A famous
fast food chain recently adopted the tagline, "Gather ’round the good
stuff." Now I know they were referring to a deep dish, cheese crust pizza. I,
however, will use that line to tell you about the latest edition to EA’s
family of boxing games: Fight Night Round 3.
Built on
older technology than every other version available (except the PSP version,
which I won’t compare this one to), Fight Night Round 3 does not instantly
stand out like the PlayStation 3 version did when it was unveiled last year.
It doesn’t have the visual potency of the Xbox 360 version either. What did
you expect? I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but came out feeling
satisfied in most respects. The gameplay, though still very much in the
current generation, is top-notch. And while the visuals may not have the power
to turn heads, drop jaws, and cause an audience of thousands to stand up and
cheer, they do take advantage of every graphic technique the PS2 can push.
Like
Burnout, Metal Gear Solid and other classics, the developers of Fight Night
Round 3 took a few cues from Hollywood when designing the game. Computer
generated imagery isn’t needed when the real-time effects are perfectly
cinematic. They’re the best you’ll find in a PlayStation 2 boxing game. The
camera tricks are unreal. Receive or deliver a hard punch and the screen will
shake. It jerks sideways for a second, then snaps back into place.
This effect
sounds simple and could’ve been done years ago, but it’s the Fight Night team
that thought of it. Simple or not it adds so much to the experience. It pulls
you deeper into each fight, and really makes you feel each and every punch.
Even lighter punches cause screen changes. These are the kinds of things you
see in movies and on TV, not in real-time while you play. Ultra impressive.
Fight Night
Round 3’s gameplay isn’t as cinematic as the camera angles, but it too
delivers a healthy dose of inspired entertainment. The two-stick Total Control
system is deeply rewarding. One slight touch can change the way you’re
standing, the punching fist, the type of punch, anything. The controls are
sensitive and respond accurately. Button-mashing is almost completely
eliminated – I can’t say it’s been a problem on game consoles, but it gave
gamers an easy way to cheat at arcades. That’s not something EA would want to
do in a boxing game that’s better to play with a friend than it is to go solo.
The single-player modes are fun, however, they cannot compare to the
long-lasting entertainment value that emerges from two vengeful gamers.
For
newcomers and gamers looking to master every single move, Fight Night Round 3
offers a decent training mode. It’ll teach you the stances, positions, various
punches, and provides other helpful hints. It also shows you how to combo,
which is not going to be easy for someone who has not played Round 2. Not that
I’m trying to imply that this version has a steep learning curve – you’ll
learn (and master) every move about 10 times as fast as it’d take to master
1/5 the characters in Tekken or Soul Calibur. But will you fall along the way?
Take a few hard hits – hit the mat one too many times? Most likely.
Once you
know what you’re doing the difficulty doesn’t seem that high anymore. A game
that once seemed like a great challenge becomes one that you can plow through
without batting a … fist. Hopefully this won’t turn off the hardcore fans.
There’s a lot to love, and a lot to devour your time. The career mode has some
interesting and unexpected novelties to look forward to (I’ll refrain from
spoiling them). And who can deny the coolness of the EPSN Classics mode?
New to Round
3, ESPN Classics lets you enter the ring as one of your favorite boxers: Ali,
Jones Jr., Hopkins, Gatti, etc., and face off in a match that mirrors the real
event. Boxers cannot be mixed or matched – this is strictly a mode for
reliving (or re-creating) an unforgettable moment. Technically it’s the same
as all the other modes – the gameplay isn’t drastically tweaked, nor are the
visuals significantly different to show that this is a classic fight.
Multiplayer
is Round 3’s best feature, serving up a deep dish of seriously competitive
action. I had a much harder time putting down the controller when I had a real
butt to kick. The challenge is much more severe since this gameplay style, as
complex as it is, can be mastered by almost anyone. That means that even your
friends who suck at most games might not suck that bad at this one. Back to
the training mode…
So go on.
Gather ’round the good stuff. Plop down on the floor, pour yourself a cold
drink and get ready for EA’s great boxing game.
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Gameplay: 8.0
Another night of
cinematic intensity. EA’s tradition of applying movie-style techniques
continues with Fight Night Round 3, bringing a cluster of camera angles and
artistic perspectives that are new to video games. After a few hours the
dual-stick controls are practically second nature; a few spins, pulls and
twists will have you throwing punches that’ll make E. Honda jealous.
Graphics: 8.9
Big, bold,
realistic-looking players with an impressive amount of facial detail. This
version is likely to surprise you, even if you’re dwelling on the next
generation (darn those anticipation-building tech demos).
Sound: 6.0
I know they pick
the music based on what they “think” that particular audience desires.
Nonetheless, about 50% of the licensed soundtracks I hear are comprised of a
type of music I can’t stand. There are exceptions, but this isn’t one of them
– Fight Night’s rap lineup stinks.
The sound
effects aren’t bad, but I’m not going to increase my score because of it. A
game has got to be aurally entertaining to penetrate my defenses.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
This analog
stick-heavy gameplay takes some getting used to. It’s frustrating at first,
then slowly begins to sink in, and it’s at that time when Round 3 is at its
best. As with most fighting/boxing games, you’ll have more fun becoming
a master than you will have being a master.
Concept: 7.5
Fight Night Round
3 doesn’t push as many boundaries or break down as many walls as its
predecessors. On the up side, the idea of taking a great game and making it
better has been realized. That’s not a new concept, but it is an admirable
one.
Multiplayer: 8.5
It’s hard to say
that Round 3 is better than the last edition considering it was so good, but
this is easily the best new boxing game you’ll play until the PlayStation 3
version is released. Action-packed, challenging battles that require new
skills and unfamiliar techniques. This isn’t a next-gen version of Punch-Out,
that’s for sure. Players will be consumed by the two-player action – impressed
by its flair, addicted to its replayability.
Overall: 8.2
The most intense,
most cinematic boxing game you’ll find on PlayStation 2. Fight Night Round 3
pummels players with an improved in-the-ring experience, pulling the camera
closer to ensure that even stoic gamers feel the hardest hits. The control
style will throw newcomers for a while, but it’s far from a challenge that
can’t be overcome.
