Initial FNR4 Impressions
by 
Fight Night Round 4 made its way out last week as one of the most anticipated sports releases of the year. Over the last couple days I’ve found myself trying to get a feel for the game and playing online. Some of the detrimental aspects and design decisions have stood out the most once getting past the fantastic visuals. Continue on for some general thoughts and leave yours in the comments!
Much has been made over the longer development cycle that the game had to benefit from. That is most seen in the physics engine which does a fantastic job with things like hit detection and grazing shots. The graphics exceed FNR3 and challenge UFC 2009 as maybe the best of the generation. Those things make it feel like a fresh experience despite being a bi-yearly franchise.
There are a few aspects of the game that have stood out so far as negatively affecting the experience. The camera spins around a great deal and throughout longer fights I’ve found that to be disorienting. I also feel like at times I’m drawn into the opponent and can’t get away from them…almost like the game pushes you into the inside fighting. Fatigue seems to be the biggest issue. It is most pronounced in online bouts but it is the fatigue system in general and not online that has been exposed as a problem.
Go anywhere that is discussing the game and there will be a debate about the button punching being removed. This continues to be a baffling decision as it has upset a large faction of consumers and dominated talk surrounding the game. I actually used the analog stick in FNR3 so my feeling that buttons still should have been included is based on offering options as being a positive thing. For whatever reason though, despite uproar from the community, EA remained stubborn and refused to consider it.
Now though I almost want to go back to the buttons. I’m finding the stick to be inconsistent and too mechanical in nature. Rarely am I able to counter and in many cases I’m having to think about the type of punch and motion involved instead of going off reaction. This is especially the case with haymakers where you’re required to hold the RB which is incredibly awkward. I pretty much have forgotten about attempting to put combinations together. Not to mention that frequently I’m making motions with the stick and no punch comes or the wrong one is thrown.
The ironic thing is that one of the main reasons for removing the buttons was due to imbalance vs the analog stick with online. What that actually means is the buttons were more effective and precise. Now you just have people online stick “mashing” basically meaning nothing has changed. A proper fatigue system could’ve balanced things regardless of the control scheme being used. However people are throwing punches like crazy and not having to pay for it. Against the wrong person online it makes for a very frustrating experience.
At least online runs much better than the last iteration which was plagued with lag issues. I’ve yet to encounter anything but very smooth fights. Against the right people online it could be an enjoyable experience.
The Photo Face feature is a nice addition but again it doesn’t do a great job with the rare exceptions. I’ve yet to create anything that looks at all like me or the celebrities I was attempting to recreate. There are still a lack of options which have plagued it in the past such as not enough variations of hair styles. There are some good created fighters available to download though. Also it’s cool that they have the replay highlight uploading but where is the screenshot feature? This seems like a game perfect for that but it wasn’t included.
Again this is a beautiful game that deserves accolades based on various techncial achievements such as the amazing graphics and physics system. However the enjoyment level is probably going to be more split than was seen with FNR3. I wasn’t get a whole lot out of that game but I respected what it did for being early in the console’s life cycle. Right now I remember having more fun with that than I am with FNR4 though so I don’t forsee playing this extensively. I expect a lot of people will love this game but I’m thinking there will be a larger faction that dislikes it also.
June 29, 2009 at 11:38 pm
'The graphics exceed FNR3 and challenge UFC 2009 as maybe the best of the generation.'
I stopped reading here.
June 30, 2009 at 1:22 am
I like the demo ane the analog stick. Havent played the full game, but have played the demo numerous times now. The more I play it the better I like it. I really like the analog stick and am discovering more ways to use it as I play.
Combos are a piece of cake to do and follow a realistic approach. In real life, you might jab left, jab left, punch right. It works just like that. Jabs are short and quick and can be used to get momentum back and create distance. Also, I have had success doing left hook, right body punch combos.
Sometimes I dont get the exact punch I want, but not too much to where it is a problem. I see lots of potential here if they fix the fatigue.
June 30, 2009 at 1:32 am
Let me clear all of this up. As far as the stamina system goes, it is dead on. You lose stamina for getting hit (more for body punches), and for throwing too many punches. People are talking about getting knocked out when they are banging the other guy up, if you would have watched your stamina you would have realized you were tired, probably not doing that much damage anymore anyway, and should have moved yourself out of harms way with your weary arms and legs. Any pro fighter can tell you this whether it's the 1st or 12th round. Basically if your not smart, you can lose by one punch after dominating a fight.
June 30, 2009 at 1:32 am
After your stamina takes a considerable hit, after so many rounds, you would think that your controller was not reacting correctly. What that is, is heavier arms and legs take longer and more energy to move. In the earlier rounds you could jump in and do whatever, but later you have to know exactly what you want to do, put yourself in position the carry out. For example, You want to go body, body, head. Move in, "stick" the body body head, and it will carry it out as fast as your body can handle. If you don't see movement right away (miliseconds) and keep sticking, you cancel out moves and things take longer. Some people would even think the stick controls are not responding correctly. Professional boxers train hard so their bodys can carry out the decisions that their brains make as fast as possible. This is what makes the stamina system the best in any game that i've played so far. The ultimate boxing chess match.
June 30, 2009 at 1:33 am
As far as creating boxers, I have made some astounding look-alikes of friends and family as well as some terrible ones. I have noticed that I have gotten alot better at it and there must be some thing to it. The definately need to add more hair styles, shorts, and gloves. Just some random crazy looking stuff would even be welcomed.
All in all, I hope that EA does not ruin this game with a patch that satisfies people who do not understand or appreciate real boxing. We all await the Fight Night Store's opening.
June 30, 2009 at 2:05 am
I picked up UFC, thanks to all the rave reviews. However, I used it as part of the trade 3 – get Fight Night Round 4 free at GameStop.
FNR4 has a much more robust Legacy/Career Mode (you actually age and aren't forced to retire after 7 years), more customization, better menus, less flash KOs, etc. The only thing I liked more about UFC was the presentation.
I haven't played FNR4 or UFC online, so I don't know which is better in that respect.
Out of 10, I give the following scores:
FN Round 3: 7
UFC 2009: 7.5
FNR4: 8.5
June 29, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Game plays great. Analogs work fine. I’ve played on and offline. I counter, bob and weave, combos are so easy…rightstick combos are easy. And switching from body shots to the head are a cinch. Its a fast moving game, your 10 fingers will get a workout, if you are a good fighter in this game. I’ve used all the greats, and they do move different. I’ve been playing on ps3, when I buy it for 360, you can check my gtag. Just remember you must block body shots and weave, just as much as you send punches, learn to push…and haymakers galore, doesn’t matter what punch you get right now, just get comfortable in the ring. Also, I have used all of my tatics from PF, a game many of you knocked…but my jab straight straight combo works, my block, block, jab, jab, etc. I could go on…overall, a great product…finally, a superior experience from EA
June 30, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I am absolutely impressed at how much better this game is than the demo. The visuals are outstanding and the ability to customize your character, trunks and robe is a sweet touch.
I agree that the training is ridiculous. There are only two training sessions that I complete myself, I sim the rest. Something has to be fixed to make it so overly challenging that it defeats the purpose.
I like the scheduling of the fights. Much more realistic and I have not yet experienced the reduction of my boxer's assets due to aging. I hated that in past boxing games. As soon as you start to get your skills up to compete with the best, age would kick in which would impact the skill levels…
Overall, a great effort by EA.
June 30, 2009 at 7:46 pm
This game is far from game of the year IMO. As stated people are so split over this game. I did not get that same feel with MLB O9 The Show there is not a huge split there. The overwhelming majority, I would say 90% or more of the people that have played MLB 09 The Show either feel like its the best baseball game ever or really close. It definitely gives MVP 05 a race for its money. On the other hand, this game is so flawed online and is a joke of a Sim. I mean you can basically spam as many punches as you like without being taxed. Sorry this game is not anywhere near being realistic in nature.
July 1, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Well said. The people that love the online game play are more than likely those stick spammers.
July 1, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Okay this game officially sucks online. I've looked at the stats after my fights and what I can conclude so for is this game is random online. By this I mean one fight i'm okay on fatigue and another where I've some to have had a better strategy and even landing at a higher connect rate. Some how my opponent 9 out of 10 times ends up have way to high of stamina and barley any damage. I had a fight where I landed 84% of my shots and the guy had better stamina. This game just makes no sense online.
July 2, 2009 at 4:56 am
I am the only one who thinks twirling your body in circle aka the fake bob and weave is a glitch? Please tell me someone else out there do not like this sort of play in FNR4
July 2, 2009 at 6:57 pm
at first i thought this game ws really fun, but now i realize that the analog stick is to mechanic and not responsive and this game is just a really big pain in my assholes
July 8, 2009 at 4:41 pm
@ Pharohgod – I specifically was searching for anyone else that thinks the bob and weave is garbage, at least for some of the boxers. Playing my roommate last night, hes Joe Frazier and I'm Tyson, and for the love of God I couldn't hit him when he started doing his light speed twirl a.k.a bob and weave. Every time, he would just start doing it over and over until I threw a punch which missed 100% of the time and he would then get a stun punch. So started going to the body which works fine but is hard to win a fight on. He would just do it incessantly, waiting for me to throw a punch, miss, counter, stunned. Going to the body constantly too hurts him but not enough.
I can probably find a way to counter it through extreme patience in the ring but still very frustrating especially since I use to work him in 90% of fights in FNR3, I was the counter-punch king then, now can't seem to stay off the mat, hopefully practice makes perfect.
July 8, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Also, this constant twirling or bob n weave, you'd think that would take at the very least some stamina away but nothing, dude can sit there and go around in circles like the particle collider with no effect.
July 8, 2009 at 7:42 pm
PEOPLE WHO TWIRL SUCKS. i BEAT THEM BY GOING TO THE BODY AND I RARELY HOOK OR UPERCUTT TO THE HEAD AND WIN THE ROUND. THE TWIRLER WILL ONLY PUNCH WHEN THEY SEE THEY CAN COUNTER. WHEN THEY START TO PUNCH BACKOUT COME BAKE IN AND HIT THE BODY. Y do people try to find a glitch and every game they play. who wants to win if they had to cheat. The same thing in madden. come on peole get sum skills.
July 8, 2009 at 7:56 pm
PEOPLE WHO TWIRL SUCKS. i BEAT THEM BY GOING TO THE BODY AND I RARELY HOOK OR UPERCUTT TO THE HEAD AND WIN THE ROUND. THE TWIRLER WILL ONLY PUNCH WHEN THEY SEE THEY CAN COUNTER. WHEN THEY START TO PUNCH BACKOUT COME BAKE IN AND HIT THE BODY. Y do people try to find a glitch and every game they play. who wants to win if they had to cheat. The same thing in madden. come on peole get sum skills.