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Continuing the trend of Fight Night Round 3, Round 4 is back in the ring and this time
it is coming in with some brand new punches. Round 4 comes out with what was at the time,
the most realistic boxing game ever released, only being surpassed by its sequel. With the
new control scheme, the improvements to the legacy mode, and the major addition of online
support, this was a dream for boxing fans when it was released.
I remember I was looking forward to this game very much. I had played my fair spare of Round
3, and with all the things that Round 4 was bringing, how could I not be excited. And
Round 4 did not disappoint in the least. This game is not just one of the best in the boxing
game genre, but one of the best in the entire sports genre. This game was made for people
who love boxing. Each fight is brutal, and strategic, just like in real life. You can’t
just go in and swing your arms like a mad man. You actually have to have some rhyme
and reason behind each punch you throw.. Each fight requires thinking, mixing up counter
punches and timing your bobs and weaves. And Round 4 gives you a completely different way
to do this.
Instead of the classic style, Fight Night introduced a new analog control system. You
move with the left analog stick and throw your punches with the right. That’s right,
all your punches are controlled with one analog stick. To throw a jab you push the analog
stick up and to the left, while to have your fighter throw a straight it is up and to the
right. Hooks and crosses happen when you push to the side. And uppercuts are down and swing
it all the way up. You think this would be complicated and I’d admit, at first it is.
But soon you will be pulling off combinations like you have been training all your life.
Jab, Straight, Hook, Right Uppercut. Man is that satisfying.
The Legacy mode in this game does leave something to be desired though. You create a fighter
and take him through a career that hopefully ends in them becoming the GOAT. You will have
to schedule your fights carefully, working your way up the world rankings until you can
get your chance at a title shot. Although this is interesting at first, having to train
in-between fights, it will boil down to just, fight, train, fight some more, train some
more. It feels more like a disconnected series of fights rather than a real career.
What the Legacy mode lacks though, the game makes up for in graphics and gameplay. Each
fight feel different than the one before. The game sports an impressive roster selection
with the AI having each fighter behaving like their real life counterpart. Ali will want
to stay on the outside while Tyson wants to get in close. You will literally whence when
you see your uppercut connect and send your opponent to the mat.
If you think of yourself as a fan of boxing, then you don’t need to hear how good this
game is because you already own it. But if you are on the fence, I could not recommend
this game more.