A few years ago, Fight Night Round 3 was released and really showed us why we needed next generation consoles. Very rarely does a game come along that makes you desire new hardware the way Round 3 did. That was then and this is now. So how does Fight Night Round 4 stack up to its predecessor? In a word; magnificently.

For the record, I’m conducting this review while playing on a PS3. The game begins with something that you and I have begun to loathe dear reader; the mandatory install. Why do we need this? In this case it didn’t take longer than a minute or two, but it prevented me from getting to a game I’ve been anticipating for years now. If I wanted to install something, I’d be playing on my PC. Mandatory installs and rushed to market games that have need to be patched out of the box need to go the way of the dinosaur.

Once the install is complete, you’re greeted with a slick menu system that is easy to move around and get used to. Because of this, I jumped in right away and relived one of the most hyped fights of the last 10 years; Lewis – Tyson. This is the first time you’ve been able to fight as Tyson in a decent boxing game EVER. EA put a lot of work into boxer styles in this game and it shows. While moving around the ring I felt like Tyson. Lennox Lewis boxed like he should, using his long reach trying to keep me at bay. I had to slip the jab, weave to get inside and then throw a couple of body shots to cut the ring off.  

POW! Right in the kisser!

The gameplay mechanics are fantastic. Gone is the parrying that plagued fights in Round 3, replaced by a standard blocking system. Time your block right and your given the opportunity execute a counter. Block too long and you’ll notice your opponent’s punches start making their way through your defenses. Back again is the weaving system. Slide your head and body around the canvas to dodge punches or at least make them less effective. As with the blocking, time it properly and you’re given the chance to counter your opponent. Counters in Round 4 are brutal, especially when playing a CPU opponent. They seem to occur a little too frequently against the machine for my taste and you’ll pay dearly if you miss a punch.

Also modified for this year’s edition is the haymaker system. You can’t just cock back and throw haymaker after haymaker. There is a modifier you’ll need to hold before the punch can be thrown and be warned, these are slow to hit their target. Missing a haymaker can have devastating consequences and you’re now opened up to anything your opponent wishes to do. Besides, that’s not how a boxing match is fought anyway. Boxing is a game of chess throwing jabs and straights, catching a sleeping boxer with a hook or uppercut when you have the opening.

There’s a new control scheme included in addition to all of the other changes, but you’re still given the choice to go back to classic total punch control; a must for your reviewer. With the new scheme, you aren’t required to lean in to throw low punches. It’s also much easier to throw hooks and uppercuts, but I found myself throwing too many body shots with the new controls. If you’ve played any Fight Night title before, you’ll most likely be returning to the classic control scheme.

Physics play a big part in the course of your fights. Lean away as you’re throwing a punch and it won’t do much damage. Glancing blows will still hurt, but probably won’t put another fighter into the pre-knockdown haze. Catch a boxer with a hook when they’re not expecting it and it will soon be lights out; the flash knockdowns that permeated Round 3 still happen, but on a much smaller scale in this title.

A great deal of attention went into player models and other touches in this game. Players muscles move when boxers get hit, throw punches or dance around the ring. They look even more gorgeous running at 60 frames per second. You won’t spend too much time paying attention to the ring, crowd and other peripheral graphics, but they’re the perfect backup dancer. The focus is kept on the boxers, but they’re in place to supplement what’s occurring in the ring.

There are too many boxers to list here in this review, but know there isn’t a shortage of fighters. Essentially all of the better fighters of the last 50 years or so in their respective weight classes are included.

Legacy mode is the create-a-fighter offering for Round 4. What’s unique about this iteration is that if you have a USB camera, you can map your own face onto a boxer. It isn’t required and there is a rather large stock offering of heads to choose from that can be tweaked once you’ve found one you like. If I can find fault with anything in the game, my biggest complaint about the player models would be the hair. This is especially noticeable when you’re building your new champion to be. For all of the detail that was put into making the boxers look fantastic, the hair is very poorly done. However, when I’m nitpicking to this level to even find fault, you know the game must be very well done. You’re given a superfluous amount of gloves, trunks and other nuances to customize; standard fare for a create-a-player in today’s gaming landscape.

Through the Legacy mode you’ll work your way up through the ranks of Bum to The Greatest of All Time. The training options are a little tedious, but it’s what boxers do to get better. You can simulate the training if your passion is just about the fight. Everything about this mode speaks to boxing in its truest form and shows the level of dedication these men have.

A multiplayer option is available. Be warned though, unless you play this game for hours a day, prepare to be frustrated. Most players will get used to boxing on the left or “money” side and when you’re thrown to the wolves form the right; it can be quite a daunting task to pummel back. It’s still to test your skills against a human opponent if you don’t have any friends close by.

For a game that had to follow the best offering of the series, they’ve lived up to and surpassed their roots.