Fight Night Round 2
Xbox- Publisher: EA Sports
- Release Date: Feb 28, 2005
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Round 2 has the substance to back it up its sense of style. The analog control has been refined to the point where it's more responsive and more satisfying than mashing buttons and the new facial and body animations bring a level of authenticity to the ring that's simply never been accomplished before.
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Computer Games MagazineRemove every frill and dump the gorgeous 3D graphics for barely animated stick figures and Fight Night Round 2 would still be a classic. [June 2005, p.89]
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To say that this is the best career mode for a boxing game to date would be an understatement.
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The new venues are astoundingly rendered, and the crowds are more than cardboard cut outs that react uniformly. To speak plainly, I have never seen a sports game look so realistic in my life.
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While there are a few things I miss like the comedic, springy rope knockdowns, I have to say that this year's version of the game is easily better.
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An undisputed heavyweight champion in every sense of the word. The sound moves through the ring with quick feet, the controls are swift sharp jabs of intuitiveness, and the graphics never fail to deliver a knockout blow.
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Game InformerAnother nice addition is the "woozy" camera angles that appear when you or an opponent is nearly knocked down. It's a small touch, but a very dramatic one. [March 2005, p.115]
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The graphics are amazing inside the ring. You can see cuts, gashes and welts form on the face as you are going along in the match.
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Another round, another knockout for Fight Night.
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Not only gorgeous, but is also one of the most realistic sports games to date.
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Total Punch Control gets even better with the addition of Haymaker punches. The Career mode and mini cutman and Training games make for a fun, off-the-cuff experience. A bit more functionality online would be nice.
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Just the simple addition of being able to move while punching is enough to recommend this game hands down.
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The game has set a new bar for the genre and it plays so smoothly with some practice.
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Pelit (Finland)An excellent boxing simulator. A few more minigames would not have hurt, though. [Apr. 05]
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Imagine last year's innovative gameplay system multiplied by two. Sure the Haymakers need some work, but the clenching, enhanced AI, cutman mini-game, and other additions make up for it.
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The repetitive training mode and fiddly defence let it down a little but, if being the main protagonist in a civilised man's most uncivilised sport rocks your world, look no further: this is a supreme sequel. [Xbox World]
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Official Xbox MagazineThe boxers ripple with animated musculature and move with a lightning smoothness, while the brutal injuries and blood sprays make you sincerely regret every opening you leave for your opponent. [March 2005, p.76]
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Play MagazineEA Chicago should be proud. It doesn't get much better than this. [Apr 2005, p.77]
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The inclusion of the cutman mini-game between rounds is a great addition, and the Haymaker provides a phenomenal sense of drama with punches that can knock boxers out at any time. I personally can't wait to see next year's version.
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It's like watching a great fighter that's just starting his career. He's great now, he's surprising you with his progress, and you'll know he'll end up in the hall of fame. Fight Night Round 2 is another fantastic step in this hall-of-fame series.
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PGNx MediaThe gameplay is stellar, something that is only made better by the kick-ass graphics.
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Knocks out the competition with realistic boxing and more in-depth game play features.
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Another big change: You now have the ability to switch weight classes in mid-career, so you can go from heavyweight, to light heavy, and back to heavyweight again to beef up your bank account.
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The Total Punch Control is 'THE' best control system I've experienced in a boxing game and the changes made to the career mode are all for the better as well.
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The most striking change is in the innovative control scheme--where you use the right analog stick to throw jabs, hooks, and uppercuts--which has now been slightly altered to enable you to fight more like a professional pug in the ring.
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With the introduction of clinching, the innovative punch system, the deep tournament and career options, the graphics and realism, the improved presentation, and most of all, the obvious love of boxing infused into the game, Fight Night Round 2 is the best representation of the "sweet science" that gaming has ever seen.
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There's a lot to like about Fight Night Round 2, most obviously a deep and involving boxing mechanic that allows you to be creative in your approach to the fistic arts.
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If you are any type of boxing fan, you will love the smooth gameplay, stunning graphics, and great control scheme that Fight Night 2 offers.
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The graphics in the game are very good, but they are not yet to the level where you will be fooled and think you are watching actual humans box.
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Significantly better than its predecessor, but like most EA Sports releases, sequels feel more like baby steps rather than giant leaps.
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This is the best boxing game on any system ever. It is not perfect and has not got the options and scenarios of the "Tiger Woods" series has for golfing, but as a stand-alone game it is very good.
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Fight Night: Round 2 claims the title of best boxing game, but still has some distance to travel before being truly great.
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Immediately approachable by anyone, and no boxing sim has ever made the sport more accessible in all its bloody glory than this year's Fight Night.
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Marginally better than the original game, but still needs work on that punching system.
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TotalGames.netThe control system (using the right stick for punches) is an inspired idea and has been well balanced with the stamina meter. However, it only seems to work smoothly half of the time.
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One hit knockdowns were cheesy initially, but now they're a feature that renders multiplayer pointless.
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Edge MagazineWith a superior control system and a raft of incisive upgrades, this year's update is a connoisseur of the boxing arts. [Apr 2005, p.103]
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games(TM)The best realistic boxing title we've played, and few fight fans will be disappointed. [Apr 2005, p.114]
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AceGamezA few technical glitches aside, it's a pretty great turn out from EA, and were Fight Night Round 3 to be a boxer itself, it wouldn't win by total knockout, but would definitely go the twelve rounds and come out on top.
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The Haymaker, the ability to block and punch while moving and the EA Sports Cutman are all great additions to this year's game. However, there's still a big issue with the AI regarding knockdowns that needs to be addressed.
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netjakThe controls are truly perfect for a boxing game; the mental aspects of boxing are well represented, and the character models look very good.
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The most brutally realistic boxing game around.
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Things really rumble in two-player mode, where bouts evolve into ridiculously tense face-offs more like chess than a messy scrap outside the pub. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]
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A much improved follow-up, with an appreciative career mode, thunderous and inventive gameplay, and the kind of presentation that will knock you on your ass.
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Combinations become instinctive and defence second nature. Throw in an engrossing career mode, as well as the facility to create your own boxer, and you finally have a heavyweight boxing game.
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Controls work beautifully and patience and timing are crucial.
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I hate to say it, because this game is actually very fun, but Fight Night Round 2 is less of a boxing game than last year's attempt.
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The most authentic videogame adaptation that we've ever seen... [but t]he Career mode whilst engaging doesn't sustain your interest for long enough, and like many boxing titles will have all but the most hardened fan switching off long before the belt is won.
Awards & Rankings
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13
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30
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#30 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2005
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User score distribution:
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Positive: 24 out of 31
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Mixed: 4 out of 31
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Negative: 3 out of 31
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AndrewS.Jan 26, 2006The game is crazy. It could have some improvements on career mode, but it is still awesome. Can't wait till round 3 comes out.
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AdamG.Aug 4, 2005Not a big boxing fan but this game is great for any sports fan.
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BlueFalconJul 31, 2005