Worst Gamespot review EVER
When you first start playing, you will lose. A lot. Why? Because you're trying to fight like it's Fight Night. You can't do that. You can't parry someone and then throw haymakers and NEVER get hit the entire fight. Just like in real life. When you parry a punch, the other guy doesn't just stand there stunned like an idiot. The reviewer also mocked how many times someone can get knocked down and then get back up. Seriously? In FN, you can knock the guy down EVERY freaking round and he'll get back up. I love FN, but it's NOT realistic and never has been.
Anyway, the fighting mechanics are very realistic. You have to get into a rhythm, you have to watch your fatigue, and if you're good, you will be rewarded by increasing your adrenaline so that you can throw a signature punch to lay the opponent out on the canvas. Your training influences your style very realistically. You move like a zombie until you train your agility, you're slow without training your dexterity, etc. But there is a noticeable difference one you do train. Boxing is a sport of timing and angles, and so is this game. You can't just stand there and throw 100 punches and ridiculous haymakers and win. You won't win. You have to be good at BOXING.
You actually feel like you're moving up the ranks instead of just fighting one cookie cutter guy after another. Sure, the story is somewhat disjointed, and I loathe Don King, but it's still much more interesting than FN. FN's ridiculous rival system was so contrived. In this game, every opponent is different, every situation is different. You have to approach each fight tactically.
The graphics are not as good as FN, the commentary is HORRIBLE, and there is clipping and other visual b.s. But the music is freaking sweet. Not just random rap songs that suck, but a lot of different genres and classics you've heard before. There are actually *gasp* rock songs. You can even enter to "Play That Funky Music White Boy". Hey, as a white boy, I appreciate them throwing us a bone.
If you're a serious gamer who appreciates realism and strategy instead of some kid with ADD who can't put the time into learning the game, then you'll see how the mechanics actually shine. Do they need work? Sure. But it's the FIRST iteration of this game. With reviewers like this, it might be the last. That's why I'm so pissed off.
I want alternatives to FN. Just like I want alternatives to b-ball, baseball, (remember when football had alternatives?), etc. I'm giving it a 10, not because it's a 10, but because this game deserves better than the horrible, poorly researched, dimwitted review this site gave it. I really don't understand the 5.5. Get a different job. Seriously. I'm offended as a gamer reading a "professional" review by someone that has no idea what they're talking about.