Fight Night Round 3 (Xbox 360) > Reviews (16)

EA's third installment in the series that replaced the "Knockout Kings" builds up on some things, disappoints on others and makes for a difficult buying choice. What is crystal clear though, is that Xbox 360's is the definitive version of this multi-platform release.

***The Potential***

Fight Night Round 3 features 30 legendary and contemporary boxers spread along 6 weight classes. From "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali and "Sugar Ray" Robinson, to Diego Corrales and Manny Pacquiao, each fighter is incredibly detailed not only visually, but gameplay-wise as well.

While the breath-taking graphics are impossible to miss, the most welcome addition of numerous boxing styles is not as easily noticeable. For years the boxers were generalized in three simple styles: Speed, Power and Balanced. While "Smoking" Joe Frazier and Roberto Duran are both sluggers, they hardly boxed the same way in real life.

Round 3 finally takes a step forward and a big one at that. Not only are the Base Styles improved and enriched with new templates like Slickster and Wild, but completely new categories are implemented as well. Boxers have numerous Punch and Block Styles to define them, which makes the real stars as authentic as they've ever been and guarantees interesting experimentation when creating your own boxer.

Of course, all this would be of little importance if it didn't affect the gameplay and was only of aesthetic value. Fortunately, this is the area where Round 3 delivers.

Even first timers will realize that they can't stick-and-move with power-fighters or plant their feet and punch blindingly with speed masters. Well, not without going for a nap on the mat at least. The most seasoned players will appreciate the subtle differences of the Judging Jab punch style and everything in between is there for the average player to notice.

Amazingly, the graphics are included in the not-just-eye-candy category. Round 3 eliminates the "life" and "energy" meters from the screen by default and you are left with the character animations to work out if your boxer is feeling confident or spent, scared or energized. It's a great idea and beautifully carried out, but the match commentators ruin some of the effect simply by doing their jobs.

The commentators are there to offer not only the "blow-by-blow", but also impressive facts and useful advice. So, when you hear that "The Real Deal looks ready to go" you are unfortunately tipped off without looking at the boxer's expression; I guess they can't be faulted for commenting *too* good! That aside, the only flaw worth noting seems to be when they recount that the referee is warning for an impending stoppage, due to bleeding and/or excess ownage™. They say it too often, too soon and they sometimes even get the fighters wrong.

The corner team's advice follows along the same lines, doing a good job assessing how their boxer did in the last round, his overall performance, state in the scorecards and what strategy he should follow next. It's great, even if it also inevitably repeats itself after a while; something worth listening to in any case, while you try to stop all the swelling and bleeding.

Right, between the 3 minute rounds you have 30 seconds to patch up your fighter as good as you can, treating cuts and bruises in each side of the face. Using the two control sticks, you try to bring down the "Damage Percentages", as a smart opponent will try to get advantage of the extra damage a punch to an already wrecked face does. This is most obvious for cuts and the referee will not hesitate to stop the fight at your expense if you are bleeding incessantly.

As far as the actual fight is concerned, it builds upon previous versions with some strategic changes. The right stick is still used for punches, with its left side used for left punches and right side for, predictably, right punches. Simple flicks translate to jabs and directs, quarter-circles to crosses and near-half-circles to uppercuts. Simply holding the left trigger directs those punches to the body. Back and forth motions result in the extra powerful haymakers that pretty much defined Fight Night Round 2, but are more balanced now thanks to the thorough beating you'll receive if a haymaker you throw is parried by your opponent.

For defense you simply hold the right trigger. Moving the right stick up guards the head, while down guards the body, but picking a corner sets your boxer up for a parry. If a punch is thrown at the side you've picked, it is immediately parried and the opponent is left momentarily defenseless, depending on the power of his attack. That is to say, you'll have little time for a counter-attack after parrying a jab but ample opportunity to punch your opponent senseless after deflecting his power shot.

It's a real pity that all this potential goes wasted when playing single.

***The Catch***

This game should only be played in hard difficulty and even then the AI is so weak it defines the saying "not worth the challenge". It's not awful, but simply predictable, exploitable and uninteresting.

The in-game tip advises playing an opponent from a larger weight-class for a greater challenge and it is, in fact, correct. While a win isn't certain when pitting a featherweight boxer against a heavyweight, it really depends on if you are patient enough to grind your way to knocking your massive opponent out and not as much to your skill level. It is, however, something to try out.

Alas, this can't be done in career mode, where you confront opponents from your own weight class and the only question left is in which round you'll knock'em out. It's unfortunate, as this could be the most enjoyable and lengthy aspect of the game. The Boxer Creation is excellent and the training is carried out through fitting mini-games. The game introduces rivals, boxers that you face throughout your career and are quick to trash-talk you, pick fights at the weigh-in and fight dirty, and although they could be better implemented they are a nice touch.

The whole storyline is quaintly depicted through newspaper cut-outs: you battle your way to the belt, then you change to the neighbouring weight classes, unify the belts and become the greatest in a nostalgic retirement match.

All the while, you also unlock styles, outfits and achievements.

Again, it's a shame that there exists no suspense; you easily dominate your way to legend and the whole thing is over too soon as a result. With the autosave function, a few defeats would throw your career off track and force you to start from scratch if you wanted to become the greatest and unlock everything, vastly adding to the time needed to "complete" the game.

The gentleman's sport's biggest rivalries are found in the ESPN Classic mode. Each match-up features a highlight reel with expert commentary and completing the fights unlocks further extras. Presentation at its best, too bad the computer still boxes as frail as ever.

Thankfully, this mode features multiplayer.

***The Selling Point***

All of the game's promise takes full form when two players face each other. There really is nothing like figuring out your opponent's pattern and launching a devastating counterattack. Of course, then he figures *you* out and battles back, and so on and so forth until only one man is left standing. Or two, if you count the referee.

Desperate last minute clenches, momentum-turning power shots, taunting, broken noses and everything you'd expect from an epic boxing match; it's there and it's all worth it in Fight Night Round 3. Just remember to bring an adept friend.

The nature of the game makes time fly by, with a match between evenly matched opponents easily taking 20 minutes minimum. On the other hand, this means that Round 3 is not a very good "party game". It might be gorgeous, but it's much better to play quick rounds of Dead or Alive, Soul Calibur and Super Smash Bros. Melee, rather than have people watching for such a long time.

Also, due to the fact that attacks are made with the control stick, it takes some getting used to for gamers that haven't tried it before.

Enter Xbox Live. If you have a gold membership, you will definitely get your money's worth here. It takes no more than a minute for a match to start and the servers do their best to face you against an opponent of matching ability. Of course, sometimes there won't be any available and you are going to lose resoundingly to someone that has 547 KOs, yet it's still fun being the underdog. The game plays *slightly* slower Live but nothing that detracts from the action. It undeniably is a blast online.

***OVERALL***

360's Fight Night Round 3 is a great game, a real technological feat and the best boxing game to date. However, it can only be fun under certain circumstances so take caution. If you already pay for Xbox Live this game is safely recommended. If not, you should either be very into boxing and/or have a friend with whom you'll play often; even then, you should thoroughly consider your other multiplayer options.

In any other case, the game is simply a good rental and nothing more. It's a novelty that's certainly nice to experience, but the effect will wear off after a weekend if you stick to single player. There will always be games available that will be far better worth your money, so don't be afraid to sit this one out. After all, there will eventually be another sequel.