Shazam!
07-02-2009, 01:59 AM
Anyone who has played Fight Night Rd. 3 (FN3) will be right at home in Fight Night 4 (FN4), so then it is a must have.
FN3 was and still is a great fighting game. For some reason losing in FN is like a bad paper cut. A loss stings more than other fighting games or 2 player games. Especially when you have to see that devastating upper cut that cracked your jaw in slow mo, to the taunting delight of your opponent. One word- Rematch! The fights are lengthy and I've had a few matches go at least an hour. The 360 and PS3 versions of FN3 were merely upgraded ports from the PS2 and XBox versions. FN4 was built specifically for the new generation of consoles with HD in mind and the difference is staggering.
You can no longer use a button layout this time to fight, 'Total Punch Control' is the only option on the right stick, with blocking, stance and haymaker modifiers on the triggers. Veterans of the series will have no problem adjusting to the slightly different system as it plays almost the same. Players who used the buttons will have to get used to the stick. It's easier to use this time around and with a little practice, button vets and rookie fighters alike will be throwing bags of bricks in no time.
The career mode is revamped, but I am slightly disappointed with it. It's improved over FN3's, and gone is the terrible rivalry fighters but it still isn't dramatic enough of a difference. The training games to upgrade your fighter are ridiculously hard, and if you auto-train you only get half the upgrade. So later on when meeting tough fighters you'll be at a severe disadvantage in the stats department if you went this route. Since the AI is much improved over FN3, you'll have to work on practicing the mini games to upgrade your fighter.
Don King's Prizefighter (2K Sports, 2008), didn't have the graphics or a good fighting system that was comparable which was a disappointment, but the career mode was like a story mode and FAR, FAR, FAR BETTER than any FN so far. If I have one complaint about this game, this is the biggest. I mean it's not that it isn't serviceable, it's good. But seeing what 2K can do with a clearly inferior boxing game EA could've done better, especially with the ESPN license.
Gameplay is similar to FN3, but gone are the 1 hit haymaker KO contests which bordered on the ridiculous with some players. The punches thrown are much faster this time and the collision detection is better, so glancing blows won't hit with full damage as they did before. The game makes you Master the Sweet Science and you will have to use a bit of strategy to break through your opponents defense. If you can't block or dodge competently you're in trouble. The jab is still effective but doesn't do as much damage as in FN3.
You can make any kind of character you want with any style, the creation options are exhaustive. There's a new corner system that rates you on how you did in the previous round to improve you when coming out for the next one, punches thrown, landed for you vs. the opponent, and so on all effect this.
The graphics are awesome. Your boxer moves with such fluidity and the real fighters look dead on that from a distance someone would think it's a real PPV fight. The fighter's entrances are improved complete with fireworks. The arenas and crowds look better too. The sweat is better and the blood and damage to the face is much more realistic than the red blotches from before. The slo-mo KOs are devastating and great to watch, another big upgrade this time.
The sound is well done and the punches sound crushing. The crowd's thunderous chants backing the fighter who is winning is a thrill (if it's you). Joe Tessitore's ESPN commentary is much better and less repetitive than before.
There are over 40 legendary boxers including Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Ricky Hatton and Lennox Lewis just to name a few. I still cannot understand why no Larry 'The Easton Assassin' Holmes has never made an appearance. He was one of my faves.
The online mode will be around for a LONG TIME, and finding opponents will be easy for a few years, as FN's life cycle isn't yearly with other sports games like Madden. The only problem was a player can throw in the towel at any time, so if you're kicking ass your fight could be cut short by a sore loser.
FN4 is the must have for any fan of the series, as it continues down the road of it's predecessors. The career mode just could've been better and is the only thing that holds it back from complete sickly greatness that EA seems to never nail. It's still the best representation of virtual boxing ever. The game is great fun on the couch passing the controller around with buddies or family. For big boxing fans, eager first time virtual video pugilists looking to throw hands in the ring, or sports fans in general, you can't go wrong with FN4. It's a knockout.
Rated T for Teen- Blood, violence and mild language
9/10
FN3 was and still is a great fighting game. For some reason losing in FN is like a bad paper cut. A loss stings more than other fighting games or 2 player games. Especially when you have to see that devastating upper cut that cracked your jaw in slow mo, to the taunting delight of your opponent. One word- Rematch! The fights are lengthy and I've had a few matches go at least an hour. The 360 and PS3 versions of FN3 were merely upgraded ports from the PS2 and XBox versions. FN4 was built specifically for the new generation of consoles with HD in mind and the difference is staggering.
You can no longer use a button layout this time to fight, 'Total Punch Control' is the only option on the right stick, with blocking, stance and haymaker modifiers on the triggers. Veterans of the series will have no problem adjusting to the slightly different system as it plays almost the same. Players who used the buttons will have to get used to the stick. It's easier to use this time around and with a little practice, button vets and rookie fighters alike will be throwing bags of bricks in no time.
The career mode is revamped, but I am slightly disappointed with it. It's improved over FN3's, and gone is the terrible rivalry fighters but it still isn't dramatic enough of a difference. The training games to upgrade your fighter are ridiculously hard, and if you auto-train you only get half the upgrade. So later on when meeting tough fighters you'll be at a severe disadvantage in the stats department if you went this route. Since the AI is much improved over FN3, you'll have to work on practicing the mini games to upgrade your fighter.
Don King's Prizefighter (2K Sports, 2008), didn't have the graphics or a good fighting system that was comparable which was a disappointment, but the career mode was like a story mode and FAR, FAR, FAR BETTER than any FN so far. If I have one complaint about this game, this is the biggest. I mean it's not that it isn't serviceable, it's good. But seeing what 2K can do with a clearly inferior boxing game EA could've done better, especially with the ESPN license.
Gameplay is similar to FN3, but gone are the 1 hit haymaker KO contests which bordered on the ridiculous with some players. The punches thrown are much faster this time and the collision detection is better, so glancing blows won't hit with full damage as they did before. The game makes you Master the Sweet Science and you will have to use a bit of strategy to break through your opponents defense. If you can't block or dodge competently you're in trouble. The jab is still effective but doesn't do as much damage as in FN3.
You can make any kind of character you want with any style, the creation options are exhaustive. There's a new corner system that rates you on how you did in the previous round to improve you when coming out for the next one, punches thrown, landed for you vs. the opponent, and so on all effect this.
The graphics are awesome. Your boxer moves with such fluidity and the real fighters look dead on that from a distance someone would think it's a real PPV fight. The fighter's entrances are improved complete with fireworks. The arenas and crowds look better too. The sweat is better and the blood and damage to the face is much more realistic than the red blotches from before. The slo-mo KOs are devastating and great to watch, another big upgrade this time.
The sound is well done and the punches sound crushing. The crowd's thunderous chants backing the fighter who is winning is a thrill (if it's you). Joe Tessitore's ESPN commentary is much better and less repetitive than before.
There are over 40 legendary boxers including Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Ricky Hatton and Lennox Lewis just to name a few. I still cannot understand why no Larry 'The Easton Assassin' Holmes has never made an appearance. He was one of my faves.
The online mode will be around for a LONG TIME, and finding opponents will be easy for a few years, as FN's life cycle isn't yearly with other sports games like Madden. The only problem was a player can throw in the towel at any time, so if you're kicking ass your fight could be cut short by a sore loser.
FN4 is the must have for any fan of the series, as it continues down the road of it's predecessors. The career mode just could've been better and is the only thing that holds it back from complete sickly greatness that EA seems to never nail. It's still the best representation of virtual boxing ever. The game is great fun on the couch passing the controller around with buddies or family. For big boxing fans, eager first time virtual video pugilists looking to throw hands in the ring, or sports fans in general, you can't go wrong with FN4. It's a knockout.
Rated T for Teen- Blood, violence and mild language
9/10