Fight Night Champion Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: Xbox 360, PS3
Dev: EA Canada
Pub: Electronic Arts
Release: March 1, 2011
Players: 1 – 2 (Local/Online)
Screen Resolution: 480p – 1080p

Now, these great gameplay enhancements would be nothing without the visuals to back them up, and rest assured, Champion delivers. This is the first time I can ever recall where a game's graphics help the game. Collision detection has been greatly improved, though there's still the occasional wonkiness. Still, it's a blip on the radar; you see each brutal hit land and end up feeling the intensity it brings. You hear your trainer shout out advice in the heat of the moment and more often than not, it pays off. You dodge and dance around your opponent's flurry and land that vicious jab-hook combo and down he goes. It's moment's like these that give Champion some serious staying power, especially in the online realm. Die-hards will undoubtedly eat this game up, spending countless hours boxing online or in the same room, and this is where the game is at its best.

Fight Night Champion Screenshot

There's one last thing about the game's realism that needs to be said: each boxer has his own distinct fighting personality that matches his real life personality. Tyson comes at you like a freight train, Ali intimidates you and is at his best when he abuses his long arms, and Pacquiao is nimble and precise. Naturally, when you play as these fighters in the arcade mode, you perform best when matching these styles. It's yet another little thing that adds up to deliver a really great package.

The game's commentating, however, really hurt said package. In a game that put so much time and effort to be an authentic boxing package, the repeated dialogue and sometimes erroneous play calling both hurt the game and comes off as really annoying. Specifically, during career mode, I was called a power boxer and a speed boxer in two separate matches. Did I magically change my style? Am I a boxing god? Don't get me wrong, there are some great things done: they add to the story by specifically talking about Bishop's accomplishments and goals, but other than that, they're useless.

Fight Night Champion has a lot of style. The presentation is excellent, the story is manageable at worst and engaging at best, the gameplay is rock solid, and the graphics are outstanding. That being said, legacy mode is a complete waste, newcomers will be frustrated at fighting seasoned veterans of the series, and the commentating is awful. There's some potential staying power here and if you really work hard at it, you can find yourself playing and enjoying Champion for quite some time. Easily the best in the series, Fight Night Champion is an excellent game that is sadly hampered by its shortcomings.

By Jake Valentine
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.5

Graphics
Great attention to detail and impressive visuals, the graphics are some of the best this generation.

4.8

Control
Controls are sharp and precise, just as they should be; they help contribute to excellent gameplay.

3.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
While the subtle musical score can help put emotional stake in a fight during the game's story mode, the commentating is just awful.

4.3

Play Value
Fight Night fans will be coming back again and again for a while. While frustrating at first, the game is ultimately fun.

4.2

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Full Spectrum Punch Control - Control your boxer's punches with precision and accuracy like never before with a new synergy of gameplay controls. From overhand punches to strategic counter jabs and one-punch knockouts, overwhelm your opponents with your refined skill set.

Physics-Based Gameplay - Time your attacks with precision. Building off the best-in-class gameplay engine featured in Fight Night Round 4, you now have an even wider range of abilities when it comes to counterattacks, setting up combos, and attacking your opponent.

Legacy Mode - Create your alter ego and put him in the ring against past champions. Work your way up the ranks through training and scheduled bouts, and establish your name as the fighter to beat. Take your boxer online and see how you size up against the best in the world competing for local or worldwide belts in the all-new Fight Night Nation.

Authentic Content - Fight Night Champion showcases the truest graphical representation of the sport, lifestyle, and culture of boxing with authentic and dynamic blood, realistic body damage and deformation, and mature content throughout. Experience the violence and brutality that is true to the trade.