This week Matt is inducted into the Versus arena in a trial by fire. Two time Versus champion, Sarah, shows him around the ring in Contender, a game that adds insult to injury. The best of 15 death match was a painful set of 60 two minute rounds, and in the end it's unlikely either of these console gladiators will ever again load what may possibly be the worst boxing game ever created. |
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Sarah For the first time ever, I actually kicked Matts ass at any sort of video game. Winning was the most exciting aspect of Contender, and I think that Matt may have been so bored with it that he lost all will to play to win. But its not as though I liked the game any more than he did. I have more fun with the punching bag in my garage than I had playing Contender, and my punching bag seemed to be a better simulation of a boxer then any of the games characters. I have fond memories of Nintendo 8s Mike Tyson Punch-Out, and I was excited to see another boxing game on the market. After playing 15 very long matches, I can say that I still lust for Tyson's Punch-Out. At least in Punch-Out there were unique, if a little cartoony, boxing opponents like King Hippo, Bald Bull, and Mike Tyson himself. I was very disappointed in the graphics and sounds. Maybe I was hoping for too much. I wanted to hear the smack and crunch of hard hits and see welts and sweat on the boxers faces. The boxers didnt make so much as an "oomph" when they were hit with the strongest of blows. As for the duel shock, I nominate Contender for the worst use of vibration so far this year; steady, constant, and handnumbing vibration. The control was so slow I had time to eat chips and get drinks in the middle of a game (try that with Tekken). The characters were almost all the same, with some women and racial stereotypes throw in for good measure. I know that part of the game is making a boxer and, through fighting her, make her better, but I really cant see anyone wanting to invest that much time in this game. I cant decide who this game was meant for; it's surely not the fighting game junkies, as there ultra fast reflexes are more of a hinderance than a help when playing Contender, and it's not for boxing fans with no blood, sweat, or tears, Contender pales in comparison to the real thing. If youre a boxing fan that wants to experience some of the action at home, I suggest a punching bag over this game its cheaper, more fun, and more realistic. |
The Rundown Control Replayability Overall Play Modes Initial Max. Summary:
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