The Triangle

Issue date: 6/27/08 Section: Sports

Gameplay: When it comes to fighting games, some are button mashers, some require lots of technique and combos and then, there's Prizefighter. While playing this game, sometimes we felt it would have been easier to go to an actual gym and train to become a professional boxer than master the controls of Prizefighter. There is nothing more important to a boxing game than enjoying playing the game. Unfortunately, we found difficulty relaying what type of punch we wanted through the controller. Whether it was because the controls weren't responsive or because you had to button mash with both hands in order to punch effectively, we were often frustrated with the gameplay. In addition, sometimes when we wanted to punch toward the lower body, it would hit the opponent's head. We never felt like we really had control of the matches and it's sad that the training sessions were more fun than the fights themselves.

Repetitiveness: In sports games, it can be difficult to eliminate the repetitiveness factor and with Prizefighter, that issue is no different. Even in the career mode, which is the strong point of the game, the fights are all too similar. While there are different objectives in most of the matches, we feel like whenever we are fighting, we aren't fighting the opponent - we're fighting the controller. If the controls were better, the problem of repetition wouldn't be as much of an issue.


Overall:

2K usually puts out really solid sports games, but this is a disappointment to say the least. Forget about comparing it to Fight Night, because these franchises are in two different leagues. The game itself is not bad, but once you are in the ring, it's bad boxing. The controls are very difficult, and you make break your controller with the excessive amount of button mashing. Even if you do button mash, it still might not respond. The career mode is a great idea and we appreciated the documentary-type feel to it. The soundtrack is solid, but Prizefighter far from being the success Fight Night is. If the gameplay doesn't drastically change, this game will never become decent. Sometimes, simplicity is the best and Prizefighter went over the top with its boxing commands. The biggest focus should be on making the boxing matches more fun than a controller mashing contest and improving the graphics so fists don't accidentally fly through body parts.

Mazz and the Fisch Rating: 5.3/10

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