Preview: Rugby League 3

Out March 19 for Nintendo Wii

A screenshot from Rugby League 3.

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As society moves towards what some optimistically refer to as a "global community", it's entirely likely that future generations will be unable to imagine a country, and immediately associate an item with it.

For all my years on this planet, I've been content in the knowledge that should I wish to purchase mouthwatering bratwurst, hand-crafted Lederhosen, or cars that have no indicators, Germany is the place to start looking.

Likewise, if at any point, if the urge arrives to experience magnificent stone architecture, clever stand-up comedy routines and cirrhosis of the liver - perhaps in the same afternoon - then the only logical choice is Ireland. Some countries are just better at doing things than others.

So with this in mind, and casting a reflective and somewhat biased eye over our own country, just what can we be proud of as kiwis? It used to be that playing the "country association game" with a foreigner prior to around 2000 would generally yield "sheep" and "rugby". These days, it's "sheep", "rugby" and "that film that Peter Jackson played a hobbit in".

We're really not on the forefront of the global stage when it comes to many things, so it's important that when we do find areas to excel in, we pick up the ball and run with it, and most importantly avoid using any cheap sporting clichés in the process.
 
Rugby League 3 from Wellington-based developers Sidhe is the result of the convergence of two great kiwi pastimes - Rugby, and using words that aren't pronounced as they're written. It's the successor to the sensibly-named Rugby League 2, however this time around Sony and Microsoft have been on the receiving end of Nintendo's rather large middle finger, so if you want to partake in what is looking like one of the best league titles in recent times, you're going to need a Wii.

That's not to say there are no plans for this franchise to eventually make it to the other half of the consoles in the world, as Dave from publishers Hes.net was quick to point out at our hands-on session.

It's worth noting too that if you're overly concerned at mixing the Wii's reputation for vigorous exercise with such activities as name calling, beer drinking and pizza eating on the assumption that this may too closely approximate a real league match, there are actually three different methods of control, none of which force you to stand upright at any time. You can plug a GameCube controller in, and for those who perhaps want the fastest method of immersion for the least in intellectual investment then this is the ticket.

Those what want a bit more control (or individuals who have recently taken out contents insurance and would like to spend half an hour listening to Dave Dobbyn on an 0800 number) can grasp the WiiMote horizontally and flick it from left to right to pass the ball, or out in a sweeping movement in front to kick.

Thirdly, you can combine the Wiimote with the nunchuck and use just one arm to kick and flick the ball, whilst the other hand controls your running. There are also other subtle combinations designed to push the Wii's tolerance further than a judge at a Millie Elder hearing, so it's genuinely nice to see all available options catered for.

Perhaps the most significant addition however is the inclusion of a strategy element designed to position players on the field based on what sort of play you opt to run with, which can be manipulated in real-time.

For example, you can shimmy your team about based on whether you anticipate the AI to instigate a kick downfield, or perhaps bring them back up to form a defensive line if you're weary of a breakthrough. The strategy options are quickly accessible from whatever controller you favour, and add another veneer of complexity on what is already a surprisingly involved game.

Other nice touches include a cinematic replay facility after scoring, and a gameplay video summary at half-time, along with a collection of statistics. Stats are important in Rugby League 3, they'll not only give you endless bragging rights against your inferior associates, but you'll use them to unlock bonus content in the form of teams, apparel, that sort of thing.

Stats are also referenced in the excellent team manager mode, which allows you to comprehensively manipulate your players in a number of teams and matches for years at a time - either play the games yourself, or skip them for an auto-generated score. Not perhaps on the same level as the insane, poke-your-eyes-out-with-a-spoon FIFA Manager series, for example, but extremely comprehensive and detailed nevertheless.
 
There's so much more to Rugby League 3 than meets the eye, and it's genuinely amazing to see how much Sidhe have shoe-horned on to the Wii platform. From the complete, up-to-date team rosters plucked from 80 sides (including NRL, Super League, Toyota Cup, UK Championship, UK Championship 1, State of Origin, City v Country and internationals) to the motion-captured players that actually look like real people - not to mention the excellent in-game commentary from Channel Nine's Andrew Voss - there's a great deal of entertainment on offer. You can even have up to eight players enjoying the game locally, provided you have four GameCube controllers, four Wiimotes, and a living room the size of a tennis court.

Rugby League 3 is due for release on March 19 - put a circle around that date if you're a fan of the previous games, or you're just keen to see what the Wii can produce when it's challenged.

- Gameplanet.co.nz

- Gameplanet