By : S. E. Hartle
Although Fight Night Round 3 does not boast, “I am the greatest,” as does its focal heavyweight icon Muhammad Ali, but it does KO the competition when it comes to getting bang for your buck.
Sports games decrease in value so quickly because they reproduce their image every year, but FNR3 has everything you need from this series for years to come. The next Fight Night installment will certainly add more boxers and additional venues, but the real-to-life in ring boxing and the stunning graphics of FNR3 should quench your ring thirst until at least they come out with a Round 5.
The best part about FNR3 are the near limitless combination of fights that can be created from all weight classes, and all generations. Outside of Mike Tyson, and George Foreman, and Rocky Marciano, nearly every major contender and known name in boxing since the turn of the century has a spot on FNR3’s roster. And just to suit those fans who might want to bite off their opponent’s ear, there is a create menu where you can mold your boxer’s bio, physical form, and fighting style.
Using the new duel-stick technology offered by the XBox 360, what used to be mere video boxing has evolved into a kind of virtual fighting that puts the gamer in complete command of both body movement and punch control. The in-ring fighting is as realistic as any fighting game ever made, period. From the sweat that beads as rounds murmur on, to the gradual swelling and eventual bleeding, the realism is literally a punch in the face to all other fighter titles on the market. The graphic display culminates with slow-motion knockouts that throw away mouth pieces, wobble knees, close eyes and send splatters of blood across your television screen, and all offered in high definition. That is satisfying at any price.
The game offers multiple modes including classic ESPN-sponsored brawls, which offers fights such as Ali vs. Frazier and Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran, as well as several more classics from the 20th and 21st century. The career mode is lengthy and can span all weight classes offering as many fights as you can handle, but be weary, your fighter ages with each fight and without proper training and knowing when to call it quits, you may have to retire as a washed-up has-been. Make good decisions, train hard and step down when it’s time and you may become one of the “greatest” of all time. But you’ll have to beat the “Greatest” to prove it.
Overall for your money I would risk buying FNR3 and avoid its eventual counterpart, because I don’t see much improvement coming from the next model. Few games offer such lengthy entertainment at such a shallow price, and even fewer sports games appeal in any real long-term fashion, but FNR3 does both with lethal combination. If you can find a new or used version for 19.99 or less, that is the knockout uppercut you were yearning to dish out.
Online, Circuit City gives you the best price for this game new, but auction sites like Ebay, and shopping sites like Amazon offer used versions much cheaper. Shopping at Best Buy and Wal-Mart will find you shelling out at least $29.99 plus tax, and at that price you may consider waiting for the next version. Maybe they will offer in-ring ear biting, and that would be worth paying the full 60 dollars.
Bottom line, it’s worth every bit of 20 or 25 dollars, but be diligent as prices for sports titles drop quicker than Ali drops Frazier.
Bargain Bin Game Rating :
Full Price of $29.99 – 8 of 10
Discounted $19.99 – 9 of 10
Bargain Bin Videogames 