I was banned for 7 days so I played the hell out of this game.
Anyway, this is, to me, by far, the best fighting/sports game ever made. I'm a huge boxing fan btw.
1.) The boxers look eerily human. I used to think that Gran Turismo's cars look so real compared to the actual cars they represent, but the graphics in this game just take the cake. You get tiny beads of sweat shimmering down a guy's body, muscles that tighten and flex when going for a punch, facial features that go completely morphed when hit by a punch, bodies that shine under all angles of light, and Christ, Mike Tyson really looks like a criminal here.
2.) You really feel like you're boxing. Unlike other boxing games in the past where your ten year old kid brother can beat your ass by button mashing to hell, this game actually has an amazing defensive system in place. Gone are the days where you just spam your right hook to victory. It is virtually impossible to win without knowing the basics of weaving, blocking, and head movement. EA really hit gold in the gameplay on this one. A real boxing game, for boxing enthusiasts (and it's fun as hell beating up button mashers).
3.) Fighting styles extremely well represented. Want to be a power puncher? A speed demon? A counter puncher? An outside fighter? A brawler? Arms too short? Arms super long? All these styles and more all feel totally unique, giving you a whole plethora of options on how to pick apart your opponent. For example, a skilled counter puncher can be tough to beat, but against a sniper type of fella (a guy who has super fast hand speed and looks for one shot at a time during gaps in between blocks), he'll hit the floor quite quickly if he's not airtight with his defense. Guys with short arms have naturally more powerful hooks and uppercuts (as their arms are more compact and closer to their center of gravity), while guys with longer arms of course have stronger straight punches (more leverage as the fulcrum is longer), and it is a joy that reach advantage really does play a large role in this game.
4.) The AI is really smart. As mentioned, the fighting styles are really diverse. To me, fighting an outside fighter with long arms is the toughest of all to conquer, as the AI will really behave like Lennox Louis and just stay in the pocket behind his jab and wait for the opportunity to land the big right hand. Then there are guys who are inside brawlers, who like to weave in and launch a flurry of power punches, and the AI will really attack relentlessly like a charging Ricky Hatton and break you down through body shots. It's the surprise mechanic that really gets you in this game. When you play any boxer for the first time, you really have to think first: what kind of fighter is he? When you're playing the legacy mode, where there are mostly no-name boxers, you'll be hard pressed thinking of a strategy; every fight is just different.
5.) Online is very competitive. Of course, there are a bunch of bums on the board who do nothing but spam right hands and can be beaten up easily, but for the most part the competition is quite intense. I've gone to a few split decisions myself with a few guys who really have almost impenetrable defenses. The create a fighter mode is really nice too, with a lot of options to choose from, and you can even get a webcam to upload a digital likeness of yourself.
I love this game. A boxing fan's wet dream. 9.5/10 (there are some annoying issues that prevent a perfect 10, but nevermind.)
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