‘RUGBY 08’

‘RUGBY 08’

(EA Sports) for PlayStation 2, PC

Genre: Sports; Rating: E

Grade: C

EA took a year off from its “Rugby” franchise, presumably to upgrade its interface, gameplay and overall accessibility. Eager to capitalize on the upcoming Rugby World Cup, it has released “Rugby 08,” completely remade with ... well ... OK, it’s not really remade. Despite the break, developers don’t seem to have done much, and although it’s still fun to play, there’s much room for improvement.

First, rugby is not an underground sport only for those who can’t decide between playing soccer or football. It is an intense sport, and once you grasp the rules it’s amazingly entertaining and much more brutal than you’d think. “Rugby 08” wisely offers a smart tutorial on the sport’s nuances, so it doesn’t take long until you are knocking heads on the pitch.

One problem that pops up immediately is the response time of the controls. It’s great to have a control scheme that is easy to learn, but when there’s a noticeable gap between your button presses and the game’s response, it’s frustrating. You learn to make it work in your favor with time, so it’s not a total game-killer. But this franchise also still lacks online play. There’s no better way to stifle a franchise than by keeping its players from interacting with each another.

The stadiums and players look solid, and all the appropriate nations and so forth for the World Cup are included, so there are plenty of reasons why rugby fans will want to snatch up this title. Just don’t expect “Madden 08”-like improvements.

‘DEAL OR NO DEAL’

(Destination Software) for DS

Genre: Strategy; Rating: E

Grade: F

If you’ve watched NBC’s “Deal or No Deal” game show and thought, “Hey, I can do better than these crazy people,” then you’re in luck — the DS translation is hopelessly easy.

That’s an understatement, because the game keeps repeating the same puzzles over and over, so learning the patterns is painless. How this game was released with such a huge flaw — and for a price of $30, no less — is a mystery.

“Deal or No Deal” recalls a telling scene from the film “Scrooged.” Bill Murray’s character watches a highly expensive promotional spot for an even more expensive product. All the major players who had a hand in the promo are there, and they clearly love the spot. Giddy with excitement, they turn to Murray, who sums up his thoughts in the same way many gamers will for “Deal or No Deal” — “Oh my gosh, does that suck.”

‘MEGA MAN STAR FORCE: DRAGON’

(Capcom) for DS

Genre: Role-playing; Rating: E

Grade: C-

Capcom has followed the lead of Nintendo — which capitalized on the “Pokémon” craze by producing slightly altered versions of the same game — by releasing “Mega Man Star Force” in “Dragon,” “Pegasus” and “Leo” installments. All do pretty much the same thing — you play as a young boy who can turn into Mega Man and battle the forces of evil in a parallel universe.

Those who played the “Battle Network” series on the Game Boy Advance will feel right at home, as these games are an extension of that series. It’s a basic RPG that uses card trading and turn-based strategy as its underpinnings. Gamers should take advantage of the Wi-Fi capabilities, because that will unlock some bonus items and allow you to trade cards with other players on your friends list.

Most disappointing is that the graphics have not improved since moving over from the GBA. Still, those who enjoy this franchise will find its depth and new features nice additions.

— Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard