When it comes to video games, the noble art of boxing has been left on the sidelines. As technology advanced, sports such as soccer and hockey have seen big titles that generate huge player numbers. However, the art of boxing is massively underrepresented, with very few titles for fans to enjoy.
Boxing Video Games: Looking at Some of the Best
A Recent Drought
Why have there been so few in recent years? Much could be down to the rise of esports. Games that prompt multiplayer interaction with a product that’s exciting to watch have been a big success, from the soccer and car hybrid Rocket League to FIFA, John Madden’s Football and NHL hockey. These are great for a viewer, and they feed into a culture that’s built up around esports. As demonstrated by these esports betting tips, fans now study the games they enjoy, watch teams compete, pour over rosters, and even place wagers on the outcome of events. While that’s great for much of the industry, the slightly slower nature of boxing doesn’t feed well into the culture.
It’s very much a tactical, one-on-one event, and in terms of approach, gamers might feel boxing quite restrictive. Watching boxing games on YouTube might be almost as painful as watching Tyson Fury barely get by Francis Ngannou.
That could change; “Undisputed Boxing” is soon to be released, the first big boxing title of the esports era. Could it be the game that finally follows the proud tradition of other titles into the new generation of consoles? Will it elevate boxing back into the gaming limelight, offering those dedicated esports players a platform to enjoy Queensbury rules and all that comes with it properly?
Perhaps. However, in the meantime, anyone wishing to don the gloves and play boxing at home should look to check these games out, even if they are on emulators of older consoles.
Fight Night Round 4
Boxing did once have its own franchise, and it was called “Fight Night.” Until 2011, it was hugely popular amongst fight fans. The penultimate game in the series, “Fight Night Round 4,” was arguably the best. It featured a strong roster of 54 fighters, including Mike Tyson and Ricky Hatton, as well as Flyweight and Bantamweight weight classes for the first time in a game.
Each character had unique skills and traits, which made them feel authentic and sufficiently different to offer the sort of variation today’s gamer needs. The updated physics system from the previous instalments made this one massively fun to play. The next game in the series, “Fight Night Champion,” took a darker turn and wasn’t as popular – in fact, it even KO’d the series! It was a solid enough game, but it didn’t achieve the critical acclaim of Round 4, and the franchise was dropped not long after.
Punch-Out
If you’re a gamer who likes to sit with a controller in your hand, look away now; “Punch-Out!!” is a Wii game that uses motion as the core mechanic. It’s a reimagining of a classic arcade game, which, even in 2009, resonated with veteran retro gamers. Arcade games are great fun in their own right, and that’s where this title excels; it is a huge amount of fun to play. Be warned; it uses made-up characters, and the graphics are very arcade-like, but it was instantly playable. The control system made full use of the extra buttons and sticks on the Wii controller, putting this above the other Wii boxing title that felt fun, Wii Sports Boxing.
This wasn’t the first Punch-Out game; the franchise went back to the early eighties and is perhaps most fondly remembered for “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out.” The Wii game broke new ground – it was the first title in the series to be 3D-rendered as well as the first to include a multiplayer option and optional motion-based controls.
Ready To Rumble Boxing: Round 2
One of the standout features of “Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2” was its colourful cast of characters. Players could choose from a diverse roster of boxers, each with unique personalities, fighting styles, and special moves. From the charismatic (but fictional) Afro Thunder to Michael Jackson and former President Bill Clinton –there was something for everyone.
It might be an old game, but it offered responsive controls that made it easy for players to jump in and start throwing punches. The game featured fast-paced, arcade-style action, exaggerated animations and over-the-top special moves that added excitement to every bout. Whether duking it out in single-player mode against computer-controlled opponents or facing off against friends in multiplayer matches, the game provided hours of fun and competitive entertainment.
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