Okay, having played this game the better part of last night (12 fights or so), I've started to uncover the fun in the game and the parts of the game that are going to make me give this game back. In simple form, the game is a fairly decent representation of boxing, nothing spectacular, but solid. I enjoy the stamina and how it dictates your pacing as well as your offensive strategy, and I like the adrenaline punches (though I believe they should be executed in a different manner, I'll explain). There are, however, a number of flaws that strike this game in the heart.
The collision detection in this game is sub-par at best and utterly miserable at worst. Punches go directly though boxers, jabs and straights don't land, uppercuts hit arms and chests but the head reacts, body shots are ugly and don't really look like body shots until they land and the body reacts, and overall, the game is animated very poorly. This is out of character for the 2k Sports guys and quite frankly very surprising (and disappointing). Graphically, the game is okay...there are no cuts, therefore no fight stoppages for cuts, a factor that cuts into the realism of the game. The fighters are fairly detailed, but not as detailed as FN (yes, a comparison) which came out over a year ago.
I think there are a few things that could be tweaked that would make the game a ton more fun. Firstly, find a way to fix the horrible collision detection, that way punches are actually landing, rather than going through boxers. That would also help with the game feeling cheap at times, because your boxer has clearly dodged a punch, but the follow through on the punch connects with your boxer, stopping your counter punch while doing a good amount of damage to you. Uncool. There also needs to be a few different settings for the computer as well, because so far, I've fought the same guy about 12 times. He's constantly on top of you, there's not any strategy to the guy outside punch punch punch..***n, punch punch punch. There's not any setting up the jab, working combos in the offense, picking spots...just a lack of any real substance in the AI.
I have to say this, some of the punches are absolutely putrid looking and if I never see the swinging far outside right or left body hook again, I'll die a happy man. The punches are far too hard to accurately predict, and the collision detection being so poor doesn't help matters either. Oftentimes a punch will land directly on my arms or gloves, but since the body modifier is on, my fighter takes damage, even though the shot was blocked by the arms/gloves. That is just poor design. While we're on punches, I'd also like to say that you should be able to throw the adrenaline punches at any time at a huge stamina cost and if they connect, you get a bit of the adrenaline bar filled. This way, the punches are thrown in the correct openings, and the adrenaline can be used to reward players for punching in bunches, looking for the right opening before attacking, and laying the leather on the other fighter in the right moment.
All in all, I was having fun, but this game is not going to last very long with these flaws, the career mode is entertaining but overall, I'm considering a trade in on Thursday when Metal Gear comes out. I'm shocked that 2k Sports would put out such a shoddy product.
The collision detection in this game is sub-par at best and utterly miserable at worst. Punches go directly though boxers, jabs and straights don't land, uppercuts hit arms and chests but the head reacts, body shots are ugly and don't really look like body shots until they land and the body reacts, and overall, the game is animated very poorly. This is out of character for the 2k Sports guys and quite frankly very surprising (and disappointing). Graphically, the game is okay...there are no cuts, therefore no fight stoppages for cuts, a factor that cuts into the realism of the game. The fighters are fairly detailed, but not as detailed as FN (yes, a comparison) which came out over a year ago.
I think there are a few things that could be tweaked that would make the game a ton more fun. Firstly, find a way to fix the horrible collision detection, that way punches are actually landing, rather than going through boxers. That would also help with the game feeling cheap at times, because your boxer has clearly dodged a punch, but the follow through on the punch connects with your boxer, stopping your counter punch while doing a good amount of damage to you. Uncool. There also needs to be a few different settings for the computer as well, because so far, I've fought the same guy about 12 times. He's constantly on top of you, there's not any strategy to the guy outside punch punch punch..***n, punch punch punch. There's not any setting up the jab, working combos in the offense, picking spots...just a lack of any real substance in the AI.
I have to say this, some of the punches are absolutely putrid looking and if I never see the swinging far outside right or left body hook again, I'll die a happy man. The punches are far too hard to accurately predict, and the collision detection being so poor doesn't help matters either. Oftentimes a punch will land directly on my arms or gloves, but since the body modifier is on, my fighter takes damage, even though the shot was blocked by the arms/gloves. That is just poor design. While we're on punches, I'd also like to say that you should be able to throw the adrenaline punches at any time at a huge stamina cost and if they connect, you get a bit of the adrenaline bar filled. This way, the punches are thrown in the correct openings, and the adrenaline can be used to reward players for punching in bunches, looking for the right opening before attacking, and laying the leather on the other fighter in the right moment.
All in all, I was having fun, but this game is not going to last very long with these flaws, the career mode is entertaining but overall, I'm considering a trade in on Thursday when Metal Gear comes out. I'm shocked that 2k Sports would put out such a shoddy product.
well played sir...
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