From PunchOut!! To Fight Night Round 4, Mike Tyson Returns
- Posted on Mon, May 18th, 2009
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I’m writing this post because my boy Diallo asked me to. I’m glad that he did. I’m not into video games like I used to be, but after 
visiting EA Sports’ Fight Night promotional site and watching a pre-fight simulation of Pacquiao vs Hatton on ESPN.COM, I now understand why he told me to write a post about Fight Night Round 4.
One of the main reasons this game stands out to me is the inclusion of "Iron" Mike Tyson for the first time in the Fight Night series. It’s been a a re-birth of sorts for the pride of Brooklyn, NY. The documentary Tyson has garnered a lot of critical acclaim and he also appears in the upcoming comedy The Hangover. The jury is still out on the comedy, but there is no denying the impact that Tyson has had inside the ring and in the video gaming universe.
For my money, Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!! is still one of the best boxing video games ever but if Fight Night keeps this up I’ll have to update my Best Boxing Video Games of All-Time list pretty soon. It’s not just about Tyson though. As in previous versions of the game, "FNR4" features top fighters past and present. Past ring greats featured for the first time include: the "Raging Bull" Jake LaMotta; middleweight legend Carlos Monzon, Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker, and the late Diego "Chico" Corrales.
The series also welcomes the following active fighters: Yuiorkis Gamboa, Fernando Montiel, Jorge Arce, and Paulie Malignaggi. I would have liked to see Chad Dawson, Juan Manuel Lopez and Edwin Valero, but that’s nitpicking.
While so many things have regressed in the past several years, video game technology is not one of them. The line between film and video game special effects is increasingly blurring. I don’t know how much more realistic these games can get, but the Fight Night series seems like its end goal is to make you actually feel the punches thrown on-screen.
One last thing: the game doesn’t come out until July 1. My boy Diallo failed to tell me that.
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Personally I love my Wii Boxing. I know it’s not a hard core gamer game. A developer should take the same principle of the game play and apply it to a boxing game that looks more realistic.
Or is there one already out there like this?
ReplyThat’s a very good question. Methinks you may be talking about something like this?
ReplyIndeed. Or something along the lines of the game you described in your post but made for the Wii using its motion controllers to fight the opponents.
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