Dance like a butterfly and sting like a bee if you want to be successful at Electronic Arts’ newest sporting game “Knockout Kings 2002.”
“Knockout Kings 2002” for the Xbox, also available on PlayStation2, stars Muhammad Ali and 12 more of the other greatest boxers of all-time (excluding Mike Tyson). With precise control and slick combinations, the battles are furious and entertaining.
The one downfall to the game is how easy it is to beat. As long as you work your way up from the bottom and build up your strength by fighting low-level boxers, it is fairly difficult to lose.
The overwhelmingly appealing aspect to the game is the one-on-one bouts with a friend, which can last up to 12 rounds. Thus far only one other fighting game has surfaced for the Xbox (“Dead or Alive 3”), and this game offers a different style of head-to-head battle.
Since the original “Punch-Out” appeared in the arcades in the late ’80s and early ’90s, arcade boxing games have been a must-have by gamers. Finally a boxing game has been created for a video game console that is worthy of being in an arcade game.
“Knockout Kings 2002” is not only the best boxing game ever created, but it should also encourage a rejuvenated frenzy for boxing games.
