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Fight Night Round 4 Hands-On Preview/Impressions (Money99 Blog)

01:14 AM - May 8, 2009 by Money99

Check out my Fight Night Round 4 hands-on preview blog.

Quote:


	"Let�s get this out of the way. There will be no button mashing this year because the buttons will not be used for standard punches. I know that half of you are rejoicing while the other half are seething in anger. Trust me when I say that a good number of Community Members voiced their displeasure for the removal of buttons. EA is going in a very analog-centric direction and Fight Night Round 4 is no exception. The game isn't completely independent of buttons as they are still employed for haymakers, clinching, pushing, head-butts and of course to pull off an Andrew Golota 'speed bag' routine (if you know what I mean)."

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

Fight Night Round 4 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 Money99 @ 05/08/09 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vast


	sounds sweet Money. Can you explain again how the bobbing and weaving controls work? The way u described it in your blog was confusing for me. Do you weave with the right or left stick, and which way are you supposed to move it?

Sorry about that.
You use the left analog stick to bob and weave. So if you want to bob to the right, move the left analog stick from 12:00 to 3:00 and 6:00 to 3:00 for a bob to the left.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sva91


	Great write-up Money. Does the game seem faster in person compared to some of the vids that have been released? I know 60fps may not show up on videos.

Again, I'll plead the 5th on my memory. But from my recollection the action is fast and very smooth. BUTTER smooth.

And no, the action never seemed too fast. Boxers can get off punches very quick in real life. Even heavyweights.
This game is going to be about strategy. FAR more strategy than any boxing game you've ever played.
If you plan on going right at someone and engage in a Haglar-Hearns type war, then prepare for the consequences if you get nailed or stopped early.
Stick-and-move, mix up combos, get in tight, block, clinch, etc. You need to do all of these things (which depends on who you're fighting with) to have success.

# 22 Money99 @ 05/08/09 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bronk_Bonin


	Money...awesome write up. It sounds like you had a great time and I'm itching to play this game more than any game that I can remember. I have a couple of questions. 1. I'm a stick player on FN3. Does that mean the learning curve for me should be minimal?

Yes. Definitely. You'll still need to learn the bob and weave and that body shots don't require a modifier. But if you were solid on FN Rd3 your learning curve will be a short one.

Quote:


	2. What fighters did you get to use? Could you feel the difference in each fighters ability and difference in weightclass? Did everyone at the event have the full roster at their fingertips to use? If so, does the rumored roster look pretty accurate?

I remember using Pavlik, Haglar, Hearns, Lewis, Ali, Frazier, Tyson, Corrales, Gamboa, Foreman. I know I used more but I can't remember off the top of my head. But yes, the smaller fighters are faster, while the bigger fighters have more weight to their punches - or so it seemed.
We only had 20 fighters at our finger tips. And some of them weren't even finished yet so they had a manacan like face without features. It was pretty funny to watch.

Emanuel Agustus was hilarious to watch because they got his movements down perfectly - which were actually captured by producer Brian Hayes who mimicked his signature movements for the game.

Quote:


	3. I noticed in one of the other preview write ups (Eurogamer or videogamer) that DLC was mentioned as a possibility. Did anyone at the event suggest this was indeed a viable option to get fighters like PBF, Hopkins, Ward, DLH, Marquez, Juan Diaz, etc.? It just seems that the omission of Hopkins, Ward, DLH, and others who were in the last installment is somewhat puzzling. I'm so fired up for the game.

Sorry, they never mentioned anything about DLC so I can't give an educated answer for that. But considering how popular DLC's are becoming I wouldn't be surprised.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelerSpartan


	Thanks for the for the Replies Money I'll say this with NHL 07-09 and Skate the idea with the stick was to give you more precision....Thats not the case with FN 4 is it I still have my doubts about the R Stick in this game. I just don't like the idea of your thoughts being focused on anything but your opponent while in the ring. Im gonna wait for the demo before I completely write this off though I don't know why they would want to create this problem though. Give the user the option to play the games how they want to play them and make two lobbies for each crowd Online

Trust me, many people at the community event voiced their displeasure for the lack of button control.
I got the feeling that this decision came from up top - don't quote me on that however because I have 0% to prove this. It's just the impression I got from speaking with the producers and developers.

Regarding the controls, when I first started playing this game that's basically all I concentrated on. But by the end of the hour (maybe sooner?) it started to become 2nd nature.
Eventually, you start to fire off multiple combinations without even thinking of where your thumbs are.
Downloading the demo before purchasing is a great idea. It'll give you lots of time to master the controls and get a feel for the game and the AI. You can't go wrong with that line of thinking.
I'm sure you'll love this game once you get your hands on it.

# 23 Bronk_Bonin @ 05/08/09 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelerSpartan


	I still have my doubts about the R Stick in this game. *I just don't like the idea of your thoughts being focused on anything but your opponent while in the ring.* Im gonna wait for the demo before I completely write this off though I don't know why they would want to create this problem though. Give the user the option to play the games how they want to play them and make two lobbies for each crowd Online

No disrespect man, but me and many others never had trouble focusing on opponents in FN3 while using the stick. After using the sticks you'll find that throwing punches becomes second nature. You don't even think, you watch your opponent and react. It's not as difficult as non-stick users think. People hate to change because it's something they're not used to. If it's anything like FN3 you and other button users will be fine after a day or two. It's not rocket science, it just become instinct.

# 24 N51_rob @ 05/08/09 02:55 PM

Money, do you get the feel of a 3 minute round? I can't really explain that question better than that. I'm sorry. FN3 just didn't feel like a round of boxing to me.

# 25 Po Pimp @ 05/08/09 02:57 PM

-Is the haymaker button the same as the signature punch button? Are both in the game, or has the signature punch been replaced?

# 26 Motown @ 05/08/09 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Po Pimp


	-Is the haymaker button the same as the signature punch button? Are both in the game, or has the signature punch been replaced?

I think a read where Sig punches are in, & activated w/ face buttons...if i'm not mistakin'.

# 27 SteelerSpartan @ 05/08/09 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	Again, I'll plead the 5th on my memory. But from my recollection the action is fast and very smooth. BUTTER smooth. And no, the action never seemed too fast. Boxers can get off punches very quick in real life. Even heavyweights. This game is going to be about strategy. FAR more strategy than any boxing game you've ever played. If you plan on going right at someone and engage in a Haglar-Hearns type war, then prepare for the consequences if you get nailed or stopped early. Stick-and-move, mix up combos, get in tight, block, clinch, etc. You need to do all of these things (which depends on who you're fighting with) to have success.

Then would you say the trailers have unjustly portrayed the speed of the game??

None of the trailers look fast enough to me

and I find it worrisome that the one true gameplay vid we got looked pretty bad

It looks like they're punches lack that ummph....like they're not stepping into it enough(All arms with no power)

at Hatton winning by the way

# 28 Money99 @ 05/08/09 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N51_rob


	Money, do you get the feel of a 3 minute round? I can't really explain that question better than that. I'm sorry. FN3 just didn't feel like a round of boxing to me.

Are you asking if the game needs an accelerated clock? As in; is a 3-minute round necessary?

I guess everyone's tastes are different, but I found the round time to be fine. Again, this is from someone who getting used to the controls, the gameplay and trying to look past the glitz and glam of the game itself. But it felt right to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motown


	I think a read where Sig punches are in, & activated w/ face buttons...if i'm not mistakin'.

You are correct my man.
There are signature punches (like Ali's shuffle) and then you have a haymaker punch as well.

# 29 Vast @ 05/08/09 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	Sorry about that. You use the left analog stick to bob and weave. So if you want to bob to the right, move the left analog stick from 12:00 to 3:00 and 6:00 to 3:00 for a bob to the left.

This doesn't sound right to me. So to bob to the right, i hold the left stick up and then rotate it to the right. and if i want to bob left i hold the left stick down and rotate it to the right. ??!

# 30 N51_rob @ 05/08/09 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	There are signature punches (like Ali's shuffle) and then you have a haymaker punch as well.

Can this be countered? That would take a lot of time from looking at one of the vids, it would seem like it would be easy to break that up with a double jab or something.

# 31 Money99 @ 05/08/09 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N51_rob


	Can this be countered? That would take a lot of time from looking at one of the vids, it would seem like it would be easy to break that up with a double jab or something.

Absolutely. In fact, it's probably the easiest punch to counter. That's why you have to be careful when to throw it and in what position. Just like in real life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vast


	This doesn't sound right to me. So to bob to the right, i hold the left stick up and then rotate it to the right. and if i want to bob left i hold the left stick down and rotate it to the right. ??!

Sorry, I might have it backwards. But that's essentially how it works.

# 32 Vast @ 05/08/09 03:54 PM

what sounds more intuitive to me is up and to the right to bob right and up and to the left to bob left.

# 33 Money99 @ 05/08/09 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vast


	what sounds more intuitive to me is up and to the right* to bob right and up and to the left to bob left.*

Yeah, that would probably make more sense. But the bob and weave is done from 12-3 and 6-3.

# 34 Vast @ 05/08/09 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	Yeah, that would probably make more sense. But the bob and weave is done from 12-3 and 6-3.

if thats how it is thats terrible and makes no sense. How does moving my stick to the right relate to bobbing my head to the left?

edit: i think i know why its like that. cuz its probably set to where moving the left stick right(3:00) moves the character forward.

# 35 Money99 @ 05/08/09 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCreep


	Say money. Do you know if its possible to go in the options menu and change the stick controls around to your liking? I'm pretty sure I'll get use to the up and right/down and right for bobbing and weaving once I play it long enough, BUT, if I can I'll change the default as soon as I crack open the box and get used to my own style instead. I'm asking this because if you've played victorious boxers, they have that option. You can change the sticks so that moving your fighter forward/back can either be up/down on the stick, or right/left on the stick. Oh, and whoever was saying the sticks aren't precise for punching, I couldn't disagree more. The sticks are as precise as a button press and on top of that it gives you feeling that your actually using the boxers arms, its very innovative. Buttons played out baby.

Sorry Creep, I never saw the options so I can't give you a definite answer. But if I was forced to bet on it, I don't think there's much customization with the controls.

And I know exactly what you mean about the VB Controls. They were great. I loved mapping 'sway' to the left bumper buttons.

# 36 allBthere @ 05/08/09 09:29 PM

is bob/weave activated by holding down the trigger? the way you explained it make it seem as if you can't move your boxer to circle left or right - or will he if you just don't rotate the stick?

It SOUNDS very odd way of doing things w/o a modifier.

# 37 Money99 @ 05/08/09 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allBthere


	is bob/weave activated by holding down the trigger? the way you explained it make it seem as if you can't move your boxer to circle left or right - or will he if you just don't rotate the stick? It SOUNDS very odd way of doing things w/o a modifier.

No, there is no modifier when performing the bob and weave.

Bobbing and weaving will move you forward so you can still circle and then execute a bob to the left or right and it will advance you towards your opponent.

It sounds daunting at first, and I'd be lying if I said I mastered it or even became mediocre at it. But with time, I think we'll all learn how to do it well.
I watched one of the producers control Tyson and he was able to bob and weave through Ali's jabs pretty well. It looked like authentic Iron Mike.

# 38 Motown @ 05/08/09 09:43 PM

Mo, Can fights be stopped by cuts or injuries? thanks

# 39 Complex @ 05/08/09 10:16 PM

I have to go dig up my notebook on gameplay. I moved from ATL to Detroit since the community event. But Money did a great job describing the game and its mechanics.

Just to add, the bobbing and weaving was done well. Its a great way to get inside and work. While it took me a minute to do it, it does work. I got away from the sticks in Fight Night 3 so doing it was harder for me than it would be for you guys b/c you probably use sticks. Also, it was on Xbox and I am PS3.

# 40 Money99 @ 05/08/09 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motown


	Mo, Can fights be stopped by cuts or injuries? thanks

I don't believe so. But I'm not 100% about that.
Maybe Complex, Darxide, Shakyr or Wepeeler could comment on that. But I don't remember hearing that it was a possiblitiy.

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