“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” Fight Night, the biggest boxing game of them all. This game pays testament to that statement. This sequel has been under immense pressure to do well ever since the ground breaking Fight Night round 3. Round 3 gave the gaming world one of the first glimpses of HD gaming and truly helped redefine gaming and taking it to the next level. EA Canada has taken over from the defunct EA Chicago and they have made many new and unique changes to the franchise. They’ve changed the career mode (now legacy mode), they’ve introduced a new breed of control mechanics and they’ve reshaped every move in the game by doubling its speed and adding what can only be described as a pure poetry physics system. So does Round 4 get a KO or does it beat the best and become the champ? Read on to find out………..
Round 4 has a lot to live up to and just to tell you now it surpasses Round 3 with ease. Imagine Tyson vs. a kitty cat. That’s what we have got here when we compare the two. This is one of the most ,if not the most, visually beautiful games I have ever seen on a games console. It is truly stunning. I was expecting something the way good but what I got was like Christmas morning all over again. I would almost buy the game just to appreciate the graphics !
The character models are truly immense. They are so life-like and the legends of the sport have been resurrected wonderfully. Ali, Tyson, Frazier, Foreman and many others have been digitally recreated and look fantastic. They have different facial expressions for what is happening in the ring, for example if they miss a punch there is a look of shock or after taking a big hit – it is truly amazing. Other boxers are also beautifully renderred and current stars are also included such as Hatton, Mayweather and many many others. Another brilliant new feature to the game is the ability to put your face in the game by using the Photo game face which makes its first appearance in the Fight Night Franchise. During the actual matches characters sweat, bleed, get cut and their faces swell up. I don’t know why but I was genuinely excited the first time I saw this. It was amazing to see the results of a fight actually be reflected in the faces of the two fighters and it was so expertly done you would struggle to determine the differences between real life and the game. The fighting arenas are vast and wonderfully crafted. Progressing from the gym to the big stage your character fights in every ring possible and the crowds that come with the arenas are also brilliant. However my favourite part of the game by far is the amazing slow motion replay camera. This comes after you either KO someone or knock them to the ground. The physics are astonishing. Spit flies out of their mouth, sweat flies and if that’s not enough their face jiggles more than a slapped jelly. I cant really say enough to make out how good the looks of this game are, to do it justice you really have to see videos or play the game to feel the true experience.
Another aspect of Round 4 that really impressed me was the sound throughout the game. The background soundtrack is fantastic and appropriate. From snoop dogg to bloc party there really is something for everyone and the music fit’s the game so well. In some games the soundtrack really gets on your nerves because it just isn’t appropriate but these songs psyche you up for the boxing and get you in the mood to fire some punches. The contact noises are brutal yet addictive. You never get tired of hearing the punch connect with another fighters chin. Sometimes it is truly hilarious. The slow motion crunches are like music to my ears and the crunch which comes with a KO punch is something I believe every gamer would enjoy because it is just so satisfying for some strange, unknown reason. What also amazed me was the quality of the commentators in the game. They are intelligent and react to what is actually happening in the match, which is something sport fans aren’t to used to. We usually find ourselves listening to really dodgy sound clips of famous commentators that just don’t make sense and seem to be random however this game ,as I said, has got a very thorough commentating system and the best I have ever heard. The trainers also act like mini-commentators through the match. They adapt to the situation and give advice on how you can improve. To me this was a very smart idea and actually helps and enhances the realism and game play.
Speaking of which the game play is also astounding. To me this is the sports game of the year easily. As mentioned earlier EA Canada have introduced a new in depth fighting system. This really does bring the game to a whole new level. The right analogue stick is now the new punching function and you must move it in certain ways to pull of certain punches. The R1 and L1 buttons provide you with your blocking and dodging whilst the R2 and X buttons provide you with your haymaker modifier and signature punch (there is nothing like watching Ali pull of the Shuffle to knock a guy out). Also you have your grab or hold button – the triangle and your illegal blow ( which I found amusing) which is the O button. The new legacy mode is fantastic. You can play through as a created character or help to rebuild an existing legend from scratch. You must make your way up the rankings and become the greatest of them all. Throughout the career mode boxers retire and awards are presented for the best match, round, knockout etc. You have your basic training mode which helps to increase stats and you can schedule your own fights. Another of my favourite features is the highlight reel. You can create this be recording instant replay footage whilst in game and this can be anything from KO’s to just using the illegal blow button for a laugh. It truly is a good feature and adds another element of fun to the game to create your own highlights and then show them off to your friends. During the matches your ability in the ring now determines how well your characters health and stamina is restored between rounds which I found to be a lot less hands on than in Round 3 but I liked it more because of this as the game did focus more on the boxing. An integral part of the in ring action is the countering system. The ability to dodge a punch and then land a quickfire punch of your own not only causes more damage but also gives you more point in your corner. It can also lead to the opponent becoming drowsy and therefore enable you to land a few more punches and hopefully introduce their face to the mat. The online mode is also great to play . It has been named the World Championship Mode Online and this allows you to take your created fighter online where every one is equal and it determines on skill rather than attributes. Your character can level up, win belts (and lose them) and generally show the world how good you are.
To say the least Fight Night Round 4 came into the ring and came back out again with the championship belt after knocking out its competitors in the first round. It well exceeded my expectations and will no doubt satisfy every gamer who plays it. The online mode is enough to keep gamers happy and the multiplayer fights are always a good laugh. The visuals are fantastic and so are the sounds. The gameplay to me is unparalleled and expertly executed. To tell the truth I am not even a fan of boxing but I am completely addicted to this game. I struggled to find any faults and to be honest you will to. This is definitely in the top 5 games of the year and will probably be the best sports game. The champ has most certainly returned.
Overall I give Fight Night Round 4 a 9.5 out of 10
Marks out of 10
Sound: 9.5 – amazing atmosphere and those body crunches……
Graphics:10– Truly outstanding
Gameplay: 9– closest interpretation of sports game vs real life possibly to date
Lifespan: 9 – I’ll be playing this for a long while and will revisit either with friends/online or solo regularly
Top Star goes to the wobbly legs of the boxers when knocked out – watch on slo mo time and again !
