16 cert, EA, PS3 (also Xbox, iPhone, iPod Touch) ****
Depending on who you talk to, boxing is either a poetic, skilful sport or two people pounding each other into a bloody pulp. My opinion would lean more towards the former, but boxing games are sometimes constricted by the sport itself. Competing with fantastical beat-'em-ups, the more realistic fight games are limited by the sport's rules. The solution, elegantly presented by games such as Fight Night Champion, is to make them as precise and detailed as possible, training gamers to distinguish between the swift jabs and the strong hooks.
Fight Night Championworks on two levels – in story mode or multiplayer. The Champion mode is a narrative arc that's a cross between Rockyand the 50 Cent movie, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Your character (noble Andre Bishop) goes from fighting white supremacists in jail to championship bouts, while contending with corrupt officials, family issues and his father's legacy. It's a fun, inspiring yarn, if a little corny.
The graphics are exquisite, with lovingly detailed fighters and venues (from low-rent gyms to Madison Square Garden), and the animation is impeccable. The controls are so detailed that, like the best sports games, it helps you see the competition in more detail and appreciate the sport more. You’re rewarded for fighting tactically and for adapting your fight according to your opponent. The controls are logical and intuitive – you can either tap buttons or tilt a controller stick to access the punches.
The game builds on the strengths and addresses weaknesses of previous Fight Nighttitles, with more accurate controls and better graphics than its forbears.
Like the previous instalments, the two-player option (playable online or locally) lets you create fights with titans from boxing history, from Mike Tyson to Muhammad Ali via Sugar Ray Leonard, but the roster has been expanded nicely. Among the 50-plus real-life boxers are current fighters, such as Ricky Hatton. It’s very enjoyable seeing these pugilists from different generations square up.
