Fight Night 2004 - Be the worlds greatest

Welcome to Fight Night 2004. EA sports have decided to take its boxing series Knockout Kings and completely disregard it. This game is no sequel its a game created from scratch. Fight Night is the most realistic boxing game ever released, and at the heart of this is the unique control system. No longer do the buttons do the punching, but you now use your right analogue stick. You may think this is a bit strange, but it does work very well, it takes away the idea of just frantically pressing buttons to get your punches in. Now your punch type depends on your action with the analogue stick. The left analogue stick controls your boxers movement. Combine this with the top controller buttons in order to duck dive and block while all the time using your analogue stick to aim your dives and blocks.

Fight Night 2004 has two main options, an exhibition mode where you can fight a computer opponent or take on a friend, or there is a career mode. The Career mode is the main game, you start off with a boxer with not record, no win no loses. He also has no attributes. You are given attribute points to distribute over 8 categories of your boxer. These categories range from agility and speed to power and accuracy. Where you place your attributes obviously dictates what type of fighter you are going to be. Are you going to be a big powerful fighter with KO style blows, or a quick fight with lightning combinations. Perhaps you like a balance. Its up to you at this stage.

Before each of your fights you get to train. Your training sessions come in the form of mini games, these games represent real boxing training methods such as the light and heavy bag as well as sparring, and more. Each training session is related to a certain amount of attributes. If you do well in your training you gain extra attribute points to use in the relevant category. Do poorly and your boxer will not progress in his physical condition making it harder to defeat better boxers. As well as gaining physical attributes the training does help you with the game play as the training you do involves moves that you will need to use during a fight.

Graphically Fight Night is the best in terms of console boxing games. The faces are pretty stunning and display the results of the fight, such as swelling, cuts and bruises. The physics are also a lot better than the previous boxing games. The punches and reactions of the fighters look realistic even in a slow motion replay, not only is this great when playing the game, its also very satisfying watching the replay when you get a great KO punch in. Even better if your playing against a friend.

Finally this game does feature an online mode but only for the PS2 version of the game. Its a shame for the Xbox users but the fights are very realistic and so its not too much of a loss. Apart from that the two versions of the game are virtually indistinguishable. Even the controls are the same on both the Xbox and Playstation 2 versions of Fight Night 2004.

Total Punch Control: New analogue controls give gamers precise control over their offensive and defensive arsenal. Using analogue stick movement rather than digital buttons, gamers can decide what punch to throw, how hard to throw it, and where it lands with unprecedented fluidity and precision.
Total Defensive Control: An all new analogue defence system emphasizes finesse and body control. Bob, lean, duck, and weave to draw your opponent in, then lay into them-make them miss and make them pay.
Fresh New Attitude: Fight Night 2004 captures the over-the-top showmanship and excitement of a championship fight with cinematic flair. The 3D crowds react to the action in the ring and influence the judges.
Deep Career Mode: In-depth create-a-boxer and career modes let players create themselves in the game and work their way up the ranks from chump to champ, picking up sponsors, upgrading skills, and travelling the world in pursuit of the big payday.
Realistic Boxing Violence: Physics-based action assures no two knockdowns will ever be alike. Swollen eyes and realistic effects highlight the physical nature of the sport.
Kings of the Ring: The biggest and baddest boxers rule the ring in Fight Night 2004. The game includes all of today's contenders, like Roy Jones Jr, Shane Moseley, and Lennox Lewis, plus all-time greats like Mohammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard, and more.
Customisable Ring Entrances: Assemble an entourage, choose your theme music, select your pyrotechnics, and set the tone for the fight to follow. Dark and threatening or bold and boisterous? It's your call.
EA Sports Bio: Memory Card-based tracking/rating system that recognizes and rewards gamers for playing multiple EA Sports titles.