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The Sweet Science has been promoted dominantly by EA and it's Knockout Kings series. Sure, games like Ready 2 Rumble have come along, but nothing caught the realism of boxing like the KO Kings series has. Now EA is updating its famous boxing series to the 128-bit era. How will it fare? Judging by the early screens (which look incredible but are indeed pre-rendered) and the options it will offer, this should be a boxing game no fan should miss. EA is offering a new punching system called Dynamic Punch Control. This allows the player to control every punch in a combination. Not only do you have full control of a fighter, you can create new combos for them too. This should be a nice feature for sim buffs like myself.
Also, EA has extended on their career mode with before fight training. You can learn how to counter, punch, block, and use combos according to how your opponent will fight. It's like watching a fighter's tape before the match. I'll bet you real boxers wish they had this kind of technology. EA has also mimicked the various fighting styles of each bruiser. Weather you want to be a slugger, or fight freestyle like Muhammad Ali you can do so by selecting a fighting style of your choice. There will be the famous EA list of Real Life Boxers if you either want to re-live a fight, create a dream match, or just want to ignore the create a player. The list consists of Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Roberto Duran, Joe Frazier, Lennox Lewis, Michael Grant, Floyd Mayweather, Julio Cesar Chavez, and many more featuring different weight classes. Female Boxers will also be added this time around, complete with motion capturing and fighting styles of the top Female Boxers. Here's a list of what EA promises this time around: Key Features - "Cyber Scan" technology allows EA to record every facial and body feature on a boxer. The athlete can then be recreated in perfect detail in the game (PlayStation 2 console only).
- All new motion capture technology brings the boxers' movements to life.
- Exciting commentary and analysis from Al Bernstein and Teddy Atlas.
- Referees in the game include Mills Lane and Richard Steel to help keep things fair.
- Jimmy Lennon Jr. makes ring announcements.
- Go for broke with the new "haymaker" punches to get the Knockout.
- New and improved "signature moves" give individual boxers there own knockout punch, or defensive move that leaves the opponent swinging at air.
- Improved speed and control make the game's responsiveness and fluidity second-to-none.
- Better footwork, faster button-response, and quicker punch and blocking moves make the user feel he truly is controlling everything the boxer is doing in the ring.
- All new music soundtrack sets the tone as boxers enter the ring, and new sound effects bring the grit of boxing to the user as he hears not only the blows landed by the boxers, but also the cheers and taunts of the crowd.
- Select from a number of world famous arenas.
- Improved "create-a-player" option.
If Knockout Kings 2001 can live up to these options with graphics and game play, we may have a fight fan's dream come true in October. Until then, here are some early screens. We will have more info on this title when available.
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