_ __ _ /_\ |__\ | / \ | \ |__| '96 by SolidSam This FAQ is found only at www.GAMEFAQS.com Version 1.00- This is my First FAQ for ARL '96. This game is really old now, and it's VERY VERY RARE to get a FAQ for it. It did good back in 1996, and the PS2 version of NRL 2001 hopefully will come out next month by EA. Version 1.1- this is an update of all the spelling mistakes. Not a big update, but a helpful one. Version 1.2- I've started making a TEAMS section, but I've decided to post them seperately. I put in some extra things, fixed typo's..etc. Version 1.3- I've fixed up some errors, added the IN DEPTH TRICKS section. ============== Requirements ============== 211MB free hard drive space 2D Card or better 32MB RAM Windows 95/98/98'millienium/ Pentium (possibly 2 or better) = = = = = = = = Contact Me = = = = = = = = My email is: ranaldo@hotmail.com ICQ number: 102669415 Yahoo: ranaldo_69 Please, no pranks cause I don't want my time wasted for nothing. - - - - - - - - - - - Legal issues - - - - - - - - - - - This FAQ was MADE all single handed by ME. It's under Copyright laws as everyone knows like every other FAQ. This document Is a Copyright product of SolidSam at Gamefaqs.com. It may not distributed in any way, or used for profit marketing. I permit putting this on your site, AS LONG as MY NAME is on there and NO-ONE else. Every FAQ I submit may be printed. = = = = = = = = = = Table Of contents = = = = = = = = = = Sections: 1.Contols 2.Players 3.The Game 4.Tips and Tricks *In depth tricks 5.Conclusion, Thoughts 6.Ratings 7.Credit 8.Finishing Up = = = = = = = = 1.Controlling = = = = = = = = At first, handling ANY player is very hard. After a few practices, it's very easy and you'll have mastered it already. There are some cool tricks to beating the game which I'll reveal later on. They aren't "cheats" but They're just plain skill. Anyway, I think the best way to set the controls out is D,A,S. I will referr Every thing here in MY way of the config, don't get too confused) And of course the arrows are UP, DOWN, LEFT and RIGHT. ********************** Here, I'll explain the player and the abilities you have with and without the ball, in other words, ATTCK AND DEFENSE. With possession of ball D= Kick. Holding the arrows in different directions will give different reactions. While running DOWN, holding DOWN AND RIGHT will make the player give a grubber. There are also LONG and BOMB kicks. Experiment with it. There are effects though, a player with BAD kicking, usually with grubbering, the ball will bounce sideways a bit, thus leaving you to run sideways to get possession. A= this is the most used button, A is for passing. When running DOWNWARDS, running left will make your player pass left if you choose to do so. And vice versa, when running UPWARDS, running right will pass right. However, if you are just running STARIGHT, you'll peform a dummy (fake pass). S= this is the Point scoring button. With the ball, your player will SPEED up. Depending on their stamina, they can run for some amount of time FASTER than usual. ALso, this button causes the player to PALM the approaching team players. This gives a good chance of the tackle to you a very low chance of getting tackled. *********************** Without the ball D=D changes the yellow circle to another player. This is good when running after someone or the ball, because you can switch to another player with maybe more speed and stamina. A=A tackles. This is used in different ways. if you tackle from the front, It's a 90% chance of succeeding. However if you chioose to gop to the side, the other players could palm you easily. S=Speed. That's basically it. Just use it to speed up to a player or gaining possession of the ball quickly. = = = = = = = = = = = = 2.The Players = = = = = = = = = = = = Ok now, the players are designed to be very different from the others. Each player has their own number representing their own abilities (see the DEMO and GAME section in the actual game). These mean, number 7 and number 1 are the best kickers of the team. Number 1 is the full back and basically number 7 is a good upfront kicker. There are the front lines which are the forwards (Big men) and they get through other the easiest. Then there are the runners, these are the fastest if the bunch. Use them to chase after balls and to make "breaks" through the oppositions defence lines. Some players are absolutely tremendous (i.e. Matthew Johns and Brad Fittler). They have good kicking, running and tackling. These are found MAINLY in the AUSTRALIAN team or the STATE OF ORIGIN sides (N.S.W and QUEENSLAND). Use these players to your advantage; they'll surely get around many players aswell. = = = = = = = 3.The Game = = = = = = = This section is all about the whole aspect, AIM, and "flow" of the game. GOAL- The whole aim of the game into have the most points at the end of the match. There are many ways of accomplishing this. By getting the ball over the OTHER side's line, you are awarded 4 points. After every TRY you score (like before), from the line where-ever the ball was put down, you must kick the ball in the 2 posts for an extra 2 points. In order by getting the CONVERSION complete (goal kicking) I'll explain the method of how it all works. -When your ready to take the kick, press any ACTIVE button. As the bar is filling up for POWER, the accuracy kicks becomes skinnier. Don't let the be filled with RED the whole way though! -When it's about 3 quarters full, press any ACTIVE button again, now the bar will go DOWN for the accuracy. Depending on your angle, you want the bar to end in the white small bar. If your directly in the middle of the posts, go for the middle. If on the right side, aim a LITTLE to the right. This ensures you an extra 2 points. **************** Different EVENTS **************** There are different options you can choose in playing the game. The OPTUS Cup is a basic LEAGUE in Australia. EUROPE Cup is with the England and areas around that part playing together like WIGAN. International is of course with COUNTRIES including Australia, New Zealand and England. Practice mode let's you change the stats of any player OR team. You can have a REAL challenge in this, put the TEAMS overall all the way down for both sides, and all the way UP for both sides. It may not seem hard but it's really challenging, have a go at it. Friendly is a basic game, one match that's all. The State of Origin let's you choose only 2 teams. New South Wales (N.S.W)and Queensland. These 2 teams have the greatest players in all of the league. You don't have to be really REALLY good in the game. But, You Do need some experience with it. It can be hard. Both teams are Exceptionally good. I don't support these teams, but these are good teams to play with. -Brisbane Broncos -Cronulla Sharks -Canberra Raiders Once again, I don't support these. I support the Parramatta Eels. Yes, they aren't very good in ARL '96 but it's the year 2001 and they're ruling! Anyway, back to the game. = = = = = = = = = = = = 4.Tips & Tricks = = = = = = = = = = = = - The best rule is, KEEP PASSING. If you offload the ball a lot, you will get away with the ball very easily. Using statistics is a good way to winning. - Don't kick the ball straight into another player. Doing grubbers for example with a player running towards you is VERY DANGEROUS. They'll pick it up and keep running, so it's best to kick when someone is side-on you. - During DROP OUTS(drop kicks), if you are performing it, quickly tap DOWN and tap A (pass). This is very crazy, but instead of performing a drop out, the player will pick the ball and pass it!. However, 95% of the time, the ball interferes with the post. So the ball will rebound, just make sure you get the hell out of your danger zone fast! -Hold down the players. This is naughty, but still COOL! After a tackle has been made, if it's not in any place where the opposition can have a kick for goals, press and hold the tackle button. After a few seconds, you'll be Penalised for OBSTRUCTION. The main thing you need after this is good timing and lucky catching. When the opposition kicks for touch, the ball will land and try to bounce out on the sideline. However, if you get to the spot where the ball is landing, you'll regain control of the ball. This works many many times...aswell as the ball is regained by them aswell :'( -When in kick-off after a try or in the beginning of a match (or in the second half), quickly tap the kick button twice. The ball will be kicked HIGH and straight, hopefully. This is your chance, make sure your using a team with a fast kicker at kick off's (N.S.W) and as soon as it's kicked, let the player SPRINT far ahead. During this time the ball will fall, and hopefully land in your hands! It's tricky and a bit sly but at least you get the ball! - During this game, there are NO knock ons, The ball is only sometimes lost when a hard tackle is made and the player is to weak to withstand the tackles. However the referee doesn't call knock ons. - Another blooper in this game, there's no OFFSIDES! So your kicking isn't a problem AT ALL. Just palm players, kick and chase. Most of the time players can be 20 metres offside (I've been experimenting) and still you can grab the ball with ease. -This isn't a trick, you don't any skills at all. Just run with the ball (it's more fun) and speed up the referee, and then watch him fall over! After 10 falls he is still running perfectly and happily, and this means he's asking for more......heh heh heh >:| - If you have a really slow player and you've made anything close to a breakwith one man on you at a time, press the RUN button charge the player down while running a different direction (EXAMPLE: Running UP on the Left side while running, press RIGHT and speed burst to lose them off your trail.) ** In Depth Tricks This is a new section added for different teams. Eventually this will have something to do with me TEAM FAQ. - Check each Teams' stats before playing. If they have something you favour in a game (like good speed) have a go with them. - Auckland and Brisbane have VERY good tackling. They have big men, and the players (some) have heavy weight making it harder to tackle them. - Cronulla and Canberra have good runners. They have pretty good speed. It's best to use them against slow teams as they won't get to you that easily. = = = = = = = = Ratings = = = = = = = = Well, the FAQ has been enjoyable writing. Here's basically the review of the game from the REVIEW section (I wrote it). No violence in any form is contained within this game *NOTE*- It's a 1996 game so don't get pissed at anything (graphics, control's). CONTROL - 8/10 SOUND - 10/10 GAMEPLAY - 10/10 LASTING APPEAL - 7/10 GRAPHICS- 9/10 OVERALL - 88% (44/50) This is game is really fun, and like EVERY other game, it DOES get boring. There aren't very much fun games and events to keep you occupied because 2 players are unfortunately unavailable. The control does quite good, the parts it failed on were the buttons and not having enough controls. It's pretty hard to remember what each direction does with kicking the ball and most things must be done with one button. Still, quite good. Sound is excellent, this is because PAUL VAULTIN (Fatty) has his own personal screen and has some COMMENTS to say about the way your playing. The Commentating is very good, and accurate, and the names are given of every player that get's the ball when say a TRY SCORING pass is made. The Game play is excellent. It's simple, fun, and exciting. There are good challenges which can keep you occupied for a while like PRACTICE mode and changing the team's status. It's really fun though, especially for Aussie Footy fans! Ahh....the game DOES get fustrating when trying to tackle someone and in the end they put an AMAZING try down =( Lasting appeal, this let the game down. The fact that the game options were very limited and this was very bad for the game. However, there are more styles of game play happening. 2 very good examples are the OLD origin where the the old state of origin players come together to play one gme of footy together. This has some of the greatest players in the year 2000/2001 (Laurey Daily). The other one is the COUNTRY VS. CITY origin. This has the country people against the CITE people. Sydney has a country section and the main city. However, this year (it's the first C VS. Count.) Country won by a very big margin. This recently happened, and HOPEFULLY, EA will bring these along in the game too. The graphics are nothing compared to today's games (Half Life, Metal Gear Solid 2) but for a game in 1996 it's pretty good. Graphics might of got a 10 if all the players didn't look the same! The same hair style, height, but this would've taken too much time and work to do anyway.. As an overall, I think this game is worth playing. Don't get frustrated at first, cause it's hard, just get a few practices and you'll breeze through the game. With today's technology on the PS2 it's suitable to make a rugby league game....cause we're still waiting. Total score of 88% or 44/50. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 6.Conclusion and my thoughts = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Well, unfortunately my TUTOR FAQ has come to an end. The demonstrations are over, anyway, EA are making the newer version of NRL (ARL or RUGBY LEAGUE). It's now know as NRL (National Rugby League) since Australia isn't the only Country playing it. I live in Australia, my name is Sam and I support the Parramatta Eels. Though "I Love My Footy" don't play it. I play soccer, but I still like playing Rugby League. My soccer team is going very good, and it's not worth playing knowing I'm going to be a pro footy player in future years. I really don't want to, all the backbones landing HARD on the grass, people scratching you a lot of the times, and hammering you many times too. Well, it's not a BAD sport, I just think SOCCER is a better sport. Anyway, I THINK that Rugby League 2001 is being released in AMERICA on July 15th or 16th. Now that's pretty....stupid. America doesn't have any part in the sport, however it's MORE fun than the NFL (believe me). I just hope that the game wil have good difficulties, knock ons (such as when your running and you JUST catch the ball in ARL '96), offsides and the video ref! The referee on the field can't see every little thing that goes on, let's just hope it's more REALISTIC. For the PC version (hopefully), online play will be just great (but then again...this IS EA)! **NOTE**: My brother recently bought a PS2 converter online, we got it. But the colour was screwed (eg.white was now green). We sent it back, and got a reply 5 weeks later saying YES IT WAS PHONY. Then we tried it.......didn't work again. SO we went and bought a NEW FLat screen t.v to watch a Free E3 DVD we FREELY recieved. The duration is 20 minutes. It has some previews of some upcoming games on X-BOX, GAMECUBE, Ps2 and DREAMCAST. Ps2 Had a LOT of sport games coming out on it, but because this was in America, NO Rugby League game was shown. The grand final is over, and EA's soccer games are nothing compared to Konami's, so they can ATLEAST make an ORIGINAL NRL game, seeing as there's 1 on a PC only. = = = = = = = = = = 7.Special thanks = = = = = = = = = = I'd like to thank: GOD-For making me Jess- Cause without him, I'd never play the game! Cuong-Who gave the game to Jess Coung's cousin- Who gave the game to Cuong Michael my brother-For letting me use the Computer and take control (Ha!) EA-for finally deciding to release NRL 2001 Gamefaqs-For putting my FAQ on their site (the number 1 site EVER, and no I'm not sucking up! I'd still be up to Adel in FFVIII.......) THANKS! *************** 8.Finishing Up *************** Well, I hope you learned something from this FAQ. Never give up, just keep trying. Eventually, I had to suffer HORRIBLE first time defeats....and then I got the hang of it. Now I'm invincible! I hope to write more FAQS and get more ideas for many games. However, I'm still supporting GAMEFAQS, they're there for my needs for everything! Without them, I'd be stuck in VAGRANT STORY, Final fantasy 7 and 8, and RESIDENT EVIL: CODE VERONICA. Anyway, it's been as much fun writing as you reading. Thanks for reading. @Copyright 2001 _____________________________________________________________________________________