The BudgetBin Review: Fight Night Round 3

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A couple of days ago, we learned that Electronic Arts is planing to shut down the online servers for some of its older sports titles this coming September and October. Among the long list provided by the company is the boxing jewel otherwise known as Fight Night Round 3 for the PlayStation Portable. Before EA Sports ultimately pulls the plug on this one, we decided to scour through our piles of aging UMD games and have another round with it, so to speak. After all, it’s always hard to part with a good friend.

Fight Night Round 3 comes from a long-running boxing franchise that probably goes back to Knockout Kings one full decade ago. The franchise officially changed its name to Fight Night in 2004 when the first title was released on the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. FNR 3 is actually the first time EA Sports released the game on a handheld console and, if we may say, it’s been a tremendous success.

We will spar around its features and dig deep to its very core, ultimately knocking out every doubt some fans had or still have in their minds. We will give a series of steady jabs, right and left hooks, full force haymakers and illegal special moves – all hoping to make you not forget Fight Night Round 3 and include it in your trophy case of most memorable PSP gaming experience.

Read on and finish this fight!

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A couple of days ago, we learned that Electronic Arts is planing to shut down the online servers for some of its older sports titles this coming September and October. Among the long list provided by the company is the boxing jewel otherwise known as Fight Night Round 3 for the PlayStation Portable. Before EA Sports ultimately pulls the plug on this one, we decided to scour through our piles of aging UMD games and have another round with it, so to speak. After all, it’s always hard to part with a good friend.

Fight Night Round 3 comes from a long-running boxing franchise that probably goes back to Knockout Kings one full decade ago. The franchise officially changed its name to Fight Night in 2004 when the first title was released on the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. FNR 3 is actually the first time EA Sports released the game on a handheld console and, if we may say, it’s been a tremendous success.

We will spar around its features and dig deep to its very core, ultimately knocking out every doubt some fans had or still have in their minds. We will give a series of steady jabs, right and left hooks, full force haymakers and illegal special moves – all hoping to make you not forget Fight Night Round 3 and include it in your trophy case of most memorable PSP gaming experience.

Round One: Warming up

Compared to the other versions, the PSP build of Fight Night Round 3 offers a lot of exciting side features that console owners can’t enjoy and can’t do nothing about but wish they bought a PSP instead. One is easily attracted to the energetic soundtrack that keeps playing in the background helping players get in the mood. If you really are a big “soundhead”, you can proceed to “EA Pocket Trax” option and play the songs you like, all complete with unique visualizations.

We’d like to discuss the game’s different Career Modes but we’ll save that for the more “crucial rounds” later on. We figured that one of FNR 3‘s strong points is that it can be a pick-up-and-play kind of game. It has the ability to keep a player bemused in short bursts of time which fits like seasoned gloves to the PSP’s on-the-go style.

Those who’ve tried both the PSP build of the game and any other console version easily dismiss Fight Night Round 3‘s controls for the handheld as a dumbed-down version of the consoles’ – all because the PlayStation Portable is lacking a second analog stick. Sure, we can’t charge haymakers using the additional stick or come up with fancy key maps but do you really want to spend that short ride to school perfecting these things? Or do you want to go into the ring immediately and destroy the bejeezus out of your opponent?

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We’re pretty sure that you prefer the latter. With the aid of the left and shoulder buttons, you can pull off power punches, not to mention varied ones – all depending on where your character’s body is leaning towards. A simple combo (O + X, etc.) will produce an uppercut. We have to remind you though that you should use these power punches wisely because it drains a lot of energy from the fighter. And in the event that you missed, your boxer will slack off for a few seconds giving the other fighter the opportunity to get back at you.

Round 2: Sweat, Blood, and Glory

In Fight Night Round 3, you can go with the “Play Now” menu and choose well-known fighters around the globe in different weight classes. Favorites include featherweights Manny Pacquiao and Marco Barrera as well as heavyweights Roy Jones Jr. and the great Muhammad Ali who still flies like a butterfly and stings like a bee. On a little personal note, we would have appreciated it if Mike Tyson, no matter how insane, was included.

Then there’s the “Rival Challenges” feature that is a good test of a player’s boxing skills. In this particular option, players are tasked to either repeat or change history by participating in classic rival fights. Disappointed that Erik Morales beat Marco Barrera during their fight back in 2000? Feel the fighting spirit flow through your veins and reclaim lost glory by choosing the “Change History” option. On the other hand, if you enjoyed the beating Barrera received, then go with the “Repeat History” fight and deliver that gut-wrenching left hook yourself.

Furthermore, the “My History” sub-section is where players’ created boxers slug it out with the greats. Here, you are faced with situations akin to each of the legend’s strengths and characteristics. One such example that we ourselves had fun doing is Sugar Ray Leonard’s tendency to play the crowd and taunt you. The goal of this challenge is to earn points by hitting him while he’s doing his thing.

If we may suggest, don’t go through the “My History” option early on your boxer’s career. You will have a rather difficult time defeating the other fighters because your character’s stats (power, speed, agility, etc.) are still not at par with the likes of Ali or Pacquiao. Rise through the ranks first and improve your stats in the Career Mode.

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Round 3: Going for the Kill

We believe we don’t have to talk about the Career Mode in length as it is best experienced than discussed. We can talk for hours and hours how fun it is to create your own character – all complete with his own hairstyle, body built, tattoos, and stance. We can talk endlessly how the items at the Fight Store (gloves, trunks, shoes, etc.) improve your boxer’s performance. We can do all that but it would be better if you pop that old UMD in once more and see it all again for yourselves.

Once you already have your own boxer, it’s only logical that the next thing to come to your minds is how your “Sandman” or “Bam Bam” will fair with other user-created boxers. This then brings us to Fight Night Round 3‘s multiplayer aspect. We will be candid with you about this and say that the Ad Hoc and Infrastructure modes are not one of the best in the game’s arsenal of features.

Fight Night Round 3‘s infrastructure sessions, even during its hay day, suffered from connection errors and even player drop-outs. We didn’t experience it ourselves but there were some reports before that even the Ad Hoc matches suffered the same problems. If we may add, the normal loading time becomes obviously slower during the multiplayer mode.

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Final Round: Split Decision

Some of you may not agree with the things we said and pointed out herein. However, we hope to remind you that Fight Night Round 3 is the first outing of the franchise on the PlayStation Portable. And as such, given its shortcomings here and there, we’d like to believe EA Sports did a good job with this game.

Given the franchise success, furthermore, we wouldn’t be surprised if we will be seeing another iteration of Fight Night some time in the future. The graphics are looking sleek and sharp already but it wouldn’t hurt if the controls will be improved a bit as well as other features like AI and even the commentator’s set of things to say. Some unlockable boxers, perhaps? Because we’re still hoping to see Mike Tyson.

Anyone up for Fight Night Round 4?

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