Fight Night Round 3 Career Mode Hands-On
EA's boxing series aims for a third-round knockout on the Xbox and the PS2. We've got a hands-on look.
With all the hype surrounding the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Fight Night 3 abounding, it's easy to forget that the third game in EA's boxing franchise is also coming out for the original Xbox and the PS2. After all, the mind-blowing graphics on the next- generation consoles have been causing quite a stir ever since the game was announced for the PS3 at last year's E3. While graphics are well and fine, let's not forget that it is Fight Night's gameplay that has kept gamers enthralled with the series since its inception. Though the current-generation consoles may not be visually on par with the 360 version, the gameplay seems to be right where it needs to be, based on our recent hands on time with the current generation versions of the game.
If you've read our previous preview of Round 3, you already know about the control scheme and its slightly revamped take on big haymaker punches. For those who haven't, here's the short version: In addition to your standard haymaker punch, there's also the addition of the flash KO and stun punches. Flash KO punches are simply haymakers with more windup, and they'll send your opponent reeling. Stun punches, on the other hand, feature more windup and more follow-through. Connect with a stun punch and the camera angle shifts to a first-person point of view that really ups the tension of the fight.
One of the areas we hadn't had the opportunity to explore in our previous looks at Round 3 was the career mode, which once again has you creating a boxer from scratch, training them up from a flabby one-punch wonder into a carved-out-of-wood fighting machine in the quest for gold, fame, and, of course, loads of cash. You start off your career just like last time, as an amateur boxer looking to beat down some scrubs before you can remove the headgear and join the ranks of the pros. An interesting alternative in the Round 3 career mode is to forgo creating your own boxer, and instead choose to rebuild a legend like Bernard Hopkins or Evander Holyfield, and shape his career as you see fit.
Assuming you go with the option to create a new fighter, you'll find a robust character-creation tool at your disposal. Practically everything is adjustable when it comes to getting your fighter looking exactly as you like--from head size to nose width--and it's all done using the dual analog sticks, just as in the last game. Once you have your pugilist complete, it's time to climb in the ring and deal some leather. Well, almost. First, you'll need to pick an opponent. Each fight, you'll have a number of foes to choose from, and you can even scout any of the opponents to see how your attributes match up against one another. This is a pretty cool feature, as it will give you key insight into how a fighter should be approached once the bell rings. If you've got a decisive speed advantage in your next fight, for example, you'll want to take advantage of it. Conversely, if you're severely outmuscled in a fight, you better have your defense in order before you climb between the ropes. You'll even get tipped off to the kind of base, block, and punch styles each prospective opponent uses.
For each contracted fight you choose from, there are different stipulations and rewards. One fight might be worth a lot of money, for example, while another might give you a big boost in popularity should you win it. Some bouts come in the form of the "hard hits" mode, where rounds are decided by knockdowns, and the fighter with the most knockdowns wins the bout. Fight purses also vary, depending on the quality of your opponent. The more cash you win, the more money you'll have to spend on better trainers and new gear. The fight store has plenty of items to buy for your created boxer, from new gloves that can give you bonuses for attributes such as body and speed, to mouth guards that will improve your chin rating.
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