News Post

Fight Night Round 4 Hopes and Concerns

01:09 PM - May 14, 2008 by RaychelSnr

Noah Weber checks in today with a look at what he is looking forward to with Fight Night Round 4.

Quote:


	"EA�s Fight Night Round 3 was one of the best sports games in recent memory. The controls were innovative, the gameplay was fun, and the graphics are still among the best we�ve seen on the next-gen consoles. Nevertheless, the game still had some drawbacks. The lack of relevant licensed boxers was slightly discouraging, with certain obvious omissions like Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Mike Tyson being most notable. Furthermore, while the Total Punch Control system was extremely well executed, there was little advantage to using it over the buttons, which allowed for faster and more responsive punching. Also, the heavy emphasis on cartoonish haymaker punches was for many a step in the wrong direction as far as gameplay was concerned."

Game: Fight Night Round 4Reader Score: 7.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 38 - View All

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Member Comments

# 41 SHAKYR @ 06/14/08 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abuC


	Basically make a boxing game that's actually a representation of the sport, the counterpart to Madden/NFL 2k, NHL 08, MLB the Show, NBA 2k series. Just copy what Victorious Boxers / Boxers Road did in their career mode, if a small developer can make Boxers Road, there's no excuse for EA Canada not to match it. Im pretty sure I know what will happen though, they will say they focused on gameplay this year, and next year they'll offer the robust career mode, typical EA tactic to get as much money from gamers as possible. Most everything I want to see has been mentioned in this thread, as far as presentation goes why not make use of the ESPN license? Why not have Friday Night Fights as part of the game, you start your career on undercards in 6 rounders and work your way up to PPVs. Why not have actual PPV cards too, you can choose to watch the fights or just sim them and check the results, most importantly the fighters in those cards MUST be part of the actual dynamic ranking system just as you would see in any other sports game with a schedule.

I always say they should make better use of the ESPN license.

# 42 fistofrage @ 06/15/08 06:08 PM

We really need true 1 punch KO's. Hit someone with the perfect punch and the fight is over. This could be at any time and at any stamina level, even the 1st punch of the fight. It shouldn't happen very often, it should be one of those OH DAMN!!!!!!!!!! Moments where you jump up out of your chair.

We also need boxers to age. There should be a training advantage to having a long period between fights, but boxers stats should definitely deteriorate over time after a certain age. So if you want to take on MArcianos record of 49-0, you will have to fight alot of fights early on relatively short notice, making it harder to get prepared because of the training time.

# 43 yoadrian @ 06/17/08 09:18 AM

I think this game will be the business. FNR3 was a great game it had good gameplay and online was good and easy to get fights. I liked the cut man part at end of rounds but i think cuts should be more difficult to get and they should effect the fight more.

They need more notable names in the game to. i am glad they got tyson in there but you need more, def at heavy. they should include lennox lewis, rocky marciano, joe louis, klitschko, bruno.
they should also include names like tarver,mayweather jr, davd haye, castillo, kessler, cotto, calzaghe mixed with legends like nigel benn, foreman, archie moore, thomas hearns plus more i left out lol.

the career mode should be better i agree it needs to be more lengthy and it should be much more difficult. I think it can draw alot from prizefighter it should be about a boxing career not just fights. there should be sponsership deals and different promoters. you should have the retireing and coming back from retirement story lines. They need a p4p title too. this game has alot of potential if they use FNR3 as a stepping stone and leave the gameplay much the same maybe with the haymakers tweaked and i think the odd KO is good with out actually hitting a hayemaker first or getting him into the knockout mode.

it does not have to be ultra realistis as boxing is far to varied to accurately portray it in a game. it just needs to be a bit more fast paced and the hayemakers are awful plus i think the parrying is bad its to easy and is very unrealistic.

sorry to ramble but this game has got me hyped up i cant wait now espically after the let down of prizefighter.

# 44 yoadrian @ 06/17/08 09:18 AM

# 45 LP @ 06/18/08 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoadrian


	I think this game will be the business. FNR3 was a great game it had good gameplay and online was good and easy to get fights. I liked the cut man part at end of rounds but i think cuts should be more difficult to get and they should effect the fight more. They need more notable names in the game to. i am glad they got tyson in there but you need more, def at heavy. they should include lennox lewis, rocky marciano, joe louis, klitschko, bruno. they should also include names like tarver,mayweather jr, davd haye, castillo, kessler, cotto, calzaghe mixed with legends like nigel benn, foreman, archie moore, thomas hearns plus more i left out lol. the career mode should be better i agree it needs to be more lengthy and it should be much more difficult. I think it can draw alot from prizefighter it should be about a boxing career not just fights. there should be sponsership deals and different promoters. you should have the retireing and coming back from retirement story lines. They need a p4p title too. this game has alot of potential if they use FNR3 as a stepping stone and leave the gameplay much the same maybe with the haymakers tweaked and i think the odd KO is good with out actually hitting a hayemaker first or getting him into the knockout mode. it does not have to be ultra realistis as boxing is far to varied to accurately portray it in a game. it just needs to be a bit more fast paced and the hayemakers are awful plus i think the parrying is bad its to easy and is very unrealistic. sorry to ramble but this game has got me hyped up i cant wait now espically after the let down of prizefighter.

I think almost everyone here will disagree with what I underlined. The sim boxing fans are hoping for much, much more than a tweaked FNR3.

# 46 fistofrage @ 06/18/08 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LP


	I think almost everyone here will disagree with what I underlined. The sim boxing fans are hoping for much, much more than a tweaked FNR3.

I could be satisfied with an improved version of round 3 as long as it had an AWESOME open career mode.

# 47 fistofrage @ 06/18/08 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LP


	I think almost everyone here will disagree with what I underlined. The sim boxing fans are hoping for much, much more than a tweaked FNR3.

I could be satisfied with an improved version of round 3 as long as it had an AWESOME open career mode.

# 48 Complex @ 06/18/08 08:20 PM

Aside from the parrying issue. boxing was good in FN3. always could be better, but it was ok.

# 49 KENYON06 @ 06/19/08 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fistofrage


	I could be satisfied with an improved version of round 3 as long as it had an AWESOME open career mode.

Same. Gameplay wise, I thought FN has been pretty sharp, aside from parrying, the stun punches and other gimmicky haymakers, and a few other things. Career mode is hollow though. Like the crap race for the heisman and Super Star modes in Madden. They offer nothing.

# 50 Bamtino @ 06/21/08 07:49 PM

This is what i would like to see done for Fight Night Round 4...

To me the gameplay in FNR3 was pretty good...What held it back were a terrible stamina system, the haymaker and last but not least the karate chop stun block aka "parry"...Im hoping with Kudo gone all his innovations except for TPC and the styles system are completely removed from Fight Night...No more karate chop stun blocks, haymakers and trails behind punches...I want a REAL boxing game, not a hip hop flavored karate kid hybrid...

I want to see a stronger emphasis on inside fighting...Physical advantages like height and reach should be a factor like they are in real life...The stamina system needs to be reworked and body shots need to play a vital roll in it...Body shots should affect a fighters stamina more instead of just his health...Health and stamina should be the same in sense that when your stamina depletes this will hurt your health in terms of damage taken...My idea is instead of slowing down the player after a 2 punch combination causing him to swing like an 80 year old man how about a punches per round cap that takes body shots into the equation?

Use a color system, green = good shape, orange = near exhaustion, red = danger...The orange phase will affect your health regeneration, the red will affect how much damage you take...Say you got a 100 stamina rating, the punches per round you can throw before starting to swing like an old man would be 50...As the fight progresses of course the cap per round will shrink, how quickly depends on your defense and accuracy...You will know when you reach the limit because the stamina bar will turn to orange...With every punch you miss with (blocked punches count) plus body shots taken that number will decrease...Of course you can go over the limit but every punch over that limit is slower and less effective...Plus if you keep throwing and getting hit you will reach the red phase which means you're in trouble...I think this system will greatly reward strategy, defense and cut down on button mashing slugfests...This will make the people who like to carelessly throw 1000 punches per round with heavy punchers like Rocky Marciano think twice but at the same time not totally eliminate a good old slugfest...

As for the presentation, please lose the WWF style entrances and hip hop oriented stupidity...Is it too much to ask to throw on some robes, have fighters come out with their team (no prostitutes) and have them properly introduced after they both enter the ring the way its supposed to be? Also no stupid arcade crap like trails behind punches...Keep the presentation clean and boxing oriented...

As for career mode, anything will be better than what Kudo put together...All i want is something lengthy with some meaning to it...Promoters should play a big roll, like for example your first 10 fights depending on how well you do gets you a promoter...Say you win those fights in a Mike Tyson fashion by KO this will get you a better promoter which in turn means you get better fights and more cash for training/ring apparel ...Your shot at the title will come much quicker if you got the right promoter...Basically this gives you different routes to take up the ladder depending on style...Do you prefer the flashy straight to the top Mike Tyson path (minus the mental collapse) or the slower more technical Winky Wright path?

Sorry for the long post, i love boxing and i want a game that properly represents the sport...Hopefully EA Canada can improve on what EA Chicago started...

# 51 Complex @ 06/23/08 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamtino


	As for the presentation, please lose the WWF style entrances and hip hop oriented stupidity...Is it too much to ask to throw on some robes, have fighters come out with their team (no prostitutes) and have them properly introduced after they both enter the ring the way its supposed to be? Also no stupid arcade crap like trails behind punches...Keep the presentation clean and boxing oriented... ...

I laughed when I read this but it is soo true. I remember when they used to have fighters dancing to the ring. I would much rather them scrap the whole ring walk all together and put in a Tale of the Tape screen for each. Like these...I like the first one with Hatton and Castillo best. Just have each there, maybe have some animation with them moving, jumping, punching to stay warm...

# 52 fistofrage @ 06/23/08 10:01 AM

I would also like to have a screen for each boxer in the rankings that could be accessed that showed their list of fights(At least last 10), opponents and results. Much like you can find on Boxrec.com.

I also want to definitely see stats from your entire career kept, including all opponents, punch stats, where you were ranked at the time, etc.

# 53 Money99 @ 06/23/08 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fistofrage


	I would also like to have a screen for each boxer in the rankings that could be accessed that showed their list of fights(At least last 10), opponents and results. Much like you can find on Boxrec.com. I also want to definitely see stats from your entire career kept, including all opponents, punch stats, where you were ranked at the time, etc.

That would be great. Even showing the fighters next opponent and when.

And speaking of the ESPN licence, use it to have a weekly wrap-up featuring highlights, P4P ratings, upcoming bouts.
Heck, how cool would it be to see yourself as a 'featured' fighter on the show. Where they show some highlights of your previous bouts and what's on the horizon for your fighter:
"Here at ESPN we'd love to see Dolemite Jackson take on #3 contender Barry Wattson", etc.

# 54 NYG_Meth @ 06/26/08 11:37 AM

Really great ideas, guys.

Regarding the create-a-boxer mode, something that's always bugged me is how there are only like 5 skin textures: pale, olive, tan, dark, darkest (or something like that)--- I'd like to be able to pick something between those extremes. Prizefighter actually does a very solid job with their create-a-boxer setup, with an abundance of options for skin, facial features, etc. Maybe borrow from what they have. Maybe even incorporate the 360 camera, a la the Tiger Woods game face system. I never understood why Tiger Woods has the most in-depth face customization when faces play such a bigger role in Fight Night.

Also, take a page from Prizefighter and don't make me pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a pair trunks--- let me edit my equipment from the get-go.

I'm an absolute SUCKER for a great create-a-player/create-a-boxer mode. Nail it, and I'll be a very happy camper. Customization in FNR3 was ok, but I'd like to see a lot more options in FNR4.

# 55 Vast @ 06/26/08 05:19 PM

Boxing without a tale of the tape is not boxing. Point blank period. If the guys height and weight and reach isn't a factor during the fight then I don't want to play it.

# 56 Bamtino @ 06/28/08 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Complex


	I laughed when I read this but it is soo true. I remember when they used to have fighters dancing to the ring. I would much rather them scrap the whole ring walk all together and put in a Tale of the Tape screen for each. Like these...I like the first one with Hatton and Castillo best. Just have each there, maybe have some animation with them moving, jumping, punching to stay warm...

To me its inexcusable and downright asinine for a so called boxing simulator to not have a tale of the tape...This is why i didn't mention it in my post, if we have to tell the developers to include that then these developers shouldn't be working on this game...

The tale of the tape is a huge part of the sport and is arguably the most simplest thing to implement...Robes, tale of the tape with both combatants being announced in the ring the right way (if you don't know what the right way try watching a boxing match) is a must or else ill be skipping the entrances once again...Also the ring announcer doesn't have to be Michael Buffer-esc, just please no hiphop DJ's...

# 57 pound4pound champ @ 06/29/08 11:51 AM

i disagree, i think having michael buffer announcing on a vegas show signifies you have made it to the top. im a massive boxing fan and just want that feeling of hairs standing on the back of your neck, knowing your about to be part of a massive world title fight while buffer is shouting "lets get ready to rumbleeeeeeeeee!"

# 58 pound4pound champ @ 06/29/08 11:53 AM

sorry also there deffo needs to be vegas venues and the crowd need to be louder when someone is aggressing, and the crowd should roar when that first bell rings, just like in a real life big fight.

# 59 Village Idiot @ 06/30/08 06:28 PM

I was just posting a rant about how utterly lame the presentation in this series is, only to glance up and see you guys are already talking about it. Seriously pathetic, imo.

"From Detroit, The Hammer"

End of intro.

Boy, you're really blowing me away with that one, EA.

HT/WT/Record/# of KO's etc. - all missing. Inexcusable, and the main reason this series has never been more than a rental for me.

# 60 afro_dogg20 @ 06/30/08 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vast


	Boxing without a tale of the tape is not boxing. Point blank period. If the guys height and weight and reach isn't a factor during the fight then I don't want to play it.

verry valid point

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