Three years after Fight Night Round 3's release and the reigning champ of boxing games still looks damn sexy in 1080p. As one of the first titles to take advantage of next-gen horsepower, the title transcended the regular boxing game, becoming a must have for folks that love to show off their high-end home theaters.
Even today, put in the ring with most next-gen titles, the boxer delivers a graphical TKO, which might explain why EA's been so slow to deliver a follow-up. But a new challenger is coming for the belt. The fitter, fresher Fight Night Round 4 looks to ante up, not just with the an eye-bleeding 60fps, but with realistic boxing game play.
So, does the young buck deliver? Full preview after the jump...
Off a knee-jerk reaction, yes. Last week, I watched a jacked bald dude pound the crap out of Muhammad Ali with his doubly-jacked avatar Mike Tyson. I tried to score some game time, but frankly, this guy was the rare game developer-the one that intimidates the bejeezus out of me.
Luckily for me, the games so jaw-droppingly gorgeous, I didn't mind riding shotgun for the preview. That's right, this game looks better, or specifically, smoother than the previous iteration. With an engine built from the ground up (the previous engine was last-gen with a next-gen paint job, according to the dev), the visuals take what previously worked, and sands off the rough edges. You get the 60fps I just mentioned, but it's the small touches that convince your eyes this is a "real ring." Underneath the avatars skin, the designers have molded virtual muscles. They stretch and strain with each punch. And when a jab catches you in the jaw, the spit and sweat spray with the glove's locomotion. Take a right hook to the face, and your flesh and bones and whatever else found itself at the business end of Ali's fist jets left.
The graphics alone might sell the home theater enthusiast hungry for a new showpiece, but boxing fans demand improved gameplay. Like the game's engine, Fight Night's practically rebuilt the gameplay. Now, you have three meters: health, stamina and block-represented by colorful bars on the bottom of the screen that increase and deplete. They're optional, so those that hate HUDs, no worries, but those that hope to master the sweet science will appreciate the moment-by-moment visual aid.
These meters replace the parry system. Rather than punch away hits, which, in reality, would hardly stop a bruiser like Tyson from dislodging your head from your spine, you block or evade the hits. If your opponent whiffs, it momentarily stuns him, affording you a fraction of a second to deliver a blow.
You must also play with your boxer's distance. FNR4 allows you to step close to your opponent to prevent him from extending his arms. For example, Ali's got incredible arm-lenth, so you'll want to lean on him, so he cannot build up a powerful hit.
This new gameplay style, which, right now, appears a bit more strategic than FNR3, should be a blast. Well, unless you liked playing with the buttons. Sorry, but current word is all players must use the second analogue stick to deliver the punches. Hey, it keeps things on an even playing field and should prevent button smashers from infuriating hardcore players.
We still have a few months before Fight Night Round 4's release in June. Between now and then, the dev says we can still expect announcements for the boxer line-up and possibly a surprise or two. Just don't expect any ear biting.
