Career Mode
The main single player mode is the career mode and it is rather different from what we had last year. You still have the option of making a custom fighter or using one of the included real life boxers and then climbing up the ranks to a title, but the voyage from unknown amateur to world champion is a little different. Round 2 was a lot more realistic in the way you moved forward in your career – it had actual rankings and in order to move up you had to fight the next guy on the list. In Round 3 you instead progress by fighting seemingly random opponents until your popularity meter dictates you get a title shot or a sponsored fight. Also, rather than really focusing on the big picture Round 3 introduces rivals that you will fight several times throughout your career. You are still after the title but the little confrontations with rivals are more of a focus … kind of like pro wrestling. Whether or not these changes are better or worse than Round 2 is debatable. You seem to progress more quickly this year and having lots of big victories on your way to the title is a lot more satisfying overall, but it would have been nice if it represented real boxing a little better.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer is where Fight Night Round 3 really shows its quality, though. This is hands down one of the absolute best two-player games you will find and is a sheer joy to play. Because the game is so insanely balanced this year and since there are so many styles and stances and other options no two fights will ever be the same. You can’t just haymaker your way to victory anymore which is a good thing because fighting a real fight is so much more satisfying. And when someone finally is able to land a big punch the drama of the whole experience is just so much better than before. Once you experience en epic 12 round fight filled with knockdowns and strategy changes and amazing drama you will be sold on the greatness of Fight Night Round 3.
Playing online on Xbox Live is quick and easy and much more fun thanks to the more balanced gameplay. Having a friend sitting next to you is far more enjoyable, but if you are just looking for a fight Live is the way to go.
Graphics and Sound
Graphically, Fight Night Round 3 is a nice looking game but it isn’t all that different from Round 2. There is a lot of new animation that goes with the new stances and styles and all of that, but the actual boxers and arenas you fight in don’t look too different. I would say they look better, but not by much.
The sound is similarly unchanged. The announcers and sound effects are pretty much what we had last year with a few new grunts and groans thrown in.
Bottom Line
If you loved Round 2 or are simply a fighting game fan, Fight Night Round 3 is an absolutely amazing game that needs to be played. The gameplay is incredibly balanced and deep this year and the overall experience is undeniably satisfying. As great as Round 2 is, Round 3 is better in pretty much every way. The graphics and sound aren’t as impressive as they were before and the career mode’s quality is debatable, but the gameplay is far better and that is what is important. Multiplayer is where this game shines and whether online or offline, Fight Night Round 3 has nearly infinite replay value. Fight Night Round 3 for the Xbox is a fantastically fun game that is well worth the $40 price tag.
