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Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
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Score: 90%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Midway
Media: CD/1
Players: 1 - 2
Genre: Sports
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Graphics & Sound:
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Round 2 (R2RBR2) features superb graphics that help raise the bar on video games. Like what the original Ready 2 Rumble did for the Dreamcast, this year's addition for the PS2 really helps give us gamers a hint of what is possible and what can be done with the PS2. Each boxer and arena features a tremendous amount of detail. No detail was too small. Just to give you a little example, when you are in the arena fighting, you will actually see the effects of the blows you are giving or taking. Black eyes, bloody faces, broken jaws, it's all there and very visible. The boxers animations are really top notch and the punches and blows that each boxer delivers are very realistic. Their stances, taunts, and fighting strategy is all also fantastically done. Sound is also top notch and includes Michael Buffer, who is famous for his 'Let's get ready to rumble' quote. Each of the over 23 boxers has his or her own unique voice which perfectly fit that character. Music is not abundant in the game, but what is there is good and has an upbeat 'getting you in the fighting mood' type of sound.
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Gameplay:
R2RBR2 features four different modes of gameplay: Arcade Mode, Championship Mode, Tournament Mode, and Team Battle Mode. Arcade Mode let's you start boxing right way with none of the hassle of training your boxer. Your objective is to work your way up the fighting ladder to become World Champion. Championship Mode is the games main 'meat and potatoes.' Your goal is to successfully train your boxer and make them a fighting machine. You fight in a number of Prize Fights and Title Fights. To successfully train your boxer, you most play and complete a number of different mini training games. Jump Rope, Speed Bag, Heavy Bag, Sway Bag, Rumble Pads, and Rumble Aerobics will help build up your boxer's stamina, strength, and dexterity. You can also take vitamins to help train and build up your boxer. Tournament Mode allows you to set up your own tournament with up to eight players. Team Battle mode allows you to select a team of up to eight boxers to challenge another team of an equal size.
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Difficulty:
R2RBR2 is not an extremely difficult game, and for the most part, anyone can pick up the control and have a good time without knowing too much about the game. To truly master the game, you will have to learn to successfully train your boxer to make him the best he or she can be. You should also learn your boxer's combo moves, and learn to block your opponent's punches as this becomes essential, especially in fights against the more skilled boxers. For those that have problems completing the game in any mode, you can go to the Options screen and adjust the difficulty to Easy, Medium or Hard to accommodate gamers of any skill level.
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Game Mechanics:
R2RBR2's control is fantastically done, and really makes it easy for you to get into the ring and start throwing punches. You either move with the D-Pad or the Analog stick, Square is high left punch, Triangle is high right punch, X is low left punch, Circle is low right punch, R1 and R2 is low and high block, and you can change the camera angle to some pretty interesting and cool views with the Select button. Control is very responsive and if you are using your PS2 dual shock controller, you can make use of the touch sensitive buttons. How hard you press down on the buttons will determine how hard of a punch your boxer throws. Pretty cool. Overall, R2RBR2 is a fantastic launch title for the PS2 and any sport/arcade or fans of the original should most definitely pick this one up.
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-Raider, GameVortex Communications AKA Chris Duran |
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