The James Logan Courier

By Jericho Faustino, Courier Daily Editor

Finally, the dream match of all dream matches: Ali vs. Tyson.

People would never have dreamed of a fight of this caliber. Soon, you can live fights like this in Fight Night Round 4.

The two monster athletes grace the cover of EA Sports Fight Night's latest game. Three years after the last Fight Night, Fight Night Round 3, FNR4 offers the same classic beat-down experience, but adds, also, the dynamics of a live match.

You can play as fighters from past and present like: Joe Frazier, Thomas Hearns, George Foreman, and Manny Pacquiao. Over 45 fighters will be featured.

The newly updated facial engine has since matured from its past. Using a more realistic and human-like face, the damage sustained by the boxers ultimately react to the way they where beaten. The faces have swelling to the damage areas, while blood gets spread around the face as if it where actually made from punches. No longer will gamers face robotic blood and cuts. Fight Night Round 4 offers the same damaged and tarnished brutality real fighters face on T.V. so no more 2-D blood and scrapes.

Tired of the same old crowd actions? In FNR4, the crowd reacts to the action like, well, real crowds do. In Fight Night Round 3, they had 4 different people in the crowd and did the same action throughout the game; now in Fight Night Round 4, if you’re good, then they will cheer, if not, then they will boo you. The details of this game have surpassed the old polygonal ways with the new ring-side reporters, VIPs, judges, camera men taking pictures. With details like this, it adds to the dynamics like real Pay-Per-View matches.

Physics has evolved in this game as well. Not two punches are the same now. Fighters react to even the simplest jabs, as well as those one-hitter quitters. You can theoretically punch any part of the body, all depending on the player’s position and movement.

With great dynamics and physics, you will be able to do nearly everything you would see in a real boxing match.

Fight Night Round 4 is set for release in the Summer of 2009. Available for the X-Box 360 and the PlayStation 3