The long-awaitedUndisputedhas arrived, marking the potential return of the AAA boxing genre. At one time, boxing games were far more popular than they are today, as leaders in the space like EA have nowshifted focus to other franchises likeUFC, which scratch the realistic fighting game itch and fulfill the desires of many sports game fans.
But still, there’s something about proper, dedicated boxing games that MMA and WWE simulators don’t quite capture. The so-called “sweet science” of the sport, its elegance coupled with raw aggression and restrained brutality, lends itself to the gaming medium rather well, especially when developers have a firm grasp on what makes it mechanically interesting. This is precisely what EA’s now-dormantFight Nightfranchise brought to the table back in its heyday, giving players the tools to engage in virtual boxing levels on a deep level and, in the case ofFight Night Champion, presenting a surprisingly mature, M-rated single-player story, the likes of which are virtually never seen in sports games. WithUndisputedstirring up the stagnant waters of the boxing game scene, maybeFight Nightcould see a reprisal in the coming years.
Undisputed Could Pave the Way for a Fight Night Return
Why Fight Night Was So Special
Fight Nightis still reveredas the pinnacle of boxing games, holding up even though its last entry was two console generations ago. The series is a showcase of many strengths, not the least of which being surprisingly great visuals for its time, but it truly shines with its realism. The impact of each punch, modulated by factors like character fatigue, angle, and whether the recipient blocks at the right time, do justice to the notion of boxing as a chess match; players need to be methodical and strategic with how they approach every encounter, and button-mashing is rarely a viable strategy.
Theimpressive graphics ofFight Nightsupport the sense of realism provided by the gameplay and animation quality, as sweat will fly off character models and flesh will compress, stretch, and swell convincingly.
It’s hard to comment onFight Night’s legacy without touching onChampion’s story mode. The narrative of this single-player campaign, while perhaps paling in comparison to something likeRed Dead Redemption 2or a similarly story-focused game, is nonetheless respectable and refreshing, even at the time. In fact, viewed in the context of modernsports games like theNBA 2Kfranchise, whose narratives are all too often phoned-in, rushed, and lacking soul and creativity,Champion’s adult themes and ambitious scope are almost baffling. This is one of the elements that any potentialFight Nightrevival should aim to recapture.
A New Fight Night Game Could Be In the Works
The strengths of the franchise might once again become clear to modern audiences, as recent rumors suggest thatEA is working on aFight Nightrevival. Granted, this is far from the first time that such rumors have reared their heads, as tenuous news of a newFight Nightgame has cropped up several times over the years. That said, now thatUndisputedis making a push into the boxing scene, taking clear notes fromFight Night, EA may be more encouraged to double down on its once-successful boxing franchise in an attempt to recapture market dominance.
This could translate to a newFight Nightbeing a stronger all-around product than it would have been otherwise, as it has actual competition in the form ofUndisputed, despite its technical woes and balancing issues.Undisputedhas thrown out a respectable jab in the fighting game market, and EA ought to respond with a show-stopping haymaker of its own.
Undisputed
WHERE TO PLAY
Become Undisputed in the most authentic boxing game to date! Featuring true to life visuals, bone-jarring action, and more licensed boxers than ever before, Undisputed gives you unprecedented control to master every inch of the ring.
