Fight Night Round 3 Review

As the Xbox 360 continues to stutter into gear, searching desperately for something it can label as its killer-app, a title that defines the next-generation as Microsoft visualises, who would have thought a boxing sim would come the closest to date. Fight Night Round 3 may not be the Xbox 360's Halo, but it is finally a game to mark a clear distinction between current and next generation; a game that would be impossible to replicate on the likes of the Xbox and Playstation2.

Since adopting the Fight Night moniker EA's boxing series has steadily evolved to become the only one worthy of notice for boxing fans, though that's probably not worth much given the complete lack of challengers. Round 3 follows in a similar vein to its predecessors, by and large sticking to the old adage that "if ain't broke why fix it".

Reinventing boxing sims when it was first introduced, Total Punch Control remains as brilliantly intuitive and accurate as ever. Presenting full control over your punches with various motions on the right thumbstick, quick flicks for a set of jabs, quarter-motions for hooks and uppercuts with a half-circle, Round 3 has a couple of new techniques in store. The Flash KO punch, essentially an enhanced variation of the Haymaker, takes a little bit longer to wind up and subsequently makes the execution more of an art then the still cheap Haymaker. Unfortunately the Stun Punch isn't so successful, largely because trying to perform one is resigned to a hit-and-miss affair; however on the odd occasion that it successfully connects, you'll find the screen switching to the first-person of your opponent, as you attempt to knock them to the ground.

Throwing your punches is only one half of the job however, there's a lot of block, dodging and weaving to be doing unless you enjoy kissing the canvas. Using a combination of the movement thumbstick and the shoulder triggers, Fight Night's control setup provides just as much control and flexibility in defence as it does in attack. Knowing how to duck a blow and deliver a stinging counter, or parrying a jab to unleash a haymaker for an adrenaline boost, are crucial techniques to master if you plan on becoming the best.

Despite the similarities, Fight Night Round 3 is a game that simply couldn't be achieved on the current-gen, as the Playstation2 and Xbox versions testify. Nowhere is this more evident then with the profound lack of a HUD, traditionally displaying vital information such as a boxer's health and stamina. The true potential (or some of at it least) of the 360 has enabled EA Chicago to remove the gauges for a beautifully clean screen that puts the focus solely on the fight. What could have reduced the experience into a mindless slugger actually becomes the game's finest aspect, thanks to the lavish attention paid to the look and animations of the boxers. Initially boxers come out of the corner with a flurry of jabs and decisive hooks, moving purposefully and generally looking mean; a few rounds later and the difference is unmistakeable, hooks have changed into inaccurate lunges, jabs tired and uncommitted, whilst the boxer has the general movement of an alcoholic tramp. Just how well information on stamina and health travels from the screen and to the player is nothing short of impressive, feeling completely natural and ushering in a new standard for others to aim for - if there were any that is.

With Fight Night Round 3 proving it's next-gen credentials in delivering such a believable and immersive experience, it's not too much of a surprise to find the game equally achieving in the presentation stakes. Visually Fight Night Round 3 is currently without an equal on the 360, presenting a game that continues to impress every time you play it. The 30+ licensed boxers have largely been brought to life with stunning accuracy, sporting the most realistic skin complete with pores, rugs of hair and beads of sweat - you'll just have to believe us, it looks good. Equally EA Chicago have spared no expense when it comes to accurately motion capturing the various different styles on offer, so you'll immediately notice characteristics such as the Ali Shuffle. Special mention must also go to the stages in which the fights are set; from the Windy City Boxing Gym to Maddison's Square Gardens, there's an almost concept artwork quality, helped in no small part by the striking motion blur that accompanies the movement of the boxers.

Tied into the HUD'less display and enhancing the next-generation style that runs throughout the presentation, Fight Night Round 3 makes use of some excellent dynamic camera work. Nowhere is this more evident then when one of the boxer's is about to hit the ground, as the camera zooms in and the crowd dies out to focus on the heartbeat of the boxers. Typically this leads to Fight Night's most prominent visual trick, capturing the sheer pain on a boxer's face when he's just taken a crushing blow, sending ripples through his facial muscles amidst a ploom of spit and an explosion of perspiration.

The stunning visuals combined with the HUD'less display results in a videogame that doesn't look like a videogame; it might be an overused accolade, however a number of people have walked fast Fight Night Round 3 in action and questioned why TVG has got the boxing on! There's a tremendous sense of impact to most punches thrown in the game, something that has never been fully relaised in a boxing title before and one that is exemplified once you've seen Fight Night Round 3 on the current-gen. Since we last took a look at the game EA Chicago appears to have added an extra layer of distinction and gloss to the game; Ali is quicker on his toes and faster with his fists; graphical glitches on the whole have been ironed out; sweat and blood handled with a more convincing effect and the crowds have been enhanced immensely.

Although the actual action embraces the 360 for much more then just pretty visuals, it's a shame that the actual game has a distinctly "been here before" feel to it. Naturally the bulk of the game lies in the Career mode, which challenges players to Rebuild a Legend or start from scratch with the Create a Boxer mode. Things get off to a great start, the create options offers a wealth of visual details to customise, which provides the canvas to create absolutely anything, from 300lb blubbers to perfect digital replications of yourself. One significant area greatly enhanced from previous Fight Night's is the depth of fighting styles that Round 3 presents. Choosing from a various different techniques in the base, punch and block styles, Fight Night Round 3 successfully manages to develop the boxing experience in this regard, resulting in a greater distinction behind the boxers on offer.

Sadly once you're through this the Career mode degenerates into a unremarkable, routinely experience, relying on the typical "Train, Fight and Repeat" structure, with a handful of training mini-games to provide some sense of variety. The game does attempt to inject a certain degree of the rivalries that glamorise the real-life sport, with certain match up's playing heavily upon this and one particular rival that comes up throughout your career; however it does little to leave you still wanting for more, EA Chicago have succeeded in the general gameplay, let's just hope Round 4 shows the same level of creativity in the actual design of the game.

On a slightly more positive side, the Career mode does attempt to add a slight degree of variety with certain bouts presenting different criteria, such as getting the most knockdowns within a set amount of rounds. The Career mode also has a lot to unlock as your career progresses, from new fighting styles to clothes and accessories. To place some importance on these and move beyond being purely visual novelties, items often come with bonuses to the boxer's attributes, though we're not entirely sure how a pair of Everlast shorts could improve your stamina!

Because of these misgivings the sense of progress from moving up the ranks from an unknown to world champion is sadly lacking, leaving a very sterile experience in between the action. The Career mode also starts off at a ridiculously easy pace and takes a considerable amount of time before picking up, something that doesn't exactly help with the routine structure.

In addition to the Career mode, Fight Night Round 3 offers a series of grudge matches in the ESPN Classics (Ali vs Frazier, Sugar Ray Robinson vs Jake La Motta) and a rudimentary online mode. As you'd expect playing against real opponents is an enjoyable experience and the standard array of options are all present, but further developments to what online is all about rather then just a multiplayer extension could be made.