Fight Night Champion

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 119 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 119
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 119
  3. Negative: 16 out of 119
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  1. Necramonium
    Apr 29, 2011
    6
    The graphics have been tuned and so has the fighting mechanism, but in my book, towards the bad, when it comes to the Fight Now mode, its a blast, but when you start the Legacy Mode, the fun is gone, even when you encounter fighters that are way below your skills they will still beat you by one point, even when you have knocked his *ss on the ground! Online pretty much is a disaster,The graphics have been tuned and so has the fighting mechanism, but in my book, towards the bad, when it comes to the Fight Now mode, its a blast, but when you start the Legacy Mode, the fun is gone, even when you encounter fighters that are way below your skills they will still beat you by one point, even when you have knocked his *ss on the ground! Online pretty much is a disaster, spammers, brawlers and belt holders that wont even dare to fight anything that comes near their level. I had the most fun in the Champion Mode, but when you come to the end, the game shows its ugly head again, the champion you have to fight is so overpowered, you would think he is either a android or a alien...… Expand
  2. dz9
    Aug 1, 2011
    5
    FNC!! Right down to it, this game feels so much more like a recycle than a true sequel. The new story mode is a really good idea but overall is nothing special at all, it has a lot of potential, there are a few good fights in it and there are even more cheap annoying fights in it. Gameplay- ehh.....fell flat. The new hit system almost makes it way too easy to punch, which sounds like aFNC!! Right down to it, this game feels so much more like a recycle than a true sequel. The new story mode is a really good idea but overall is nothing special at all, it has a lot of potential, there are a few good fights in it and there are even more cheap annoying fights in it. Gameplay- ehh.....fell flat. The new hit system almost makes it way too easy to punch, which sounds like a good thing... but in practice, your fighter 9 times out of 10, won't do what you want him to do. Too many times.. a jab will be mistaken for an uppercut and vice versa. They also simplified the blocking system... and with this, blocking feels reliant on luck rather than skill. And of course, this title still has the unreliable hit detection which has become notorious in the series. The presentation- overall nothing to complain too much about, a few graphic updates, overall... the entire presentation department felt like an update rather than a stand alone sequel. And legacy mode, is just a recycled version of its last models. The good: A few cool innovations, great graphics, some enjoyable gameplay. The bad: Unreliable hit detection, gameplay has become too arcade-y, bland but innovative story mode, and overall...the game feels wayy too recycles.… Expand
  3. GAMER123
    Mar 13, 2011
    5
    This game is great legacy mode is awesome, champion mode awesome but when you go online at first you suck, and then when you get good no one will even fight you. I am level 88 and im lucky if and 86 or lower will even fight me. If you want a title shot good luck the champs only fight the level 78s-80s and will not fight anyone that there is a chance they will lose. and if they do fight youThis game is great legacy mode is awesome, champion mode awesome but when you go online at first you suck, and then when you get good no one will even fight you. I am level 88 and im lucky if and 86 or lower will even fight me. If you want a title shot good luck the champs only fight the level 78s-80s and will not fight anyone that there is a chance they will lose. and if they do fight you they just pull the cord if your gonna win. The OWC really brings this game down and once someones the champ that it they will almost never lose the title and probably never fight you so dont bother trying.… Expand
  4. OhJay
    Apr 11, 2011
    5
    Fight Night Champions had a lot of potential after coming off a good string of previous games but after playing a good amount of this game i felt really underwhelmed. I have been playing Fight Night games for years and have seen a good evolution in the gameplay and realism but with Champions i feel it fell flat. Overall the graphics of the game were improved but nothing to shout about,Fight Night Champions had a lot of potential after coming off a good string of previous games but after playing a good amount of this game i felt really underwhelmed. I have been playing Fight Night games for years and have seen a good evolution in the gameplay and realism but with Champions i feel it fell flat. Overall the graphics of the game were improved but nothing to shout about, there was no major changes from FN4 but seeing as the graphics from that game were good that's not really a bad thing. In my opinion its the gameplay, presentation and the modes are the weak point of this game, I feel that the gameplay in FNC has took a step back, the new punching controls can be a bit chaotic at times and you will find your boxer throw all different kind of punches when all you wanted was two jabs, as you go on this will iron itself out but still the stick movement can be annoying. When it comes to presentation of this game it is major deja vu, all of the presentation has simply been recycled from the previous titles and put into this game. The boxer entrances are exactly the same, the arena's are exactly the same, the commentary seems mostly unchanged and that's just some of things, i understand that not every year can be different but at least do some changes and make the game feel a little more unique then just feel like a FN4 DLC pack. When it comes to the modes the game both shows a good side and a bad side and i will start with the new Champion Mode, Champion Mode is a very interesting edition to the game and offers a good change to what we have come to expect for sports games but its nothing to leap out your seat for. The story is a fairly run of the mill rags to riches boxing story and offers a alright plot and some good fights, i think that if the can expand on this mode in the future it could be something special. The next mode i would rather not talk about but i feel i must, Legacy Mode has built a firm place in the Fight Night Series but the one problem it has is that it hasn't changed an awful lot since it came about and with FNC it is no exception and like i said with the presentation its just recycled. Legacy has had minor changes but overall its the same old and is a huge disappointment for a mode that i usually spent hours in.

    Overall Fight Night Champions has been a bit of a let down, when i saw early trailers and screenshots i felt like we were getting a rebooted and more addictive game but to be honest the game feels recycled and the changes that have been made don't bring a whole lot to the game, i felt like i was playing DLC for a previous game instead of getting a new experience.    … Expand
  5. sloccy
    Mar 21, 2011
    6
    Wasted opportunity. the Fight model itself has so much potential but its about as realistic as street fighter with none of the consistency or fairness. Far far too easy to wobble an opponent or get wobbled yourself - most legacy fights descend into bar room brawls which is just dull dull dull. Champion mode is fun if a bit cliched but the fight against the Champ himself just highlights allWasted opportunity. the Fight model itself has so much potential but its about as realistic as street fighter with none of the consistency or fairness. Far far too easy to wobble an opponent or get wobbled yourself - most legacy fights descend into bar room brawls which is just dull dull dull. Champion mode is fun if a bit cliched but the fight against the Champ himself just highlights all the flaws and inconsistencies in the game itself. Legacy mode is a travesty and is borderline broken. Whoever programmed / designed that part ought to get their marching orders as it was awful on the last game and hasnt got any better. Such a shame as it has the potential to be brilliant but they seemed to have aimed it at 5 years old with attention deficit syndrome rather than anyone who is interested in the sport or even in balanced fighting games. Oh and online is a waste of time.… Expand
  6. peanuts
    Sep 24, 2013
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I play this game in career mode all the time and trounce opponents into dust. Yet after a good year of playing the game for some reason I still have difficulty beating Isacc Frost in Champion mode and am not very impressed with the automatic screw-overs that the game throws at you (broken hand, automatic cut). The Isacc Frost NPC is retarded and I wonder why I still play when the game forces you to run like a damn loser around the ring for 7+ rounds. Then the auto-loss to the little brother that absolutely can't be knocked down in the 1st round, you are simply destined to lose. The knockdown mechanic in Champion mode is questionable... since I am absolutely smacking them in the face and body yet they magically go down in the 10th from a weak strait; I am pretty sure this is hard-coded into the fight so they only go down in the later rounds. I'd give Career mode an 8 for fun and realism (cuts are next to impossible for some reason) and a 3 to Champion mode for being full of crap and screwing the play over as an intended mechanic.… Expand
  7. Melcher
    Mar 12, 2011
    7
    I've been a fan of the series since FNR3, and after the last installment I was a little puzzled to learn the control scheme was going back to buttons (especially after the jump from buttons to the analogue stick in FNR4 which I got used to).

    The demo was also a little lacklustre, so I wasn't expecting much from this, but after picking it up and playing it I am really pleased with the game    I've been a fan of the series since FNR3, and after the last installment I was a little puzzled to learn the control scheme was going back to buttons (especially after the jump from buttons to the analogue stick in FNR4 which I got used to).

    The demo was also a little lacklustre, so I wasn't expecting much from this, but after picking it up and playing it I am really pleased with the game and pretty surpised at how good the 'Champion' mode actually is. Sure it's filled with every boxing movie cliche ever, but its actually pretty entertaining to play through, and feels a lot like watching a movie. The other modes are all pretty tight and similar to previous installments, so no comment there.

    Reasons for a 7:
    + Great new 'champion' story mode
    + Control scheme good for fans of FNR3 and 4
    + Brilliant graphics and fast paced boxing
    - Same old outdated announcers and sound bytes
    - In game training exercises mundane and annoying at times
    - Recycled game engine (FNR4)    … Expand
  8. The_D4RknesS
    Sep 10, 2022
    7
    For you to get used to the gameplay and it's a hell of a hard time but what you lose in gameplay wins in knockouts where even the skin has very realistic movements for the 2011 season
    (Never had this game, played only on neighbors)

Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Best PS3 Game of 2011
58
#58 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011
33
#33 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 52 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 52
  3. Negative: 0 out of 52
  1. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    May 27, 2011
    90
    For a generation weaned on Rocky movies Fight Night Champion is the ultimate boxing experience. It sounds like a throwaway sentence, really. A platitude you toss at an otherwise good game to get the hard work out of the way. It's completely true though... What's particularly clever about Champion Mode is the way it pulls strings in the background to heighten the tension. During the fights throughout the story you might find yourself nursing a broken hand, or suddenly at the mercy of a bent referee or a desk full of bribed judges. Champion Mode will uppercut you with surprises like these, ones that require you to adjust the way you're fighting, across its duration. Champion Mode is bold, different and we absolutely want more of it. [May 2011 p.70]
  2. Videogameszone.de
    May 24, 2011
    90
    Stunning visuals and a great champion mode make Fight Night Champion the best game in the series.
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  3. Level7.nu
    Apr 18, 2011
    80
    Yet again a great boxing game in the series. Boring training routines and irritating load times keep it from the higher grades.
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