Good, but with minor problems.
But Showtime does a nice job of implementing the punches with 90% accuracy. Jabs and straights are easy to pull off as in any game, but its the big punches which are hard to pull off in previous boxing games on the Wii. Showtime promises you with these punches if you are able to pull off the proper form. Being as that I box in a real gym as a hobby. The form isn't a problem for me, so I was surprised how i was able to actually throw my left and right hooks effectively. The main control scheme is you throw jabs and straights just by punching the screen, hooks are done by holding the B button on the remote and swinging your right hand for the right hook, left hook is done by holding Z and throwing your left hand.
Cool aspect of this game is the ability to lean to the left or right and throw jabs from that position or devastating uppercuts. The problem in this game really is how cheesy it seems at times. There is a lack of substance when it comes to the animations. The slipping and sliding from left to right could have been done a lot smoother as it was done in Wii Boxing. Really you lean to the left and instantly with no supporting animation behind it and you don't recieve the motion capture feeling when you are moving since your fighter's movement is done all on the control stick with the exception of leaning to the left or right. There is no create a fighter mode here and there is no use of training games in here either, it's not essential, but it would have been nice.
All you do is challenge for a series of belts starting at Amature all the way to the Showtime Championship, and eventually to a King of The Ring. As good as controls go, they could have used more of a motion capture feel to it the same as you would have felt from playing Wii Boxing. The sound is alrite but the announcing was kind of lack luster as you can barely make out what he is saying. Commentary would have been extremely nice since you are throwing the punches and it really gives you the feel as if you are in fight due to the responsive controls. There is no other camera setting other than the one you see in the screenshots, personally i feel first person would have done nicely if you have the choice.
Lastly, the graphics are not bad, but they aren't great either it looks like something the original X box could have pulled off easy, but hey the graphics are nice enough to look at , and really it's all about the game play when you are playing Wii. The DS version of this game blows complete ass and isn't worth the money at all. And since you get a solid boxing experience form this game it's well worth the $30 you spend on it. You might get a little frustrated at first but as soon as you're able to pick off opponent punches and do some serious head hunting the game becomes ridiculosly fun. Over all , the game almost was the best boxing game I ever played and there were a few minor gameplay issues with the clunky animations, And 1 glitch I don't seem to mind is if you knock down your opponent by the ropes, he will fall out and just just clash through the ropes. But for now this is the best boxing game guaranteed on the Wii now. Victorious Boxers was an extreme let down and over priced. Showtime how ever, is all this review says it is and a bag of chips. And Wii Sports, everyone has it so you dont need to worry there. I am personally waiting for the new Fight Night to come out on all the platforms. Lead project manager at EA says he's really excited about bringing the game to the Wii and there is some amazing things he plans to do with it. But for now since we won't hear about the game officially being put into production in about a years' time, Showtime is truly the best boxing game out right now and will live upto and surpass your expectations. For now this will more than do untill we can get a our totally revamped and revolutionary Fight Night. I beleive it will be the perfect game we have all been waiting for, but thats quite a ways off. Now lace up your Wii remote and nunchuck and go kick some ASS.