Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Game by Midway Reviewed by Robby Cox koi@magicnet.net Save: VMU Released: 9-9-99 Works with: VMU, Jump Pack **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: This was one of those Dreamcast games that just looked too good to be true. It was a launch day purchase and it was a smart one at that. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Description: Ready 2 Rumble Boxing is a really cool arcade boxing game. It didn't originate in the arcades, it plays like an arcade game. The game features 16 eclectic boxers that range from Afro Thunder to the 600+ pounder Salua Tua to Butcher Brown. These characters have lots of character and they are fun to play as. As the title infers, Michael Buffer is in the game, as is his trademark "Let's Get Ready To Rumble". The game plays a lot like Mike Tyson's Punch-Out or Super Punch-Out, but the viewpoint is from a 3rd-person point of view instead of a 1st person point of view. There are 4 punch buttons and 2 block buttons. That's just the right ammount of action buttons and they feel right. There are 2 modes of play-Arcade mode and Championship mode. Arcade Mode is a 10 fight tournament. You fight 10 fights and you can only lose 3 or it's game over. The Championship Mode is fun from the start, but it dulls after a while. In Championship Mode, you start out with 3 boxers-Afro Thunder, Boris Knockimov, and Butcher Brown. When you win the first championship with any of those another fighter will be unlocked. Each time thereafter, another boxer will be unlocked after a title win until all 16 boxers have been unlocked. One small problem with this is that I have unlocked Nat Daddy, but I can't use him in the Arcade Mode without inputting the Pod 5! code to unlock every boxer. This is kinda lame. Anyway, the Champ Mode is fun for a while, but the Arcade Mode is always fun. You just go in there and bust heads. Anyways, this game is a blast even though the Champ Mode isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Liked: Arcade Mode & awesome gameplay. Hated: Championship Mode. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: The graphics are amazing. The characters look extremely lifelike. The boxers are large and extremely detailed. Sometimes the polygons look a little off, but that's when the boxers are stretching or such and then the shoulders look like their not quite attached like a real person. This is not annoying or ugly, it just proves that the graphics aren't real people, but are polygon creations:) Liked: Awesome characters. Hated: Nothing. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Well, I could have got a bum disc, but the music skips on my GD-ROM. It doesn't the first time around, but the second time a song is played back to back, it skips. The demo that came with the Dreamcast is the same way. I have 7 DC games total and none of the others do this. The music itself is pretty good. There aren't but 3 or 4 songs, but they're not played all that much. The sound fx are extremely good and the voices are awesome. Michael Buffer's voice sounds just like he really does. His introductions are perfect. His intro change depending on what color trunks your boxer is wearing. It's the little touches like that that make this game so special. Liked: Michael Buffer! Hated: Skippy Music!(It felt like I was listening to my Playstation:( **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: The controls are so simple, but yet the allow you to do everything that you would want to. The analog joystick is worthless in this game and you will need to use the D-Pad. I'm not stating that you can't use the stick, you can, it's just not as responsive as the D-Pad. The game design is good, but the Championship just isn't as much fun as it should be. Liked: Simple controls. Hated: Boring Championship Mode. **************************************************************************** Improve: Ummmm, I don't know....how about improving the boring Championship Mode. RIYL: Super Punch-Out, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out **************************************************************************** Final Words: Ready 2 Rumble Boxing is as good as it gets for arcade-style boxing action. This is the best boxing game ever made. It is just too much fun. The Championship Mode is slightly disappointing, but the fun Arcade Mode and 2 Player Vs. make this game a blast. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ***** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: **** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 24 out of 25 Final Score: 96 % **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Enter Pod 5! as your Gym Name and you will have access to every boxer in the game! Template courtesy of Philip Wesley.