It is hard to not sound like a broken record here, it is inevitable. When Fight Night Round 3 was released for the Xbox 360, it was the first truly "next-gen" sports game, ten months ago.
Being able to feel every bruise, every cut, was just amazing. Taking the HUD out of the game was the best thing EA could have done, it really drew you into frantic boxing action.
This still happens in the PS3 port, but the span from February to December has only added one new feature: Get in the Ring. Oh, they changed the cover athlete, too.
PS3 owners won't notice it, but comparing the game to the Xbox 360 counterpart reveals washed out colors, and inferior lighting. This too is a broken record, par for the course of this first batch of PS3 games.
Graphically, the PS3 port is a mixed bag. EA Canada has made very subtle changes in the transition. The sweat looks even better than on the Xbox 360, if you can believe it. But the game can get dicey on the close-up replays. There is also the pixelated crowd, which I don't understand.
Once you get past these technical issues, you are looking at the most feature packed version of Fight Night Round 3, PS3 owners should be happy about that. Get in the Ring mode is how the entire game should be played. You see a first person camera for the entire match; it never switches to third person view. This changes everything in the game, your timing is completely different, you have to play more defense. This is a great addition for the PS3; I just wish I could have used the "Get in the Ring" camera for the career mode.
Most things can be done with the button controls, but there are punches you need to use the analog sticks for. It is best to stick with a combination of the two systems, although you can play the game with one or the other.
The only SIXAXIS control added is the ability to foul, but this is something you will forget about while in the heat of the fight. Everything else is the same, which is not a bad thing. Fight Night Round 2 was plagued by severely unbalanced play, where button mashing could get you pretty far.
Article comments
1 - New Braunfels, TEXAS Native
You need to lighten up dude. The PS3 rocks. This is the best looking version between the two systems which you fail to mention - and I believe the colors and lighting are fine and there are no problems with playback here, pal. Remember we're talking about EA here (if you know what that means) and if you do - it's a shame that you don't include in this article, how incompetent their ports are. Just take a look at the PS3 version of Bethesda's Oblivion and then take a look at the 360 version. Yes, it's a port, but take a look at the effort and pride invested in the game. That's how it's done. Not EA's way although I believe they'll improve.
And why is it that when people come over to watch this on my 52" XBR3 - they just stop and stare like it's (PS3) from another world?
Seems like your slanted one way judging by your past articles, and you do a lousy job of covering it up! Get over yourself and the 360.
W3lCOM3 CHANG3 =]
2 - kyle martin
how come you don't have mike tyson in fight night round 3