"Fight Night 2004 is not just a great boxing video game...It's a great
video game, period. EA Sports has built upon a solid foundation and keeps the
fundamentals of the Knockout Kings series intact, while adding an entirely new
dimension with Total Punch Control. The new punch system gives you more control
than any other console boxing game, and gives you the feeling that you control
the boxer's entire body as you attempt to string together variuous combinations
of punches.
With that being said, this game is not "pick up and play." It's more like "pick
up and get your butt kicked." After one or two fights, the complicated control
system will have you at least a little frustrated. It's not easy to control your
fighter with the left analog stick, swivel and block with the L1 and R1 buttons,
and still manage to execute punches correctly and consistently with the right
stick. But after you complete a few fights, you'll get a firm enough grasp of
the system to give your friends a beating and handle the first few opponents in
career mode. Once your skills start to come together, you'll be hooked.
In addition to the revloutionary control improvements, EA Sports has enhanced
the career mode in several aspects. First, the "Create a Boxer" option gives you
plenty of options for physical appearance so that you can create a pretty
accurate likeness of yourself. They've also placed several unlockables in the
game's career mode, such as ring music and clothing options, to give you
something to spend that fight purse on. The online play is very solid, and
challenges you to build a stellar win/loss record against players from around
the country. All of these features ensure that you'll enjoy the game for some
time.
Fight Night 2004 will do for boxing video games what Madden has done for
football games in the last few years, and what Tony Hawk has done for
skateboarding games. The fun, unique control system and exciting multiplayer
competition should be pleasing to boxing fans as well as gamers who don't watch
the sport." - John J
