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Fight Night Round 4 (Game)
Release Date: August 17, 2009
Distributor: EA Games
The Disc: 4.5
In 2006, EA Sports brought out the first next-gen boxing game, Fight Night Round 3. It had a lot of ambition but, perhaps due to the relatively new technology of the PS3 and XBox360, it didn't quite hit the spot. The controls were a bit sluggish, the animation was patchy, and there was an overall lack of polish to the proceedings. Well, it's 2009, and Fight Night Round 4 is out and all is forgiven. Both 360 and PS3 versions are excellent, with graphics that are on occasion astonishing. Players will often get to replay big punches where you can see a boxer's face-fat jiggle, and blood and saliva squirt from their mouths in slow motion. You can even cut together short replays, choosing angles and speed.
The game itself has a fight mode, an online mode and the Legacy mode. This latter mode is where the game shines. You can create your own fighter (or use one of the existing ones), and work your way up through the ranks; it's very similar to UFC 2009 Undisputed, but a little more user friendly and slicker in the visual department. This is a game for the casual violence enthusiast or hardcore pugilist alike. There are some 48 licensed fighters (!), ranging from Muhammad Ali to Mike Tyson. You can even play the part of, or beat up, our own Anthony Mundine, whose likeness is spookily accurate, pink gloves and all.
In terms of value for money, UFC provides more variety of combat, but the unique control system of Fight Night makes victories all the more satisfying. Surprisingly deep, yet easy to get into, Fight Night Round 4 is a triumphant boxing title, and perhaps the best one to date, although many older gamers still think fondly of Mike Tyson's Punch Out on the NES. If you have a good online connection and maybe a couple of mates who enjoy this sort of thing, you'll get a lot more out of it, but even playing by yourself is a hoot in Legacy mode. Slick, enjoyable, and with downloadable fighters, Fight Night Round 4 is the boxing game we've been waiting for.
