It must be said that the most disappointing element of Fight Night Round 3 is the Career mode. This is one part of the game that has not been improved on. Firstly, players are now forced to complete an entire amateur career before going pro (you could skip this part in FNR2). This forced element is because EA has integrated a new 'Rival' feature and the amateur boxers are used to introduce you to this. Admittedly, it is a good idea, but in practice, it doesn’t work, and after fighting the same 'Rival' three times or more, is both unrealistic and tedious. These fighters are not very clever and are easy to beat, even on the hardest difficulty setting. Unbelievably, there are certain elements one would associate with boxing that are missing, such as ranking lists and current title-holders. In FNR3, boxers move up in class by the means of popularity meters. Another new feature of the Career mode is the press conference, which after the hype and trash talkin’, leads to all-out brawls and general chaos. Again, while the notion is great, it just does not seem to work when put into practice.
Even though the Career mode on Fight Night Round 3 punches below its weight, there are other modes to the game that are immediately gratifying. The Play Now mode lets you select your corner (Red or Blue) and pick two boxers to fight each other. You can choose between six weight classes, one or two player action, and a good selection of boxing legends from the past and present, such as Muhammad Ali, 'Marvellous' Marvin Hagler (a very welcome addition to FNR3), 'Sugar' Ray Leonard, Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton (surprisingly the only British fighter available), Oscar De La Hoya and Evander Holyfield to name but a few. The entertaining Hard Hits mode makes a welcome return. This is arcade-like action where the rules are basic - to knock your opponent on the canvas as many times as possible. There are 15 untimed rounds, your goal being to win the majority of them. Rounds only end when there is a knockdown and the boxer with the most knockdowns at the end of the match wins. There is also a new mode called ESPN Classic, where you can relive great fights from yesteryear and stamp your mark on boxing history. Choose from Ali vs. Frazier, Haglar vs. Leornard, Gatti vs. Ward and several others. This is a great concept and a welcome addition to the game.
In conclusion, Fight Night Round 3 is still the undisputed boxing game world champion with few contenders baying for its crown. The overall gameplay is an improvement on the previous two games and runs extremely smoothly. Graphically, FNR3 is excellent for a current-generation machine, with the only exception being the audience. However, there are certain factors that are far from being perfect. The career mode is by far the most disappointing element of the game. It is far too easy to master and quickly becomes laborious and boring. The commentary is basic and more or less the same as FNR2. We think the soundtrack is awful, but then we're not fans of Hip-Hop and R&B. The improvement made on the haymaker punch is extremely welcome and definitely adds extra realism during bouts. The newly added special attacks really spice up the action and are incorporated soundly into the game. The greater variety of boxing styles made available only adds greater depth and excitement to gameplay. Overall, even though the Career mode is not up to scratch, FNR3 is by far the best boxing game available for the PlayStation 2. Graphically, it's very impressive, great fun for one or two players, represents value for money and a must for any fan of the sweet science.
SPOnG score B
[i]SPOnG believes that Fight Night Round 3 by EA is by far the best and most complete boxing game available for the PS2 in 2006. The Career mode is disappointing and prevents the game scoring an otherwise deserved 'A', but the rest of the game is undoubtedly fun and well-presented. We believe that FNR3 is a must-purchase for any boxing or beat 'em up fan.
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