Fight Night 2004

"A jab in the right direction."

Two years after a mediocre at best Knockout Kings 2002, EA has renamed, and HIGHLY tuned every aspect of their boxing game. Fight Night 2004 is what boxing fans have been looking for, and the bar has been raised.

GRAPHICS-10/10
I was very impressed at all the detail that EA could manage. The boxer models look true to life with color, size, and height recreated with precision to look like their real-life counterpart. During the fight sweat flies with every connected punch, the face stretches/bruises/bleeds according to how they were hit making you feel each punch. Adding to the realism is the presentation of all the different venues you go to. From a run down gym, to Cesar's Palace, everything including the 3D models of the crowd look great. Another great plus are the knockdowns. Unlike most boxing games that have set animations for knockdowns which get repetitive after a while, EA has implemented ragdoll physics to the models once they get knocked out. Now, almost no two knockdowns are alike. You can see their bodies bounce off the ropes, get twisted up as they hit the canvas, and you can even blast them with punches as they fall. EA has once again done a fine job with visuals.

Sound-8/10
There are two parts to the sound. The actual sound effect in the game, and the music/commentary.
Effects-The effects are great. When in the ring, you hear every punch connect, and all the crowds chanting and cheering. All the little effects enhance the game and never seem to be too annoying/loud.
Music/Commentary-This is what seems to be a problem for some. All of the music is rap or genres similar to it. Me being a fan of different genres of metal, I was surprised as to how good the music was. It wasn't of my personal preference, but it really fit the mood of the game well.
The other problem that some have is the announcer. Unlike going with a traditional announcer like Madden, EA went with ''Big Tigga''. He can be somewhat annoying at times, but for the most part brings something new to the table. Now for me this wasn't a problem, but the score is to reflect on a general view of things from what others have said.

Controls-9/10
Let me say this right off the bat, with time, the controls are spot on. If you have some patience, controls bring up no problems at all. The only reason this gets a point taken off is the learning curve needed for those with less patience. EA once again found something to do with that right analog stick, coming up with TPC. (Total Punch Control) Using the right stick, you throw all you punches like ''extensions of your own hands''. No longer can you button mash like most fighting games, and you must KNOW what you are doing. TPC takes a bit to get used to, but in the long run it's well worth it. Although you can still use face buttons to punch, it still takes thinking and not mashing buttons to win. So despite the learning curve for the impatient, EA is on the right track with this one.

Gameplay-10/10
The gameplay is outstanding. The extra time in development really paid off. Everything Knockout Kings was supposed to be, finally happened. Everything just has a great feel to it when playing. You can feint punches, counter, throw combos, and it all takes some skill. Unlike just mashing the buttons, the game forces you to know what you are doing at all times. Knowing what spots on open on your opponent or what spots are open on you all play a factor. Instead of being able to throw flurries upon flurries of punches, you actually have to plan what goes where. You get penalized by the shortening of your stamina meter by throwing those, and you have to map shots well or else get tired out early in matches. Finally there is a boxing game where it credits those who took time to master the game. It think it would be nice to have some type of sliders to adjust the gameplay, but other than that gameplay couldn't be better.

Rent/Buy
This is a really tough decision. If you are a boxing fan, without a doubt, pick this game up. If you are a newcomer wanting to get into the series, then this is the time to get into it. Although, if you are still somewhat unsure about the game, just wanting to try the genre out, or you are a person whose idea of being done with a game is just beating it once and being done with it then
giving it a rent is best.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/10/04