International Rugby on the Genesis is one of those old-school sports games that somehow nails the chaos of the sport without overcomplicating things. You pick a country (obviously New Zealand first, because duh), and suddenly you're in this pixelated scrum where guys just sort of pile on each other. The controls are simple—pass, kick, tackle—but good luck figuring out when to do which. Half the time I'd just sprint down the sideline like an idiot until someone clotheslined me.

What's cool is how it actually feels like rugby, not just football with different sprites. The scrums are messy, the ball bounces unpredictably, and sometimes your dude just boots it into the stands for no reason. Graphics are typical early-90s Genesis—chunky but charming, with these little dudes who somehow convey "rugby player" despite being like 12 pixels tall. Soundtrack's all hype horns and crowd noise, which somehow works.

It's janky by modern standards, but in that way where you laugh with it, not at it. Still holds up if you're into retro sports games. Just don't expect FIFA-level realism.