Review by: Jason McMaster

Fight Night, EAs popular boxing franchise, has enjoyed success as a very attractive and moderately realistic boxing experience. Having a good handle on the gameplay and control mechanics, Champion branches into new territory.

This time Fight Night tells a story.

You’re Andre Bishop and you have a legitimate shot at the big time. You train with Gus, your oldest friend and father-figure (not to mention he bears an, uh, striking resemblance to Burgess Meredith). Your younger brother is also a fighter, though he’s a heavyweight and you’re a middle. Everything is going fine until you wouldn’t sign on with D.L., the underhanded promoter.

One night, after taking out one of D.L.’s fighters, some thugs show up at your gym. When you try to defend yourself, they announce they’re police and take you away for assaulting an officer. Next thing you know, you’re serving time for assault and your career is gone, just like the freedoms you once took for granted. It’s a very long road to redemption and it’s your job to help Andre walk the path.

In Champion you have the ability to make your own fighter and take him from the amateurs to the very top of the sport. Legacy modes in games are brilliant in that they allow for the player to make his or her own story to accompany the trials and tribulations of their individual boxer. In legacy mode, you get to try things you wouldn’t possibly do in a quick fight, like train a specific style or set personal goals to best. The story in this latest version of Fight Night aims to take it one step further, and, for all intents and purposes, EA has it its mark as the story mode is surprisingly compelling.