Winner and Still Champion!! Not a Classic, but still a great and solid game.
A lot of us have won the battle to get fighters like Monzon into this series. Sadly we have lost the fight--I have given up-- trying to get great fighters like Dempsey, Louis, and Marciano, back into the series. It all comes down to licensing and the surviving families just want too much money. However, two of the above fighters have names, monikers, and cities in the custom choices, so making them is really simple.
What don't I like? I still don't like the training mode. Come on, either make them doable or automatic, fast, and a progression.
Rest time in this game is WAY overrated. Come on, you take a fighter, he trains like hell, and then give him 4 or 5 days off. Anymore and rust sets in, any less and the muscles could still be sore. In real life boxers don't train just 4 weeks before a fight that is a joke. The whole XP thing is nauseating to me.
They have eliminated the Rivals section. I think that should have been expanded but you only have so much space on a disk.
The commentary is great but still gets too repetitive, especially if you fight several times.
Beating Jake on Championship mode easy level is WAY too hard. Come easy level is supposed to be easy level.
The end of Legacy mode should include a good send off like in KOKings 2000, where the fighter is walking down the Hall of fame.
The good stuff.
Controls are way easier they should leave them alone now.
Championship mode is underrated. It is NOT supposed be an alternative to the Legacy Mode. It is a teaching vehicle with a great and visual story.
Healing was eliminated between rounds. I say good, some say bad.
As you have seen from the other reviews, you cannot please everyone. Some people like me love Boxing and its history, but we are not into a pugilistic simulator. Some people rating this game have done some fighting in their lives and they are not into an arcade format. This series has done a really good job of catering to both formats. You cant do everything for everyone. Did I get I get my money's worth?? YES. IS there room for improvement? Yes, especially on the visuals for the Legacy mode.
Rating: 9.0, not a classic, but still a great solid game.