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"Put it into 3D mode." Sorry? "Put it into 3D mode." Absolutely amazing. We're doing a feature on top-notch samples in games. And here we have a budget rugby game with an instructional sample that sounds incredibly like a slightly impatient Stuart Campbell.

Well, what do you know, it really was Stu all the time. Still, it probably was pushing the bounds of interactivity for a 1991 game. Shame though, 'cos it was giving me great pleasure to ignore the suggestion; safe in the false knowledge that there would be no repercussions for my lack of compliance.

As usual though, the proposal had a not of positive negativity in it. 3D mode was dutifully toggled, and what do you know, a completely new perspective unfolded on the game. A push on the 'blimp view' key further gave way to a reasonably impressive aerial panorama which, incidentally can also be toggled into a 3D overhead vista.

World Class Rugby is impressive. The animation and motion of the players is excellent; much better than any of the Kick Offs or Sensible Soccer can muster. If fact, just as an aside, World Class Rugby's players look like real men compared to the ballet dancing small girls' blouses of the Sensible Soccer crew.

But as everybody who reads Amiga Power knows, lovely graphics do not a great game make. You do all know that by now, don't you? Please?

The rules and procedures of rugby are dutifully adhered to. Penalties, line-outs, drop kicks, scrums, offside, passing, even marking (where a player remaining stationary in his own 22-yard area catching a ball can call for a mark and receive a free drop kick for his trouble). They're all here. In fact, this attention to detail, both in gameplay and the overall amount of options open to the discerning player, is to be lauded. For example, from the options you can select action replays, individually skilled players, muddy wind-blown pitches, team strip colours, etc, etc, etc. Not enough software houses pay this amount of attention to accuracy in their games.

Needless to say though, with all of this detail to be taken in and dealt with, control isn't quite as easy to get to grips with as, say, a football game. Rather than have the computer switch automatically to the optimum player for tackles etc, you have to do it yourself by pressing the fire button. This can be quite tricky, especially when the All Black's best forward is hurtling toward your dead ball area. Invariably, control switches to the wrong man half a second too late. But practice very nearly makes perfect, happily.

The most relevant criticism is the apparent inevitability of ending up in a ruck. While rucks do crop up in every rugby match, they're usually over in seconds and definitely do not result in the potential Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome-inducing joystick waggling.

Well, that's about it. World Class Rugby hasn't been penalised by the knock-on of time since its first dummy run. Give it a try.

The best rugby game on the Amiga (not that there's much competition), and a fine home-grown alternative to John Madden Football. A bit expensive for a budget game, but it's good enough to get away with it. A winner.