Fight Night Round 2

by Electronic Arts

Product Features

• All-new Punch Control mechanics for throwing multiple punches - Block, bob and weave with complete precision and control
• Create and train the ultimate champion by transforming his skills and physique
• Total control of your boxer with 360-degree sticking and moving - punch and block while dancing around the ring
• Unleash the power of the Haymaker - a crushing blow that will knock your opponent out, if you can connect

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0006ZJP7S
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches ; 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: March 1, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,704 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Platform: GameCube

Amazon.com

As much as certain events have made gamers a little bitter at EA's business tactics, Fight Night: Round 2 does illustrate what the company is very good at: taking a good thing and making it even better.

It's obvious that the developers, while continuing to fine-tune the all-analog gameplay, have placed a focus on creating a more compelling career mode. Largely, they've been very successful. The new create-a-boxer is very comprehensive, allowing you to morph almost every aspect of your pugilist's appearance on the fly. A new type of match mode, available as a standalone option called Hard Hit Mode, makes an appearance on your schedule as special events. In these events, a round doesn't end until someone is knocked down, lending a more brutal, over-the-top feel to the contest. Thankfully, these are optional and, while they can unlock new items in the store, they don't usually count against your ranking. For hardcore fans, you'll be pleased to note that you can now change weight classes mid-career as you age and that each pro's career is made so you're fighting era-appropriate foes.

On the gameplay side, the most important new aspect is the Haymakers – powerful blows that allow you to pre-load a punch for extra impact. Of course, using them is risky, but their power makes them an important tool in winning the belt. Although the initial matches are a bit easier than in last year's, the difficulty stiffened once my rank climbed to the mid-30s. The AI seems a bit savvier, and opponents will grapple when you've got them nearly knocked out to buy for time. I find it a little strange that rival boxers have an almost Jason Vorhees-like ability to rise from the mat, sometimes recovering from as many as four knockdowns in two rounds, but that's a minor quibble.

Another nice addition is the "woozy" camera angles that appear when you or an opponent is nearly knocked down. It's a small touch, but a very dramatic one, just one more of the many little things that EA did right in making Fight Night: Round 2. The sum of these is a game that might just be the best boxing video game to date.

Concept:
After revolutionizing the genre, EA makes an effort to give boxing fans a more well-rounded experience

Graphics:
Improves on last year's already great visuals – the facial injuries and sweat are eerily real

Sound:
Great selection of rough n' ready rap, including the reunited Geto Boys (Yay!)

Playability:
If anything, the all-analog control is even more fluid this time around

Entertainment:
A better career mode and more depth make for a better overall game

Replay:
High

Rated: 9.25 out of 10
Editor: Matt Helgeson
Issue: March 2005

2nd Opinion:
With my right and left hands (one is "Sorrow," the other "Pity") I have brutalized flesh and shortened the lives of men. This is my career. This is Fight Night Round 2. Footwork, punches, and your defense are now all seamlessly integrated into an irresistibly fluid dance of timely parries and devastating counter-blows. It looks so real you can feel your brain slapping against the inside of your skull. Also more lifelike is the career mode, in which your fighter will actually age, necessitating training and the best equipment. But, nothing makes you feel quite as alive as being in the ring, where sweat and bloody spray are the champagne of victory. Absolutely glorious.

Rated: 9 out of 10
Editor: Matthew Kato


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Product Description

Fight Night Round 2 continues delivering the innovative boxing gameplay with deeper gameplay and all-new options. Knock your opponents out using devastating combos and the new Haymaker option. Then go outside the ring for training, while managing your boxer to make him successful and wealthy. The new EA SPORTS Cutman minimizes damage on fighters by helping them heal critical wounds between rounds. Active cut-man helps you recover from swelling eyes between rounds Dynamic Punch Impacts - stunning visuals reflect the effect of each blow, from swollen eyes to broken ribs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Boxing Game EVER!, March 24, 2005

By 

Sean Parauka (Orange, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Fight Night Round 2 (Video Game)

This company, EA Sports has done it again. Their games can't be beaten, let's face it. Their latest release, Fight Night: Round 2 is the GREATEST Boxing game EVER! When I heard about another boxing game to be released by EA Sports, I rented the game as soon as it was released and as soon as I returned the rental, I was at Walmart next door purchasing my own copy. I just had to have this game. This game has it all! I can't imagine a better boxing game than this right here!

There is an excellent selection of gameplay options in this game. First, you can have a regular exhibition bout with any boxer from Featherweight - Heavyweight. The second option is CAREER mode. You can either use a boxer already in the game or CREATE a Boxer. The Create-A-Boxer mode is FANTASTIC. You build your fight from ground up. Everything from height, weight, body size, head size, face shape, different hair styles and colors, gloves, trunks, shoes, tattoos, taunts and Special punches. In this mode, if you have created a boxer, and choose to fight as him, before the fight, You will be required to participate in Fight Preparation. This is your opportunity to increase your boxer's stats before the fight. There are three training methods to choose from. One, "Combo Dummy" which works on Agility, Speed, Cuts and Heart. Two, is the "Heavy Bag." This works on Power, Speed, Stamina, Body, Chin, Cuts and Heart. Third is the "Weight Lifting." This works on Power, Stamina, Body, and Cuts. These training methods are fun. The mode "Hard Hits" is a typical exhibition but with different rules. After a knockdown the round is over. And there is no time limit to the rounds. Keep going until your opponent doesn't get up.

The career mode is fantastic. First, your fighter starts as a Amateur and you compete in ten fights until you become the Amateur champion and move on to Heavyweight. Now you will start out as the Number 50 contender and work your way up the ranks challenging opponents and earning money for every victory. The higher your fighter's rank, the more money each fight is worth. When you earn money, you can purchase more trunks, shoes, gloves, tattoos, punches, taunts, mouthguards, etc. There is a selection of over 100 different trunks.

The new features of the game are the EA Sports Cutman and the Total Punch Haymaker control. First, the EA Sports Cutman allows you to cure swelling and cuts between rounds your fighter has sustained during each round. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO LEARN! Why? If your fighter gets beaten enough and his face looks really torn up, the Referee may stop the fight. Second, is the EA Sports Total Punch Control Haymaker. Using the C-Stick on the controller, you can control the amount of power your fighter throws in his punches. You can use a Haymaker Hook, Uppercut, Body Uppercut and Hook using either arm. These blows will cut your opponent's face. If you time these punches just right, you can start a Flurry of haymakers right-left-right until your opponent collapses. Tip: IF YOU MISS, YOUR OPPONENT WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE WHILE YOUR FIGHTER IS VULNERABLE AND THROW STRONG PUNCHES AT YOU AND YOU MAY BE IN TROUBLE!

The graphics of this game are absolutely terrific. Very realistic. Your fighter's face will start swelling and bleeding accordingly as a fighter's would in real life. For instance, your fighter's eye won't swollen shut after 5 strong punches. Little by little the eye will get red, then a little bump under the eye, and gradually your fighter will look like he just went through a car wreck if he gets beaten enough. It is nice when your opponent has a shut eye cus of the swelling. It will effect his fighting and it will be easy to throw haymakers and knock him out. This game couldn't be any closer to real life than it already is. The body graphics are very detailed as well.

I LOVE THIS GAME! I am addicted to it. There could never be a better boxing game than EA Sports latest release, "Fight Night: Round 2." A quick tip, be patient, it takes a while to learn your way around the game and how to fight effectively. I give this game a 10/10 hands down. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BOTHER RENTING THE GAME FIRST! I Guarantee! Once you buy this game, you will never look back!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get the band aids ready, December 29, 2005

By 

Shawn Mahoney "deadon71" (Algonquin, il United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Fight Night Round 2 (Video Game)

I haven't found a game this intense in a long time. I went with my son to pick out a game with his christmas money. He got King Kong. (He's to scared to play it)Fight Night Round 2 severe sale at toys r us. 9.99. Couldn't that bad, it was a new release, and I'm getting into sports games. Besides all the hip hop crap music, this game is incredible. Graphics are great, the slow motion power knockdowns, with the blood flyin', get's you really pumped.Takes a while to figure out the swings, but you have really good control of punches and movement. I've figured out almost all of the throws, except the haymaker. Got the game on monday at about 6pm, stayed up till 2:30am, and woke up with the worst Ninetendo thumb since high scool! Just had to wrap my thumb for the next round, GET IT!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fight Night Round Two is the Shiznit, March 24, 2005

By 

Bubba R. Sosby (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Fight Night Round 2 (Video Game)

I love this game! From the first day that I played it, I was hooked. The graphics are awesome! I like the realism of the fight. It took me a couple of times to get used to controlling my fighter, but now I wouldn't have it set up any other way. This is by far my favorite game.

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