Fight Night 2004 PS2

EA Sports is a massive presence in games retail. FIFA, NFL, NHL, NBA, F1, and SSX have all made names for themselves in the industry, as has Knockout Kings. Making a departure from the Knockout Kings franchise, EA has readied another in-depth 'box-em-up' aptly named Fight Night 2004 for PlayStation 2. And it's a departure for more than one reason. A brand new boxing game, Fight Night also boasts a new play mechanic. Focusing almost entirely on the Dual Shock analogue sticks, players are able to throw a broad selection of punches, block, and dodge via a simple directional push. It's remarkably fluid for a boxing game, and offers a superior level of control and accuracy. Like gameplay, character animation is fluid. All boxers have been brilliantly rendered to make what is a truly convincing virtual attempt at the hard-hitting sport. The cast of fighters includes Roy Jones Jr, Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard amongst others. But if it's a single-player career you're looking for, feel free to partake in the game's career mode and create a boxer of your own. In addition to mastering your own techniques, you can customise ring entrances, theme music and even pyrotechnics. Fight Night 2004 is a great effort from Electronic Arts, and given the title's suffix, we wouldn't be surprised to see several more Fight Night games in the coming years.