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Parrying defect ruins games

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 10 / 19
Date: March 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Let me start by saying that I first got into videogames because of boxing games and have played almost everyone ever produced. That being said, I felt last year's version of Fight Night was awesome. The only weaknesses were that you could not clinch and also that you stopped on a dime when you punched or blocked. Hearing that those problems were fixed, I assumed that this version would be the ultimate boxing game. Well I was wrong. Like a previous reviewer said, why could they not have left well enough alone. My main problem with the game is: Parrying

In the old version, when you parried a punch, your opponents hands slipped upward leaving a very slight opening. It worked very well. In this years version, when you parry a punch, your opponent (or you if you are parried) literally drops his gloves and bends over exposing his face for a good second or two. It is literally like a dog gasping for air. At first I thought this was a defect in the game, but as I played I found out this literally was the parried punch reaction. So when you get into exchanges, you can expect at least one or two times an exchange to drop your hands and stick your face out. It is totally unrealistic and incredibly frustrating as you cannot prevent someone from parrying your punch (it is a defensive skill) and you cannot prevent yourself from being hit as your arms drop to your sides. I am amazed that they let this defect (and it is a defect) go through. It completely ruins the flow of the game. Whoever was responsible for the parrying effect ruined the work of all the other developers and much of the rest of the game is quite good.

My only other problem was the limited number of camera angles. There is NO long range camera so you cannot see the entire ring while you box. This is also a huge oversight as I like to see all the ring when I box.

So, despite the great reviews by mags and site, take it from a true fan that this game is actually an inferior game then last year's version (which I will continue to play simply due to the parrying defect).

Great Game With a Few Monumental Flaws

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: April 26, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Fight Night round 2 is so frustrating because this should have been a game that was head and shoulders above every other boxing game created so far as well as almost any other sports game out there. It is still a good game but falls far short off the greatness that was so easily within reach. Here's my take on the many highs and major lows:

Why is the Game so Much Fun...
a) Punching control/delivery, movemnet, and response to punches landed are wonderfully delivered. Graphics are top notch, and the soundtrack while not quite as good as the previous version in my humble opinion isn't bad.
b) The create a boxer mode has tons of possibilities and offers hours of entertainment as you create a boxer that can look like almost anything you can imagine (within reason off course!!) and fight your way to the top in different weight classes.
c) Playing with a friend (or foe!!) is great and for boxing fans, this is probably as close as you can get to living the dream of big time boxing without actually getting your block knocked off.
d) Different add-ons, like tattos, different types of apparell, ring entrances and cute ring girls can make for an ecclectic colorful boxer and entrance.
e) While it doesn't appear to really have a direct impact to the outcome of a match, the cuts, briuses, as well as the cutmen in your corner make it seem realistic and remind you that your boxer is taking or dishing out a grand beating as the case may be!!!
f)You can now protect your boxer while he is moving foward or backwards. Great addition.
g)A boxer in trouble can now clinch to stop the pummeling!!!

EA Missed the Boat...
a)Parrying a punch which was included in the previous game was quite interesting. If it was pulled off correctly, it gave the parryer a slight opening to land a punch. Even when you did parry a punch a quick opponent could escape damage if you weren't quick to strike. When a punch is parried here (FN Rd 2) the boxer inexplicably drops his hands down to his side, and literally sticks his head out for about 2-3 seconds!!!!!! This is completely asinine!!!!! Also as soon as the AI is close to being knocked out, 8 out of 10 punches you throw are going to be parried. So a person is more able to defend himself when he is close to being knocked out?!?!?! Oh behave!!!! Yeah that makes a lot of sense.

b)Inclusion of the HAYMAKER: while this might have seemed like a good idea, it definitely did not translate to anything positive in this game. In fact I will go as far as to say that this is the single most negative, and worthless addition to the game. It single handedly destroys, and downgrades the game play against the games AI. It is understandable that especially in the heavyweight class, a single well placed punch thrown with the full force a boxer can muster could knock an opponent out. However there is a reason boxers don't go around throwing HAYMAKERS. You can see them coming from a mile away, you can't throw them in combinations, and they wear you down really fast. Neither one of these apply to the AI in this game, so you have a situation were an opponent throws HAYMKERS in a rapid stacatto fasion!!!! Totally rediculous!!! Combine this with the previously discussed parrying flaw and a fight against a fairly competent AI oponent would go something like this: You throw one punch it get's parried and your boxer puts down his hands and sticks his head out, boom, boom, boom, you get hit by 3 haymakers. This is repeated over and over (AI never tires of throwing haymakers off course), till either you get knocked out or you dance around your opponent till the match ends, afraid to throw a single punch.

Have you all noticed that anytime a game maker introduces a special move; especially difficult for a human to complete, which has the propensity to drastically change the outcome of a game, that game invariably becomes a mess. This in no exception.

Playing this game with a friend hides it's worst flaws, and here the game really shines as it can provide hours of fun and entertainment; beating each other sensless without actually loosing any teeth. However playing against the AI at any serious level is indeed a lesson in futility, which quickly becomes distracting. Perhaps EA got lazy and took the easy way out towards the end who know?.....

I agree with naz's review

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: May 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

overall the last game was better than this new one the fighting in my opinion feels glitchy and i feel the game doesnt run as smooth as the last one although the graphics have improved thats not enough to make me like this one more than the first ...id wait till the price drops on this one if your still interested in buying anyways..because over all its still an ok game

Some improvements from the original version...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: April 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

So, I rented the game before I bought round II. I don't think the developers did enough to justify a part II to an awesome original release. If you think you'll be blown away by the graphics just like you were with version 1, think again. I liked the gameplay [which has not changed, thank god]. I didn't see many enhancements besides closeups of KO's and better sound management. Other than that, the fighters are the same, no new editions. The graphics have improved, but not as much as one would have expected. I would not pay full price for this game... I think the used market on this will be very cheap once the release has been around for more than a month or two. I like version wayy better.

Pary Problems Solved, and the How to's of Haymakers

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: June 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Look, most of these reviews are good, you all love the game, and have fun playing it, but you don't understand the true concept of the fistic arts! Let me qualify myself before I begin, I have never played Fight Night 2004, (I am however a big fan of KO Kings 2001 for ps2, and mt punch out, i hold the record for tko ing tyson in the first round with 25 seconds left) nor have i practiced FN Round 2 for ages I just picked this title up 3 weeks ago, I am 49-0 I hold 3 belts, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, and the Unified Belt for 2 weight classes. I have never restarted my season or reset the game before a loss to the CPU and I play on "Hard". I am an actual amature boxer for recreation, not as good as my boxer in the game though. So... Let's begin the tutilage.
The first opponents you fight are plugs! They eat haymakers like crazy and will often just stand there as you dish out the pain. A good fight will last three rounds at most. Then when you start moving up the ladder you'll notice how much the AI's strategy changes from punching bag to haymaking demons. All you have to do with these tougher opponents is sit back wait for them to unleash a haymaker, lean out of the way and counter. Always Always keep your finger on the "lean" trigger. you should be leaning after every series of punches you throw. (In a fight I will effectively counter 90-100% of the time. Depending on how long the fight is, i will effectively counter at least 20-50 times. you should be countering this much to be hurting the other boxer and wearing him down)
Also, tough opponents will pick off your punches very easily such as the hook or uppercut, nevermind the winding haymaker! So lead with the JAB! A classic if not universal boxing basic! Its not hard to figure out that YOU WILL NOT WIN A TOE-TO-TOE FIGHT WITH THE CPU!!!!! They string together combos using haymakers so easily only Anakin Skywalker has the ability to see them coming! But if you are ALWAYS on the defensive you will avoid most of them and be able to counter the barage with a bevy of cross/hook combos. (i find this to be highly effective along with the cross/jab/jab combo)I know it is hard to wait for the CPU to make the first move, but is nessecary in order to win.
Also, never use a haymaker in the first couple of rounds, at least untill you score two or three knock downs. The CPU will parry them and leave you wide open for a Super Duper Haymaker Combo. The degree to which your fighter gets tired due to a parry varries according to what punch you throw. So for the person who reviewed this as some kind of defect does not know what he's talking about. If the CPU parrys a jab it will be difficult for them to catch you off guard and take advantage of your mistake. Converesly if you get a haymaker parried it takes a good second of recovery time. Be ready if you miss a haymaker.

In the early rounds the CPU is too fast and rested to fall for the old sneaky haymaker, so you MUST jab him to death for a few rounds. Stand back, and stick and move!!!! It is not fun, i must admit, but come round four, when you've got three knock downs and the CPU is just standing there waiting for the punishment, it gets good. you can have your way with them by simply paying attention. The Haymaker is easily recognizable before it is even close to being landed, so avoid it. If you're good enough, and I'm not that good at parrying, you can parry it and unload a haymaker of your own.
So lets review:
1) JAB JAB CROSS in the first few rounds. mixing in a counter combo
2) NO HAYMAKERS!! no haymakers untill you have a firm grasp on the fight and your opponent is well tired.
3) COUNTER COUNTER COUNTER! stick and move and counter the CPU's haymaker attacks. keep your finger on the lean button all the time! BE PATIENT AND HIT OFTEN RATHER THAN HARD!
These tips should help you out and make fight night way more fun.

More realistic than the first, but less fun...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: September 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

..Let me explain. The first Fight Night game introduced a new realism in boxing video games. It had realistic characters boxing styles stances, and a setup in which you could choose to fight a faster paced style, or one dedicated to more power. In Round 2 you see an improvement in detail, especially in the faces of the boxers. You are also introduced to something new which is the haymaker...which is both good and bad.

The haymaker, as you probably already know, is a punch where you put all of your might in order to try to score a knockout. The problem with this game is that it is very much focused around that one particular punch...and power in general. Your bob and weave doesn't seem to be as effective this time around...and if one of your punches is paried...your arms fall for 2 or 3 seconds, pretty much guaranteeing the opponent will get a haymaker in. This makes the game feel very cheap..unlike in the first Fight Night game, where a parry leaves you open for a split second..which seems more realistic. Also, the movements of the characters seem choppier than last time.

There are other new additions, such as playing a cornerman, and tending to cuts and swelling between the rounds and the ability to chose between two types of training before fights.

In closing..if the gameplay was more like the first fight this game would be absolutely perfect. I grew tired of getting a punch blocked and standing there like an idiot until I got busted by a haymaker

Good and Bads!!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: March 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I just went and copped the new Fight Night Round 2 and it has its negatives and its positives! One of the negatives is the new parrying system. Yea its dumb as hell!!! Your fighter unlike the first Fight Night when you will just have a quick pause and your oppenent gets a quick couple a shots in, now you will totally put your face in front of your oppenent and get hit wit a haymaker!!! Another negative, is the damn haymaker!!! Im gettin use to doin now, but its still dumb as hell!! It totally takes away from the flow of your fight because your tryin to think about how to throw the damn haymaker. When you play the computer they throw haymakers in combo's, but its hard for u to throw one not to mention three!!!! Another negative is the same gripe every boxing fan have, WHERE IN THE HELL IS TYSON!!! Yea we all know the dude is crazy and bite ears and wanna eat kids, but he is boxing since the 80's! You dont even mention boxing without mentioning Tyson and he's not in the game. Its others missin but hell I could do without them if Tyson was in it.The last negative is in Career mode you box a bunch of no names! Even when u finally work up to the top of the ladder your boxing no names! Im a middleweight in my career and I cant fight no actual middleweights! I dont wanna fight to get there be a champ and fight Dennis Erickson! I know u wondering who is that? Thats the same thing I was wondering!

But now since Ive told u whats wrong wit it, it is a bunch of plus's this year too! Now in your career mode, when you buy new clothes you can actually get boost's! You can buy gloves that give you power and speed and you can buy shoes that give you speed and agility! Even your entrance gives you a plus of heart. The women gives you boost for stamina! The graphics looks real!!! When your losing a fight, your face will definetly tell you, and if u dont have a good cut man then the ref will stop the fight for excessive bleeding ( sometimes thats annoying, but its real life!). You can actually damn near make your fighter look like you! The create a fighter is so detailed that if you sat there long enough you could get a pretty close model of yourself in the game. The bad thing is if u played wit that fighter and got your azz kicked!! Finally Im gonna make this one real simple "X-BOX LIVE"!!!!

Overall its better than last years and you will definetly enjoy it and like it, but it could be improved for Round 3! Somethings could return to Round 1 and somethings can stay in the 2nd Round but if they figure it out by the 3rd Round and will mess around and be a knockout!!!!

THe BEST boxing game out there BUT......

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: March 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

it can use some imrovments. I'll run through them quickly... 1st, there needs to be a way 2 players can chalenge each other for a belt title. THat would up the fun factor scale. 2nd, THey should do away with the 2 different Creat a Boxers. Meaning, that you have to crerat one boxer to play in Career and one boxer for the Head to Head mode. That takes all the fun out of developing your boxer and pitting him up against your freinds Creat-a-Boxer because your friend can put all his stats up to MAX and your let with the weeker figher!! Just ONE Creat-a-BOxer for the career mode would be good enough. Other then that the game is AMAZING! Oh and if you MUST have TYSON in the game, just creat him!

Amazing game but not perfect

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: April 07, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The GOOD: I love EA Sport's innovative Total Punch Control (TPC), which utilizes the analog sticks to punch instead of buttons. It is intuitive, and most importantly, does a much, much better job of recreating the boxing experience than the traditional button mashing. The aspect I love the most is that this game, for the most part, rewards patience and technique over raw power and aggression. As you climb the ranks, boxers will have distinct personalities; while some less powerful enemies will bob and weave you to death, others will go toe-to-toe with you. The graphics are gorgeous, and sometimes almost over the top in terms of recreating the blood and sweat universe of boxing. Thankfully, EA listened to critics and fixed the training minigames (gone is the Uber-irritating heavy bag swinging game), making them more accessible and more effective. The new cutman feature, whereby you control the swelling and cut repairs between rounds, is fun at first but I have yet to see the impact, and now I just let the computer take care of it. This game is addictive and just plain fun.

THE BAD: The computer controlled oponents go up in difficulty (as is to be expected) as you rise through the ranks, but unfortunately, the difficulty jumps from: "I can knock anyone out in the first 3 rounds" to "I get knocked out in 2 rounds and all my punches get blocked" in the span of a single fight. Strategy can remedy this somehow (clinching is now an option, thank goodness, and you really need to learn to block and weave), but by far the biggest flaw is the upper-level character's propensity for just unloading on you with haymaker after haymaker. The worst part is, they don't get tired like they should, and can throw them all day. Since a single one will stun you, they can just keep unloading on you until you get knocked out. It's frustrating, and really an example of unbalanced play.

CONCLUSION: This is a great game that would be even better with more balance in the punching; the haymaker is good to have, but the over-reliance on it (online and off) is hurting this game. That said, this game improves on almost all of the flaws of last year's edition, so it's worth picking up.

stick and move!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: May 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The parry system is a problem but i can get by ok... My main gripe is the cpu throwing haymakers. The cpu will close in on you and swing until you fall which utterly crazy but other than that it's a great game! if you can get past the haymakers and find the right strategy against the parry you'll be able to school anybody and cpu like Winky Wright did to Felix Trinidad!

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