Fight Night Round 2

"The Pacman, Manny Pacquiao!"

I've played a lot of boxing games, but I never bought any of them. But this one is very good. I had a chance to play it at my friend's house, and from then on, I was hooked. What's even better is that it has Super Punch-Out!!, a game that I own. I can't play it though, since it's cartridge batteries died out, but now I can with FNR2.

Gameplay: 9/10
This is where this game shines. The haymaker is one of the best to knockout your opponent. It's almost like real life now. You pull back on your C-Stick, then push it forward to smack you opponent in the head. The controls are smooth, but when I try to connect some punches, it looks a little sloppy. Also new is the Cutman. When the Round ends, you have to heal your boxer by help reduce the swelling and blood.

Graphics: 8/10
It's good, but not that good. All the boxers look like their real life counterparts. The blood looks more realistic, and when they fall, it's not so jiggly anymore. The sweat needs a little work though. When you punch him in the face, the sweat looks like it's coming from all over his face. But the graphics are still great.

Sound: 8/10
The sound is okay. The punches sound like they should. But the music is sometimes repetitive. They should've added more artists and/or songs to mix it up a bit.

Replayability: 9/10
The career mode will definitely take your free time. Even after you have all the belts, you can still keep going and defend your championship titles.

Roster 8/10
It's missing some boxers like De la Hoya, but other than that, the roster is fine. And Little Mac is a okay unlockable, but he looks very, very weird.

Rent or Buy?
If you are a boxing fan, this is a definite must-buy. If not, you should give it a try if you are into the fighting genre.

Overall: 9.3

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/28/05