A good boxing game with nice replay value, but it could have been great.
But it could have been better.
First, what's working for the game... A lot of things were executed well. Graphics and sounds are excellent. You can choose your own entrance scene for each fight, the commentators don't sound wooden, and the script has enough depth to make the commentating sound natural.
As expected, there is a variety of game modes available to players: Quick play, Career Mode, Rival Challenges, and Multiplayer. The career mode is particularly enjoyable, being very similar to the PS2 version. Mini-games for player skill development are not available though, this is replaced with a decision to conduct training depending on the level of intensity.
There is plenty to like about the actual gameplay... no two fights are the same and there is enough variety in the A.I. 's fighting style to give you really challenging fights from time to time.
Though different from the PS2 version, the PSP version controls are intuitive enough to get a handle on. I've read about some people complaining about how difficult the controls are, but I really disagree given that I was able to get into the game virtually immediately.
All good? Here's the disappointing part:
1. The controls are intuitive enough for offensive moves, but VERY DIFFICULT to play defense. More specifically, there is no easy way to PARRY. This is very frustrating especially when you're up against a counter puncher. Usually the best way to fight the counter puncher is feint, let him counter then you parry -- which is almost impossible (at least for me) to do given the existing control setup.
2. You can't play against the boxing legends in career mode. (I've reached the championship levels with Sugar Ray Leonard, Manny Pacquiao, and a user-created boxer and so far I've been going up against no-names. When you're playing career mode (and I don't know if this is just me...), you WANT to FIGHT THE LEGENDS .... not just play AS them. Who cares if you're the champion in the middleweight division if you didn't go up against Haggler or Leonard? This is too bad because the PS2 version allowed it.
3. Unrealistic A.I. in the top ranks, at least for some boxers. How the heck do you become the number 1 or number 2 contender if you don't play defense more than the lower tier boxers? (I guess with the lack of a PARRY control, EA Sports probably dumbed down the championship contenders to compensate, but still....)
4. Shallow Rival Challenge Mode. There are only 6 legend fights in all.... where is the Leonard - Haggler fight? The Ali-Holmes fight? Why even stop at 6 at all?
These are all actually minor complaints (except for the PARRY problem in number 1), but had these been properly implemented, FIGHT NIGHT Round 3 could have become an instant classic for me. As it stands, its a good game.... but not good enough to pique my interest for long.
Oh well, there's always next year, eh?