Black & Bruised

"The worst fighting game I have ever played."

Black and Bruised shows what happens when an underdog goes too far. With its diverse gameplay, it was merely a chance that this title would hit the big time. Taking a shot that great fighting titles such as Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Bros., and War of the Monsters doesn't mean it will be successful like past games. The fact that hardly anyone has ever heard of this title and the tower of improvement it faces is an even worse situation as large production and bombing big.

STORY
5/10
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There actually is a small tale string through it, but what I've seen is pathetic in any story-wise baseline. The best part of this game resembling a plot is a newspaper ad before a fight that displays the match, fighter stats and names. The Boxer's Life mode isn't really a story related mode, though it involves numerous challenges.

PRESENTATION
2/10
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I've been stuck on a menu highlight every once and a while, but maybe I just got a bad copy or something. Selecting a fighter and moving through their pics make them googly and irritating. Don't get me started on the menu's music because honestly, it's probably the worst opening theme I've ever heard.

FEATURES
6/10
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Despite more than a handful of characters and modes available, Black and Bruised just isn't very fun for the amount put into it. Not much originality besides style is played and any music is annoying as hell. The great thing available is the many different moves throughout the fighters and their punches/specials.

GAMEPLAY
5/10
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Thank god that actually playing the game can be occasionally enjoyable. Though the controls are very choppy and frequently don't respond to your commands, when they do and the punch connects, it is rather satisfying. Special punches and counters are always delayed when I've tried plus the fact that the CPU opponent seems to almost always have a special attack ready scratches most of the fun and likeability out.

MULTIPLAYER
7/10
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I have to say that it's hilarious when facing a friend or acquaintance of yours in this game. My opinion is that this can be the most goofy boxing game when you put your mind to make it. The colorful insanity that can ensue while playing your opponent is the only thing worth savoring besides the punches in multiplayer.

GRAPHICS
3/10
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The detail of video art is along the lines of a terrible DBZ:Budokai hybrid. With this game's cartoon-like style, it gives thoughts to whether a boxing anime would be successful. If the show had this bad of effort, it would crash and burn like a Chevy Chase movie.

MUSIC AND SOUND
2/10
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I already stated above that Black and Bruised has some of the most diabolically annoying music of all time. However, to keep peeling away at your calmness, the voices of the characters have to make your ears ring with unbelievably bad scripting and boredom. Some of the cheesy crap that comes out of their mouths could embarrass you more than a family picnic in a back alleyway. Sound barely redeems any sliver of it with connecting punch noises that can get a teaspoon of adrenaline flowing.

REPLAY
2/10
=========
The only concept of this game that I would think about coming back for more is to go one on one against my friends. A Boxer's Life can kill some time if you're really that bored, but I doubt that you don't have a life. Other than that, I'm sure that nothing else welcomes gamers back.

OVERALL
4/10
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I'm surprised that this game seemed to jump out of Majesco's pants so quickly before it should have been completed. I'd say that at least five more versions of Black and Bruised would eventually evolve into an average fighting game, but now it's only waste products. Stay safe and keep away from the BL section of the video game library because you don't wanna run into this type of raw sewage.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 07/09/03, Updated 07/09/03