'Fight Night': Heavyweight Champ

"Fight Night Round 3" puts you in the ring with realistic animation. (Electronic Arts)

The visually amazing "Fight Night Round 3" is as close to real life as a game can get. Boxers, such as legends Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson and current fighters Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright, look and move just like their real-life counterparts. The amount of detail put into everything from how the boxers enter the ring to the animation of the crowd will impress even the most hard-core fans.

The game requires players to master defensive maneuvers and counterpunches. Just going for an opponent's head is not wise. Guarding your face and body are key for defense, but you can't do both at the same time. Sometimes when approaching your opponent with your face guarded, your opponent will go for your body. Body shots aren't felt as much through your controller as shots to your head are (each punch you receive causes your controller to vibrate unless you turn that option off), but they will take their toll if you take too many. Successfully blocking a punch and immediately going in for retaliation is the best way to score points with the judges and to do sufficient damage to your opponent.

Haymaker punches, when executed properly, do extensive damage and can turn a fight around instantly. They are more difficult to execute, but if you're on the ropes and about to get knocked out, they can save you. Be careful though, if you don't connect, you leave yourself wide open to be pummeled. Haymakers are high risk, high reward.

The controls are unique. They require you to use both analog thumb sticks to move and throw punches. This is great if you don't like using multiple buttons to throw punches but can be a pain if you have trouble remembering what direction you need to move the stick for a particular punch. Control options can be changed if you prefer buttons.

From the pre-fight training options to a much-needed sparring mode that allows you to hammer away until you master your moves, "Fight Night Round 3" is a game worth buying.

-- David Betancourt

Fight Night Teen, Xbox 360 ($59.99), PS2, Xbox, PSP ($39.99) EA