Knockout Kings 2000

However, I agree with other reviewers in that the game is not so true to real-life boxing techniques. (Of course, one can argue that realism in a video game is unimportant, just as in the movies...) I can win too easily just throwing combos. Not much strategy involved. Also, defense is impossible in the game. All you can do is evade once the computer starts swinging; bobbing and weaving are useless. This really annoys me. Another thing that bothers me is that the computer can throw just as many combos as you, but still have nearly a full tank of stamina.

I wonder why George Foreman or Mike Tyson aren't included? I mean, Jack Dempsey, but no George Foreman? Come on! And Ken Norton and Joe Frazier are underrated in the game. This really bummed me out. Also, it seems odd to me that I can beat Muhammad Ali with, say, Leon Spinks, easier than I can beat Larry Holmes or Evander Holyfield, using the exact same strategy. And Holyfield--while a great heavyweight--is not as good as the game makes him out to be, in my opinion.

But all in all, the game is good for hours of enjoyment. There are more things I like about it than dislike. I recommend it favorably.

I will start out by saying that this is perhaps the best boxing game going today. Mike Tyson's Boxing for teh PSX sux bad. Ready to Rumble was just incoherent. I have not tried HBO boxing yet. The music is good. The career mode is good. There are a lot of good things about this game. BUT.

Anyone that has ever had a MINUTE of training knows not to start off a fight throwing combos. The rule of thumb is to stick with your jab and let the combos flow. Do not force them. I can put the game on HARD and literally win within two rounds by doing nothing but combos. The best combo is circle, triangle, triangle, triangle. This totally goes against boxing logic.

I wish EA would have put a little more stock in defense. The only way to do defense is literally hit and RUN. When the computer starts swinging, run and circle to the left. Bobbing and weaving dont work. This is depressing.

I also wish EA would develop a "watch mode." I know this may sound wierd, but I LOVE commentating games. My freinds will swear that my commentary is the only reason they play the game. I would just love to commentate Chavez v Hagler. Oh well.

The game is worth 20 bucks, but not much more than that. Seriously, it is not very challenging. I played the 2001 version, but dont remember much about it. BTW, Mike Tyson's Punchout for the Nintendo (1987) was the best boxing game ever--barnone.

So, I know a little about what I speak. I guess I use too much strategy when I play, because I always go to the body before going to the head. I always wear a guy down - "Kill the Body, and the head will follow".

Minuses 1. I was very disappointed that even after you wear a fighter down by reducing his stamina, they were still able to throw combinations and flurries constantly. Not very realistic.

2. I am very disappointed that you have to press four buttons very, very quickly to throw a combination. I am sure the computer does not have this problem judging from the amounts it throws.

3. I am very disappointed that when you start a combination or a flurry, the computer can stop you in your tracks with a punch while you do not have the ability to do so... usually, after he starts a combination, you cannot get a punch off until he is through punching.

4. I am very disappointed that you can max out your speed and power on career mode and someone like Marlon Wayans of all people still hit as hard as you. He's a comedian for crying out loud. You should knock him out with the first punch you throw. You also get beat to the punch in many fights even with 100 in speed.

5. If you have ever paid attention to the punch stats, you will find that the other guy hits on about 90-95% of his punches. The only way to keep him from doing that is to constantly bob and weave and you still get hit more than 50% doing that and you can't really punch out of the bob and weave on this game. I on the other hand am blocked very consistently and hardly ever land more than 50%.

6. The commentators hardly get any punches right. Many rounds, all I have thrown is left hooks to the body and the other guy has thrown the occasional punch to the body back, and usually at the most inappropriate moment, O'Grady says, that's was a nice cross there. Someone in the stands must have thrown the right cross because no one in the ring did.

7. In the lightweights, you have a guy 115 lbs? Come on, Be more realistic. This isn't 1900 when there were only about four weight classes and everyone under 130 or so fought lightweight. And a hint to the programmers, A 115 lb guy could never hurt a guy 140 even if his record is 38-2-0 with 26 knockouts. And the speed difference wouldn't be enough to overcome that disadvantage.

8. How do you throw specialty punches? The little book doesn't even mention them. The little book only mentions signature punches. And I get nailed everytime I am winding up to throw my signature punch, so I stopped trying. It is also very, very difficult to press the triangle button at the same time as the "o" button. You almost have toput the controller down.

9. Overall, I am agreement with everyone who states that this is just a "press the button faster and more times and you will probably win" game. What fun is that? I can buy Street Fighter or something if I want that. I kept looking for steaks or something for "powerups".

Pluses- Not many, but the wide range of fighters was pretty good, I guess. It was cool to fight Boom Boom Mancini and then right after that fight Arguello. Arguello killed me. It's fun to throw an illegal punch or elbow back when a fighter does it to you. I sometimes do it when I try for 40 seconds or so to hit the guy but he keeps covering up because he is about to go down. I was once stopped on cuts even though I had knocked my opponent down about 4 times and was leading on all the scorecards. That was OK.

I am not going to buy the 2001 version because it sounds like it was more of the same of this game. It sounds like they added more glitter but no real gameplay.

Here are suggestions to the makers (EA) if they keep trying.

1. Have purses and have offers to fight several opponents thereby making you have to make a decision on who you will fight. Will you fight the mandated opponent, or will you fight the big money Champion coming up from the next lowest weight division. Have a fighter be stripped of one of the belts if he doesn't fight the contender mandated by the governing body.

2. Every now and then (ay like maybe .001% or slightly more) have a fight stolen on points cards by dumb judges.

3. Have fighters have styles that give more depth to slugger and boxer like "starts fast but finishes weak", "gets stronger as the fight goes on", and other styles - there are plenty.

4. Have the ability to match up two fighters and have the computer fight for both of them.

There are other things but these are the main ones I had...