Written by: Matt

 

 

 

Boxing games are something you think would have spawned all about with the Nintendo Wii with it having a control layout that would make it feel like a good well controled title. Unfortuantely however we have only seen a few boxing titles with none being to exciting or enjoyabe.

 

EA however may have finally released a boxing title worthwhile of being picked up. "Facebreaker K.O. Party" is the latest title from EA sports which had a rough beginning on the PS3 & 360 being ignored and not well received.

 

However a release on the Nintendo Wii it may have found a suitable home that offers a great control system.

 

 

For a boxing title K.O. Party is a title that will seem shallow and simple to the hardcore gamer while casuals will thoroughly enjoy it a lot more. The game has a similar theme to the greatest boxing titles, "Ready to Rumble 2" & "Punch-Out!", but is it as great?

 

Containing four gameplay modes, two multiplayer and two singleplayer, some gamers will find it disappointing that two of those modes are the same. The two that are the same would be multiplayer that really give different options on how you go about playing the title, one with you choose the fighters and arena and with the other multiplayer layout being rather more random with who you are and who you fight.

 

 

Singleplayer mode is where it is all at, if you have no friends to play this game that is otherwise your looking at a short gameplay experience.

 

Arcade mode is the main mode where you choose from a set of a boxers who are each unique with their style, attitude and facebreaking skills. Gamers would find themselves competiting for a few boxing titles while unlocking characters, you would think it would be that easy to beat all your opponents and win the titles, it isn't.

 

One of the most disappointing things within this title, that would put off the hardcore gamer, is that the opponents AI is not only a little to tough but they repeatedly do the same things over and over. Although this might seem like it could make the game easier knowing what your opponent will do it really isn't as some AI continously block all your moves and manage to sneak in a punch when you literally don't expect it. This of course will frustrate many, like I found myself very frustrated, as rather than having a great boxing match I have a very shallow opponent.

 

The game's main goal is to, if you can, break your opponents face with your finishing move which has you automatically win the fight. Problem is however it is difficult to get in those facebreaking moves with opponents that are programmed not to let you do this to often.