Fight Night Champion

Fight Night Champion is a boxing video game developed by EA Canada and published by EA Sports.[2] It is a member of the Fight Night series and was released on March 1, 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game is stated to take a drastic turn from previous installments, depicting a "grittier" and "darker" setting with animations and player damage that "truly conveys the brutality of the sport of boxing."
The game was officially revealed on 7 July 2010 at an EA Sports studio showcase.[3] The game is the first EA Sports game to feature a full Hollywood-inspired story mode, called Champion Mode. The story follows the career of Andre Bishop, a talented boxer, who is forced to overcome great setbacks including a jail sentence and a corrupt fight promoter. Champion Mode is intended to further convey the brutality and hardship of the sport of boxing.
It is also the first ever EA Sports game to receive an M rating from the ESRB in North America. An iOS version of the game was released alongside the console versions. The game was released to positive reviews.
Contents [hide]
1 Gameplay
1.1 Full-Spectrum Punch Control
1.2 Interface
1.3 Boxer Creation
2 Champion Mode
2.1 Gameplay
2.2 Plot
3 Roster
4 Reception
5 References
6 External links
[edit]Gameplay

[edit]Full-Spectrum Punch Control
Fight Night Champion is a third-person fighter that introduces an all-new control scheme to the series: "Full-Spectrum Punch Control".[4] This method allows players to throw onscreen punches by merely flicking their game controller's right control stick (in addition to the pre-existing option of 'punching' by pressing a button on the controller). This extra option is intended to eliminate the more complicated controller manipulations that were necessary in the "Total Punch Control" system of previous editions of the Fight Night series.
Along with Full-Spectrum Punch Control, several modifications have been made to the secondary controller buttons that are used for uncommon and power punches. The "Haymaker modifier" of past editions has been replaced with a "power modifier" (i.e., a button that is held while simultaneously while using the right stick, to throw heavier punches). The blocking and dodging system has also been modified; there are now single buttons dedicated to blocking and dodging.
[edit]Interface
The general gameplay interface has also been improved, mainly to convey the brutality of the sport with more accuracy. When players are stunned, the camera's angle changes slightly and a faint whistling noise can be heard. Knockout replays are now much more detailed, with a close-up view of the knockout punch available in many different angles.
A refined physics animation system is in place. This includes flexing muscles, dynamic bruising and scarring, as well as rippling body effects.
[edit]Boxer Creation
Like Fight Night Round 4, boxers can be created and used in-game. The main use for user-created boxers is Legacy Mode, which also allows players to use a default fighter. In addition, default boxers can be edited, but can also be reset once changed.
[edit]Champion Mode

The main new feature in Fight Night Champion is its new Champion Mode, a full story mode which follows the rise, fall and second rise of convicted boxer Andre Bishop who is constantly troubled by a crooked fight promoter and an arrogant heavyweight champion.
[edit]Gameplay
Although it is not a completely different experience from the rest of the game, Champion Mode bears many exclusive modifications to make the story more compelling. In most of the fights, players are required to fight in a particular manner or create a certain outcome in order to be victorious. For example, players may have to be smart against a certain opponent who has a particular strategy. One example of this is an opponent who targets the body; the player is required to stay on the outside and avoid body punches. Another scenario pits the player against slim odds, in which Bishop suffers a hand injury and must avoid using certain punches in order to avoid permanent damage. And in another situation Bishop has a cut over his eye and he must protect it from getting hit 8 times for 3 rounds plus he must win the fight.Overall 24 punches during those 3 rounds.
Champion Mode plays out in a movie style. Cinematic cutscenes control the flow of the story, and the actual gameplay takes place during fights. Occasionally, cutscenes can be seen in between rounds.
[edit]Plot
André Bishop is a convicted boxer serving time in a correctional facility. While imprisoned, he participates in regular jailhouse boxing matches against other inmates. After winning one of the fights, he is confronted by his opponent and several other inmates who outnumber and violently beat him. He wakes up days later, only to find that he was close to death.
The game then flashes back four years earlier, to André's initial rise as a boxer in the middleweight division. He manages to win a gold medal at an amateur boxing tournament and is named player of the tournament. Isaac Frost, heavyweight gold medalist at the tournament, dismisses Andre and his talent. André then begins to climb the ranks as a professional middleweight under the management and training of Gus, his mentor and father-figure.
While training, the two are visited by fight promoter Diaw McQueen and his daughter Megan. Diaw offers to promote and manage Andre, but Gus refuses, claiming that McQueen is crooked and abandons fighters once they have reached their peak. McQueen is outraged and leaves. However, André is later confronted by McQueen alone who attempts to persuade him once more, even mentioning that Andre's brother Raymond has promising talent. André refuses, and warns McQueen to stay away from him and his brother. Soon after, two crooked cops confront André alone at the gym. Not knowing they are cops, André is intimidated and attacks them, only to be arrested and sentenced to several years in prison for unlicensed firearm possession (which was planted on him by the cops).
The story then returns to André's life in jail, where he continues to participate in jailhouse boxing, having recovered from his beating. A now much tougher and focused fighter, André proves himself to be the best fighter in prison. He is visited by his brother Raymond, now a professional heavyweight boxer. André is upset once he learns that Raymond had abandoned Gus and signed with McQueen. He is released after serving his sentence, and returns to the gym as an assistant trainer. Megan, now a solo manager, realizes that André still has talent after beating two professional heavyweights while sparring, and offers André another chance to fight as a professional. Although he is reluctant at first, he agrees after Gus also agrees to come out of managing retirement.
Now a heavyweight, André enjoys many wins against other promising fighters. However, Raymond becomes jealous of Andre's success and challenges him to a fight. While fighting André is distracted by what Raymond had previously told him in their discussion. Raymond then knocks him down. Although not completely damaged, André decides to stay down in order to allow Raymond a chance at greater success. Raymond emerges as the winner of the fight and agrees to fight Isaac Frost, the reigning heavyweight champion.
The match is set, but ends shortly after Frost violently knocks out Raymond in the first round. Frost then insults both Bishop brothers, pushing André to call out for a match against Frost. However, McQueen is reluctant to organize the fight, fearing a turn of events. Meagan forces him to arrange the fight, however, after threatening to expose his framing of André. The fight is finally arranged and takes place in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Gus urges André to fight defensively for the first two rounds, and survives. He then begins to fight back against a tired Isaac Frost, eventually knocking him out. André then becomes the world heavyweight champion, and both Franco and McQueen are brought down for their framing of André.
André Bishop - The main protagonist of the game, André begins his professional career as a talented prospect. However, his dreams of following in his father's footsteps and taking a shot at the world title is soon ruined after he is framed by two crooked cops.
Diaw McQueen - The head of McQueen Promotions and a famous fight promoter, McQueen is known for his hot temper and short-lived partnerships with professional fighters. He has been long despised by Gus Carisi, André's trainer, for his notoriety.
Gus Carisi - André's loyal trainer and manager, Gus had previously trained André's father, who was also a talented fighter. He took both André and Raymond in after their father died and raised them both. An experienced trainer, Gus understands the true brutality of boxing and the hard work required to overcome it.
Raymond Bishop - André's younger brother, Raymond also pursues a professional career in boxing as a heavyweight. Raymond upsets André when he decides to leave Gus and sign with McQueen Promotions. Once André reemerges as a heavyweight fighter, Raymond becomes jealous and challenges him to a fight.
Megan McQueen - The daughter of DL McQueen, Meagan starts off as a manager for her father's company but leaves due to their general disagreements. She then becomes a solo manager, even managing André herself.
Isaac Frost - A heavyweight fighter who wins the title soon after beginning his professional career. He defends his title numerous times, and brutally knocks out Raymond Bishop. Andre Bishop's younger brother. This spurs André to challenge Frost himself.
Franco - A corrupt police officer and bodyguard who assists McQueen in framing André.
[edit]Roster

Fight Night Champion features over 50 boxers in total through seven weight divisions, making it the largest roster in the series.
Heavyweight
Muhammad Ali
Chris Arreola
Eddie Chambers
Eric "Butterbean" Esch
George Foreman
Joe Frazier
David Haye
Evander Holyfield
Wladimir Klitschko
Vitali Klitschko
Lennox Lewis
Sonny Liston
Tommy Morrison
Mike Tyson
Jack Dempsey (Downloadable Content)
Jack Johnson (DLC)
Joe Louis (DLC)
Rocky Marciano (DLC)
Floyd Patterson (DLC)
Light Heavyweight
Joe Calzaghe
Chad Dawson
Bernard Hopkins
Roy Jones Jr.
Middleweight
Alfredo Angulo
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Jake Lamotta
Erislandy Lara
Ray Leonard
Peter Manfredo, Jr.
Anthony Mundine
Carlos Monzon
Sergio Mora
Kelly Pavlik
Ray Robinson
Jermain Taylor
Fernando Vargas
Ronald Wright
Thomas Hearns (Downloadable Content)
Bernard Hopkins (DLC)
Roy Jones Jr. (DLC)
Welterweight
Emanuel Augustus
Tim Bradley
Julio César Chávez
Miguel Cotto
Oscar De La Hoya
Ricky Hatton
Thomas Hearns
Kendall Holt
Zab Judah
Ray Leonard
Shane Mosley
Victor Ortiz
Manny Pacquiao
Roberto Duran (Downloadable Content)
Pernell Whitaker (DLC)
Lightweight
Diego Corrales
Robert Guerrero
Jesse James Leija
Vinny Paz
Pernell Whitaker
Oscar De La Hoya (DLC)
Manny Pacquiao (DLC)
Featherweight
Billy Dib
Yuriorkis Gamboa
Kevin Kelley (boxer)
Manny Pacquiao (DLC)
Bantamweight
Nonito Donaire
[edit]Reception

[hide] Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings X360:86.50% (35 reviews)[5]
PS3:83.57% (28 reviews)[6]

Metacritic X360:85/100 (17 reviews)[7]
PS3:85/100 (12 reviews)[8]

Review scores
Publication Score
1UP.com B+[9]
Computer and Video Games 8.5/10[10]
Eurogamer 8/10[11]
Game Informer 9/10[12]
GamePro [13]
GamesRadar 8 out of 10[14]
GameTrailers 9.3/10[15]
IGN 8.0/10[16]
X-Play 5/5[17]
Fight Night Champion received very positive reviews from critics. Many praised its large amount of content, realistic graphics, excellent presentation, and Champion Mode.[18] Legacy Mode was mainly criticized, with critics citing its difficult minigames and lack of improvements as its downside.
The new concept and direction of the series has been highly praised. Tom Hoggins of The Daily Telegraph wrote "This is a tough, burly sequel that understands what we want from the blood and sweat of sport it represents",[19] citing its brutality and emotion aspects as a winning factor. Hilary Goldstein of IGN also praised these factors, and praised Champion Mode for carrying the emotional weight of the game, sating that it gave the game "more sense of emotion out of what is usually a soulless experience".
CVG praised its graphics, gameplay and Champion Mode, calling it "one of the best looking games there is." X-Play scored it with a perfect 5/5 and praised its simplified gameplay, yet criticized its final boss and multiplayer suites.
Eurogamer gave it an 8/10 and wrote "It's far from a revolution – much of the framework will be familiar to Fight Night fans – but as the best-looking and most technically accomplished game the series has yet produced, this evolution exceeds our expectations, without totally blowing us away."