Fight Night Champion Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[Epiffani]

In short, this game is a disappointment to me.

A more poignant impression:

In order for me to have gotten any enjoyment out of the last iteration (FNR4), I had to almost completely block out the sport that it was actually attempting to replicate. This 'technique' worked for about a month and a half, before I grew tired of the game (mainly due to staleness, an overall 'unreal' look & feel to the game, and a complete lack of depth) and shelved it. After playing the demo of champion, it looks like I would've to once again implore and shift my mindset completely away from realism all the way to 'just having fun' for a few months max, before thinking about the next installment to be released in the next few years.

The first thing that stood out to me about the gameplay besides the graphics (looks good as always) was the new camera angle. But with the new camera angle should have came more responsibility to movement. As duly noted time and time again, the foot movement is quite simply bad, and when you factor in the fact that they improved the punching both in crispness and fluidity, it looks to me that the fighters upper and bottom halves are operating on two different spectrum's at two different speeds. I use to only think this way about the upper body movements in past installments of this game when fighters use to (and still do) stand completely flat-footed and "wiggle" their upper body, but now with the new camera, the sluggish lower body movement is on display for people to see. I wonder if this game is using "IK", which I know Madden used before. The technology is supposed to give more realistic and natural movement in regards to gameplay by eliminating sliding, but the funny thing is despite Fight Night Champion having slugglish foot movement, the fighters still slide in an inordinate fashion.

Onto the presentation or the lack there of. Despite sports games almost across the board largely going with real time presentation as opposed to cutscenes, I really don't have a problem with cutscenes; as long as they're well implemented, but with a panning camera covering the action in the ring to transition abruptly into something like a fight stoppage, and mind you, the referee hasn't done anything to effect or get involved in the action up until that point (not even in clinches), I then have a problem then with cutscenes. The entrances and pre-fight scenes from what I can tell are largely the same, lacking ambiance, build up, anticipation all the while with the same tired PA announcer. The announcing, which is my biggest disappointment in anything outside of things involving the gameplay, is abysmal. No other way I can describe it. When I heard Joe segue Teddy into talking about helping under-privileged kids (the EXACT same story word for word) I knew the rest of the commentary was going to be bad. This aspect of the game (presentation) continues to be sold shortly.

As for my actual gameplay experience. Again, the actual look of the punches and the way they are executed in proper situations are well done. Ali hand speed is incredible; however, this game is in need of some sort of robust tendency system for each fighter something ala the NBA 2K series to go alongside the editable player ratings. I was Tyson, and Ali didn't show any hesitation or reluctance to slug it out with me (often getting the better of the exchanges.) Against a fighter like Tyson, there's no way Ali would have sit there and gotten into a test of heavy hands against Tyson. That goes against everything Ali isn't as a fighter. What happened to the dynamic A.I they were touting in FNR4? I still don't see any semblance of it in Champion granted it's a demo. I fought Ali at least 10 times with each time playing out virtually the same.

My post is getting long-winded, despite me having more to say, but I'll end it soon. When I factor everything in, there's no way I can spend $60 on something that I feel is largely a rehash of the same, which the said "rehash" wasn't great at all IMO to begin with (FNR4). I'll definitely rent it because fun can be had with the game, but after the novelty wears out for me (most likely after a month), I'll be done with the game and wondering what if, and waiting more years hoping that they'll fix the underlying issues with this game that has been there since its inception.

[DaveDQ]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteelerSpartan

Ok question for anyone who got the demo early and has been playing over the weekend like me.... Is it just me.....or did the punch speed become slower this evening???? Thought maybe Brizzo had sneaked in one of those Live Tuners or something

I happen to think a few things are different. I was lifeless against heavy punchers but can easily handle them now. The one thing I have to make sure is that they miss or I'll have to trade punches with them to win on the cards.

I still think stamina needs to be tweaked. It's too easy to throw several punches and see little consequence. Maybe more rounds will prove differently.

[Flightwhite24]

WOW!!! I love this demo. Day 1 purchase for sure

[wyrm187]

I kinda like the demo but one thing that EA does that just drives me insane is they tip off the decision at the end depending on what cut scene they show. I've just been playing the computer with the boxer on the left so at the end if your boxer is standing next to the ref shaking his fist hoping for the W - you lose, if they show the cut scene of the close up where you are walking around during the announcement - you win.

Its the stupidest damn thing - EA did the same thing in Madden when measuring first downs, there's just no suspense since you know what's coming. EA it's those little misses on the detail that games like the Show and NBA 2K11 excel at - it just seems kinda lazy to me and ruins the experience. The gameplay is still tight - why can't they just get it all together for once?

end rant

[JayBee74]

Quote: Originally Posted by Epiffani

When I factor everything in, there's no way I can spend $60 on something that I feel is largely a rehash of the same, which the said "rehash" wasn't great at all IMO to begin with (FNR4).

Well you may love it or hate it, but the gameplay is not a rehash. I thought FN4 was terrible but this one is a totally different animal. One button blocking, no counter window, one punch KOs, no body spamming, and a more effective jab lend itself to a game that is tons more intuitive than FN4.

Quote: Originally Posted by FLIGHTWHITE

WOW!!! I love this demo. Day 1 purchase for sure

It's a definite for me. Pleasant surprise.

[BlueNGold]

Well, the game is definitely fun, which is key. The graphics are great as always and the new damage doesn't seem overdone. I've only seen a slight cut on the cheek of CPU Cotto out of my 5 matches (3 vs CPU, 2 online).

Speaking of CPU fights, out of those 3 fights I had against the CPU, I didn't win once. All of them went to decision, so I haven't seen an overabundance of 1 punch KO's yet. I have seen some nice flash knockdowns (again, not many) and stuns.

I like the new controls. It was funny because at first I was still going through the hook and uppercut gestures. It seems much easier to set up and throw combos now and just let your hands fly when needed.

On the negative side, I hate the camera. I don't like how it follows every single movement and there's times where the boxer you're controlling will be at the top corner of the screen with the opponent at the bottom corner, making it impossible to tell how much space there is between you and the opponent.

Also, the footwork is still pretty bad. It's improved over 2 years ago, but that isn't saying much. I used Ali online in an Ali/Tyson fight and I don't know if it was just me but Ali felt very slow. He was probably the slowest fighter in the demo.

And of course the presentation is still terrible. This doesn't bother me too much, because I'd rather the game play well than have great commentary and all of that, but it is still disappointing. The entrances aren't full length, the announcement of decisions isn't that great and like it's been mentioned, the commentary is a carbon copy of Round 4's.

Anyways, this demo has affected my view of the game in a mostly positive way, but I'm still weary and I'm pretty sure I'm just going to wait it out the first week and see how the impressions are here.

[tony01313]

I hate this game I can't believe most of y'all think this is the greatest thing since slice bread.

The graphics are stunning amazing and flawless that's were it ends for me. The gameplay is horrible I used too love the sticks in the last fight night games now they suck. I can't do what I want too do I have zero control, I try too double up on the jab and end up jab and end up throwing a hook. I try to throw 2 punches and end up throwing a four punch combo it's a joke. Its super hard to throw bodyshots. And who in there right mind thought one button blocking was a good I idea? That right there totally kills the game for me.

I read a reply saying now you can box!! Lol child please it's impossible too represent the sweet science in this game. It's a straight all out war every fight gotti ward out there. Now all a person have too do is hold block let the CPU block for you and then throw 10 punch combo and repeat. It doesn't matter if you throw a body or head shot cause the CPU will block for you, it's cheese at it's finest.

Fn4 had an awesome foundation all EA had too do was find away too fix the fatigue and have fighters move like boxers instead of sliding. Instead they destroy the game with the auto block I will not buy 100%

[allBthere]

Quote: Originally Posted by JayBee74

Well you may love it or hate it, but the gameplay is not a rehash. I thought FN4 was terrible but this one is a totally different animal. One button blocking, no counter window, one punch KOs, no body spamming, and a more effective jab lend itself to a game that is tons more intuitive than FN4. It's a definite for me. Pleasant surprise.

I feel the same way...for now lol