'DIGS LIKE A DEMENTED MOLE THERE' - Jonah Lomu Rugby Review
Obviously, if you're a graphics fiend, you're not going to be too impressed (bear in mind that this game was released in 1997), but the sprites only add to the games overall charm. Give it time, and the efficiency of the gameplay mechanics start to mask the graphical failures. The simple-yet-effective controls help greatly, with 3 or 4 passes being sufficient to score tries (depending on the opposition), and the set-pieces being handled with on-screen commands. This allows the game to become instantly accessible, and for even first-time players to mount serious challenges after relatively little time spent playing the game.
Now, the sound. The crowd noises, and general SFX aren't great - but that doesn't matter, as JLR contains the immortal combination of Bill McLaren and Bill Beaumont as commentators, and while the phrase bank gets repetitive pretty quickly, the phrases themselves are so humorous that it really doesn't matter (e.g. McLaren: 'My goodness, that tackle could have put him in ward 4' Beaumont: 'I hope not, that's the maternity ward' - and the infamous 'Digs like a demented mole there'). Overall, if you're looking for a complete representation of Rugby - look elsewhere. If, however, you're looking for a great arcade-style game that just so happens to be based around rugby, you've come to the right place.