Rugby Rush

🏉 Rugby Rush: The Science of Evasion

Rugby Rush distills the complex sport of rugby into a focused examination of its most exciting component: the Try-Scoring Run. Unlike full simulation games that bog players down with scrums and lineouts, this title focuses entirely on Open Field Evasion. The player controls a ball-carrier running vertically up the pitch. The objective is to dodge waves of oncoming defenders to score a try. While mechanically an "Endless Runner" (lane-based avoider), the context introduces specific sports physics regarding momentum and collisions.

🏃 Lateral Agility and Gap Analysis

The core skill tested is Gap Identification. Defenders approach in various formations (Wedges, Lines, Staggered Columns).

• The Sidestep (Juke): The primary mechanic. The player must calculate the "Time to Contact" (TTC) and execute a lane change at the last possible millisecond. Moving too early allows the AI defender to adjust their tracking angle. Moving too late results in a tackle.
• The Fend (Hand-off): A physical interaction. Unlike most runners where contact is instant death, here you can survive a glancing blow. This introduces a "Health/Stamina" resource. Taking a hit slows you down, making the next dodge harder due to reduced velocity.

⚡ Power-Up Economy

The field is littered with power-ups that act as modifiers to the physics engine:

• Speed Boost: Increases forward velocity. While good for scoring quickly, it reduces the player's reaction window, requiring faster cognitive processing.
• Shield (Invincibility): Turns the player into a battering ram. This inverts the gameplay loop: instead of dodging, you aim for the defenders to knock them down for bonus points.

🧠 Field Vision Training

The game trains Peripheral Vision. As the speed increases (Level 5+), the player must look at the top of the screen (the spawn point) rather than their character. This "Look-Ahead" strategy is identical to what real athletes use to read the field. You must process the pattern of the next three rows of defenders simultaneously to plan a viable path.

🏆 Progression and Difficulty

The game operates on a "Stage" system (countries). Each country represents a difficulty tier with faster defenders and narrower gaps. The transition from "Italy" (Easy) to "New Zealand" (Hard) is a steep jump in required reaction time (from 500ms down to 200ms).

❓ FAQ