The demo for Fight Night Round 4 is available now for Xbox Live Gold members. It features Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton in a three-round bout in a rematch of their May 2 fight. The demo also includes a tutorial mode to get you up to speed on some of the new gameplay mechanics. While it’s hard to judge a game that isn’t released until the end of June, the developers did get at least one thing right: Manny Pacquiao still has a mean left hook.

"Strategery"

When I began playing the demo, I thought FNR4 had turned into an arcade slugfest. Punches were flying with amazing speed, and it seemed like the game had changed completely. It turns out I was just using Manny Pacquiao to the best of his abilities. While the earlier games always had attributes, FNR4 really accentuates them. Height and reach are more important now as well, so guys like Muhammad Ali will undoubtedly have a serious advantage.

There is also a close-range punching system that will benefit a guy like Mike Tyson, who will pound you on the inside. The physics system has also changed for the better. Punches connect wherever they land, even if it’s your opponents arm as he goes for a haymaker. The gameplay has changed plenty and the game is definitely quicker, but it seems to be beneficial.

Commentary

EA has also added Teddy Atlas to the commentary booth. Atlas is an ESPN boxing analyst and former trainer of Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer and the New York Jets. He will be joining Joe Tessitore to call every match, and he definitely knows his stuff. He also acts as your trainer during the tutorial mode.

In the time I was able to play the demo, there was some repeated commentary. For now, I will chalk that up to an incomplete build and assume the full game will include much more detailed commentary for each fighter. Either way, Teddy Atlas is definitely a leap in the right direction in the presentation department.

Graphical Fidelity

When you discuss the demo, the thing you are immediately stunned by is the visuals. The boxers look spectacular. Their muscles ripple, and their blood and sweat splashes about at the right moments.

Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City looks great, which I’m sure is a sign of things to come in terms of the look of all the other arenas. FNR4 is one of the best looking games ever, easily on par with UFC 2009 Undisputed or Resident Evil 5.

What’s Not?

Roster Holes

Though the addition of Mike Tyson is great, there are still some holes in the roster. There will never be a roster that satisfies everyone, but some of the names missing from FNR4 were in FNR3. We will not be fighting with Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather, Evander Holyfield, Juan Manuel Marquez, Paul Williams or Wladimir Klitschko. There is no telling who will be added via DLC, but it’s doubtful that they would save these marquee names for download. Then again, I know I would pay $4.99 for the addition of at least some of these fighters.

Conclusion

Since the release of FNR3 three years ago, the climate for boxing has changed. We have seen the rise of UFC and mixed martial arts in general. MMA fans take every opportunity to say that boxing is a dying sport and does not appeal to people anymore. While boxing will forever have a loyal fan base, the casual fan may feel the sweet science is limiting. With the release of UFC 2009 Undisputed, some may get tired of just punching. This is the first time in the history of the series that there is serious competition in the simulation combat sports genre. While both sports have their extreme differences, many view them as similar entities. Here’s hoping that both games can coexist.


Have you downloaded the demo? Did Hatton finally beat Pacquiao? Are you ready to rumble on June 29? Sound off with your comments below.