A FEW years ago EA’s first venture into the world of pugilism nearly cost me the mobility in both my hands.
It was a fine title but the method of punching (rotating the sticks sideways then upwards) left me feeling that a visit to the doctor to discuss carpal tunnel syndrome was only another couple of rounds away.
The series has progressed since then and the latest instalment is one of the best sports games available on the market.
The introduction of Champion Mode is a breath of fresh air, providing you with an unbelievably cliched route through the heavyweight ranks with the ultimate goal of becoming heavyweight champion.
Shady agents, jail time, a hideous beating for your brother all feature in the story which although shortlived proves and unmitigated success.
What it also serves to do is teach you the basics of fighting, preparing you for your own attempt to work your way up from the bottom in the tried and tested career mode.
The difficulty curve is perfectly weighted and you’ll find that until you’ve managed to improve your characters stats you’ll need all the tricks of the trade just to avoid a sound hammering inside three rounds.
Visually it’s spectacular with some pretty impressive effects as knockouts cause your opponent’s face to contort in quite unspeakable fashion.
The advice from your corner is spot on and the commentary, as usual with EA titles is fantastic. It really serves to set the scene and add the necessary tension to some pretty fantastic bouts.
The control mechanism is simple, with directions on the right stick deciding what type of punches your character delivers. As usual there’s the power punch button but if you find yourself hitting it too much it won’t be long before your boxer’s staggering around like a punch drunk loser.
That’s key to the game. How you balance the stamina with your attacking endeavours is a real tightrope. Get it wrong and you’ll be blowing by the third and any chance of escaping a pasting will be highly unlikely.
As with all EA sports games attention to detail is second to none but what’s most important is that Fight Night Champion is great fun to play.
It’s by no means easy but invest the time and you’ll be rewarded with the best boxing experience on console.
RATING: 5/5