Even after three years, there are no boxing games for the PlayStation in the US. KO The Live Boxing is the latest of the Japanese boxing games that combines the simulation aspects of Boxer's Road with the 3D action of Center Ring Boxing, but not very well.
One of the problems that KO suffers from is its lack of speed. The game runs at such an incredibly slow pace that you feel more like you're playing a game of chess than a boxing game. And although the game speeds up as you climb the ranks, and better boxers are faster, the game never gets fast enough. The punches always look like they're running in slow motion.
The only thing that's slower than the gameplay is the game's control. The time that it takes your fighter to throw a punch, sidestep, or anything is delayed so long after you've pressed the button or direction that it's ridiculous. But just like your opponents, when your fighter's skill level gets better, his actions are a little more in tune with the buttons you press. But still, making a game that controls poorly early on is akin to making the first part of a book intentionally bad. One nice play mechanic is that you can choose how hard to throw a punch by simply holding the button down longer. The longer the button is depressed, the harder the punch. While this is neat, the time that it takes the punch animation to go from resting to extended is way too long, especially since your opponent can simply parry the punch with a jab.
Visually, KO is fairly rough around the edges. The fighters are made up of some pretty blocky polygons, and the crowd that gets bigger in the stands with every victory is a 2D artist's worst nightmare. However, one good point is that the game has 15 preset camera angles to choose from.
On another positive note, the AI of the computer fighters is surprisingly good. They try to command the center of the ring and cut the ring off when you're trying to stay away. When a skilled computer opponent gets you trapped in a corner, he'll pummel you. You either have to weather the storm or fight your way out.
In the end, KO the Live Boxing is a boxing game that simply doesn't deliver the goods. It's too slow, the graphics are poor, and the control is sluggish. The game isn't a full-fledged boxing simulation like Boxer's Road, and yet it isn't an arcade boxer like Center Ring. It's evident that the people at Altron know boxing; it's just unfortunate the game couldn't have been a bit faster. Players, whether boxing fans or not, should pass on this import.
