–5}}

| rev4 = Sega Magazine

| rev4Score = 90/100 (GEN){{cite magazine | author1=Leadbetter, Richard | author2=Laurence, Edward | date=January 1995 | title=Mega Drive Review: Rugby World Cup 1995 | url=https://archive.org/details/sega-13/page/67/mode/2up | magazine=Sega Magazine | publisher=EMAP | issn=1360-9424 | issue=13 | pages=106–7}}

| rev5 = Sega Pro

| rev5Score = 85% (GEN){{cite magazine | author=Hill, Mark | date=January 1995 | title=Review: Rugby World Cup 1995 | url=https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-40/page/n37/mode/2up | magazine=Sega Pro | publisher=Paragon Publishing | issue=40 | issn=0964-2641 | pages=38–9}}

| rev6 = VideoGames

| rev6Score= 8/10 (GEN){{cite magazine | author=Tschiltsch, Jeffrey | date=February 1995 | title=Genesis: Rugby World Cup 1995 | url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_73_Feb_1995/page/n94/mode/1up | magazine=VideoGames | publisher=Larry Flynt Publications | issue=73 | issn=1059-2938 | page=85}}

}}

{{expand-section|date=February 2025}}

Next Generation reviewed the Genesis version of the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "Rugby World Cup '95 is a quality sports game serving as a great welcome to the sport of rugby, oh, and not to mention the game is damn fun." Mean Machines Sega magazine rated the Genesis version 90% and described it as "a spot-on conversion" of the sport. They described the player animation as "superb", noted that there was no evident slowdown when all thirty players appeared on screen at once, and noted that "absolute control is offered over the players"

Stuart Campbell reviewed the DOS version in the UK's PC Gamer, criticising the isometric perspective by stating it was difficult to work out where on the pitch the action was taking place from the markings and where other players on the team were located. He also noted that possession of the ball after a tackle appears to be decided at random, and the kicking controls take too long for the player to carry out and usually get interrupted by a tackle as a result. Awarding the game a score of 52%, Campbell's overall verdict was that it "concentrates on realism at the expense of gameplay, but doesn't make a very good job of either".

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/5883/rugby-world-cup-95/ Rugby World Cup '95] at MobyGames

{{Rugby Union video games}}

Category:1994 video games

Category:Creative Assembly games

Category:DOS games

Category:Electronic Arts games

Category:Rugby union video games

Category:Sega Genesis games

Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom

Category:Video games with isometric graphics

Category:Video games set in 1995

Category:Video games set in South Africa