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FaceBreaker enters ring Sept. 5

EA Canada's first entrant into arcade boxing will debut on 360 and PS3 this fall; Wii version to follow.

Since making the transition to current-generation consoles in 2006, EA's Fight Night Round 3 has roundly been considered the undisputed heavyweight champion of the gaming circuit. While 2007 yielded no worthy challengers, 2008 offered up a new competiton in the form of Don King Presents Prizefighter--which has been roundly pummeled by critics.

Today, though, EA dated its re-entry into the ring. This afternoon, the megapublisher announced that the EA Canada-developed FaceBreaker will be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 5, with the Wii version to follow for the holidays, according to EA. Whereas Fight Night appeals to the sim-boxing crowd, FaceBreaker's roots draw from the same well as Nintendo's Punch-Out!! franchise. The game features a highly stylized aesthetic, with comical caricatures of boxers being pummeled by an assortment of head shots, body blows, and haymakers.

When FaceBreaker launches in September, it will be the first title to fall under EA's newly christened Freestyle brand, and it will be joined by two original projects teased by EA vice president of global marketing Todd Sitrin in March. The title will also serve as an exhibition bout for EA Canada, which picked up Fight Night Round 4 after its former handler--EA Chicago--was shuttered in November.

For a more in-depth look at FaceBreaker, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

22 Comments

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jun 20, 2008 2:13 am GMT

    I love fight night and this series as well. I am excited about this one.

  • CodingGenius Site moderator

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 11:11 pm GMT

    I enjoy boxing games and prefer cartoony style to more realistic, so I will be watching for info about this one...

  • cooldude03

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 10:08 am GMT

    Ready to Rumble is alot closer to Facebreaker than Punch Out! I'd rather play the next Fight Night.

  • black_ice23

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 11:54 pm GMT

    lets get ready to rumble!!!

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 5:53 pm GMT

    I am just excited mainly because it seems to emulate real boxing and that means the wii version will rocks the mostest

  • jdbthexboxgamr

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 4:47 pm GMT

    demo?

  • stevo_360

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 12:55 pm GMT

    If nothing else the game looks terrific.

  • akiwak

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 10:42 am GMT

    I didn't buy any of the Fight Night games as I am not a fan of boxing. Facebreaker though looks promising and I might get it. Punch Out took me years to pass. I was only 7 when the game was out on NES, it wasnt till years later that I developed patience and quick enough reflexes to spend my time dodging just to get a single punch in!!!

  • Sam_Lowery

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 10:06 am GMT

    Meh, whether it's good or not I'm sure EA will try to pimp it out with yearly sequels.

  • smokeyf

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 9:15 am GMT

    Looks kinda like Ready To Rumble. Sweet.

  • Falco_648

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 9:10 am GMT

    The nintendo power preview of this sounded really good.

  • alexthemagnum

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 8:40 am GMT

    Hope it is good

  • kos1085

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 8:08 am GMT

    Maybe this will be the boxing game that will get me into playing boxing again like in the days of Knockout Kings, super punch out, and ready to rumble.

  • brettak81

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 6:54 am GMT

    this game looks like it could possibly be fun to play around with. but when cartoony boxing games are the topic nothing will EVER top mike tyson's punchout for the nes!! god i loved whoopin up on piston honda and bald bull.

  • EPaul

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 4:49 am GMT

    I'll it to see if i like it

  • ccputgat2m

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 4:25 am GMT

    I cant wait to trade in Madden 09 for it

  • OfficialBed

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 7:54 pm GMT

    looks kinda fun

  • darkride66

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 6:56 pm GMT

    I'm looking forward to this. I've always liked the over the top style arcade boxers, and it's nice EA seems to be making good on their promise of more original properties. Keep em coming!

  • Dr_Corndog

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 6:03 pm GMT

    I'm not into serious sports games, but Facebreaker sounds right up my alley. Especially the Wii version.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 5:39 pm GMT

    what about fight night 4?

  • buffdaddy500

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 5:36 pm GMT

    can't wait. this game looks really cool. i like arcade boxing games.

  • Mariofreak1216

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 5:29 pm GMT

    Facebreaker looks pretty good.

    Punch Out!!! is one of my favorite games of all time,

    It also looks Ready 2 Rumble inspired, so hopefully it's something like that.

    Some people just don't understand that sometimes you don't want a realistic boxing game, sometimes you want something fresh and fun. I look forward to playing this when it comes out, heres hoping it's actually good.

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