Swollen faces and bruised egos.
Boxing games are a tough genre. The sport itself is fairly limiting- several styles, several stances, trade blows, then someone falls down or is scored. If you spice it up too much you lose the Sim aspect, and by proxy the real boxing fan base(ala Toughman Contest by Electronic Arts circa 1995). If you don't add some pizzazz? You only get ring groupies( see the incredibly boring Caesars World of Boxing on CDI for the most boring attempt at boxing to date 1993).
My experience with boxing games spans Mike Tysons Punch Out, pre-rape prison beef, through the various other boxing games I'll use as a base for comparison.
It is definitely a better looking game than Fight Night 2004, and Fight Night Round 2. However, you knew that. This is the first instalment on a new generation- you know that its going to look better, and I've already told you it's a good looking game.
However- why can't I buy different ring girls anymore?
3D boxing is nothing new, this the third game in this series, and EA has a lot of experience with the genre(see Foes of Ali 1995 for 3DO by EA for their polygonal experience). The fighters are nice and big on the screen with nice angles. Of course if you don't pay attention it is possible to back into the ropes and not realize it do to not being given a visual cue of your position in the ring. You'll catch on eventually, but if you get caught against the ropes by accident it'll cost you a tap in the face of two, which can cost you on the higher difficulties.
At any rate, the graphics are a solid 9.
The gameplay is a nice evolution, I would say that this is the easiest control scheme in a boxer since I designed a green beast in the Sega Genesis's Evander Holyfield and Greatest Heavyweights games. The controls work very well, with a wide range of punches, and blocks available.
Good graphics, and Good controls check!
The games presentation is switched on as well, with good music choices(if you dig hip-hop) and a nice "menu theme" throughout. Think "Foreman For Real(1995)" not Electrobrains no frills fighter "Boxing Legends of the Ring(1993)".
I did not like the sound every time you change letters when naming things or applying a percentage to your fighters stats. It is very loud if you have it blasting in 7.1 surround sound. Overpowering the music and giving out headaches.
However the other sound effects, crowd noises, and commentary are outstanding.
Over and above all this its just a fun game to play, it has very customizable fighters, multiplayer, and a fairly well done career mode. The down side being that there isn't any Rocky Marciano to be seen, and a lot of the fighters look to similar. This can be distracting and breaks the users engagement- but not to any large amount. Casual fans and hardcore heavyweights should apply.
8.