Fight Night 2004
- March 29, 2004 00:00 AM PST
Muhammad Ali once said, �There are more pleasant things to do than beat up people,� and EA is setting out to prove him wrong.
In the March issue, we dished out the skinny on EA Sports� upcoming Fight Night 2004, a Knockout Kings re-conceptualization predicated on the theory that video games have untapped potential to deliver a much more realistic boxing experience. Having had some hands-on time with the latest PlayStation 2 build of Fight Night, we can honestly say that it is shaping up to be one of the best boxing sims put to polygon.
�There are more pleasant things to do than beat up people.�
Showcasing a completely rebuilt engine, Fight Night�s controls couldn�t feel more natural. While pushing the left analog stick makes you move, doing so while holding down the L1 button enables you to fully control your upper body to lean into your opponent or bob, weave, and duck out of the way of incoming punches. This degree of upper-body movement provides opportunities for counterattacks that deliver more damage. What really distinguishes Fight Night from preceding boxing games is the Total Punch Control, which forgoes repetitive button mashing in favor of a nuanced analog-commanded punch system. The direction and power of thrown punches correlate directly to the direction and force with which you move the right analog stick. For example, move it a clockwise quarter-circle from the left, and you�ll toss a left hook. Tap it lightly to the left and then go in a counterclockwise half-circle from the bottom, and you�ll fake a left before following through with a right uppercut. Though the learning curve is steep, with practice you�ll find the control scheme one of the most intuitive and fun ever designed.
�A fighter takes a punch, hits back with three punches.�
So sure, the game mechanics sound great, but how about the game�s graphics and other features? Well, Fight Night�s boxer models are fantastically rendered and animated, while a solid new physics engine provides tons of unique hit reactions and knockdowns. A robust Career mode takes you up the ranks, starting you off in small gyms and culminating in sold-out arena battles as you rise in fame, while the create-a-boxer feature is probably the deepest ever designed. Despite the name change, the kings are all here: Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr., Lennox Lewis, Sonny Liston, Shane Moseley, and Sugar Ray Robinson. Three words: This. Could. Rule.
