Its quite disappointing that we aren't getting a Fight Night this year due to the work on the upcoming UFC and of course perhaps to the somewhat waning boxing appeal. But if EA, or anyone (please 2K, but not another Don King's Prizefighter) steps up and makes a boxing game, what would you like to see? Me personally, my dream boxing game would contain the following:
Boxers - I personally have a lot I want to see in this category but i'll just "summarize"
- Updated rosters (Martinez, Ward, Alvarez, Mayweather etc. etc.)
- Boxers/Legends that haven't been in before (Willie Pep, Donovan Ruddock, Naseem Hamed, etc. etc.)
Engine
- Better boxer representation. Body build, punching/movement/defensive animations should be unique if applicable for real-life boxers.
- Deeper range of facial animations during a bout (smiling, surprise, anger, taunting etc.)
- Foot movement shouldn't feel like the boxers are "magnetized" to each other
- Getting stunned should not result in you becoming a pile of molasses. You should retain your movement speed but punches should be off-balance should you chose to defend yourself during this state. EA had this bad because getting stunned, unless your boxer had impressive chin or heart, being knocked down was inevitable due to slow footspeed and slow blocking speed. Stun animations should be more realistic and organic. Just like knockdowns, stun animations should not be canned, or at least have a broader range of animations.
- Inside/mid-range fighting improved. Add things like being able to punch during a clinch and accidental headbutts, possibly getting tangled during an exchange, especially when fighting orthodox vs southpaw fighters
- Knockdowns should be more organic, in relativity to the punch received, where landed on the boxer and the force. Canned knockdowns should be almost
non-existent.
- Stamina should really make more of a difference and it should affect punch output and strength in later rounds. Unless the boxer is known for being conservative and smart about his output, I shouldn't be weathering a barrage all 12-15 rounds.
- Being damaged badly on either side of the face, whether its severely swollen or cut and blood is in the eyes should affect that side's punch accuracy/blocking ability noticably.
Gameplay Tweaks, Additions, and Cosmetic Additions
- Return of a manual player controlled cornerman/cutman feature. Lots of times knowing how to speedily dress a cut or when to stop a fight if the ref isn't going to makes a huge difference in a bout.
- Selectable gameplan for the bout. If the gameplan is followed to a T or partially, extra EXP should be rewarded. THQ's UFC games were genius in this.
- Selectable referees
- More athletic mini-games that actually improve your physical stats. Weightlifting, jump rope, medicine ball, running, etc.
- Speech from real-life boxers, trainers, coaches, and referees. Between rounds, corner should have banter and selections on how to tweak the game plan for the fight. These options can be manual selected or suggested for you.
Customization
- Add more boxing brands (like Cleto Reyes, etc)
- Deeper customization, such as creating your own logos, adding props* and creating designs on existing equipment or "bare bones equipment". Prop Example*: A hispanic fighting wishing to come to the ring in a pancho, sombrero or both.
- Ability to choose long, mid or short ring entrances for those who have custom intro music.
- Customizable ring entrances, boxer movement, in-bout/victory taunts
- Additional hairstyles/ better quality hairstyles for those of specific ethnic backgrounds. (I'm tired of the fades for black people looking like a damn bowl cut or the braids looking generic.)
Career Mode
- Similar to THQ's UFC games (R.I.P) I'd like to see the ability to create or generate Pay-Per-View events or Fight Cards.
- Real-life sanctioned boxing committees such as the WBA, etc.
- Real-life boxing promotion companies (Golden Boy, Top Rank, etc.) or create your own
- Keep the ability to chose your training camp and location, but add more depth as far as picking which trainer you want to work with and their specialty.
- Being injured can set you back time during the fight calender year depending on the severity of the injury. Stats can suffer. If bad enough, it could be career ending or the boxer will never be the same in that particular category.
- More personalized career mode. Boxer will have a voice, and will interact with trainers, coaches, etc. Will be able to choose branching paths depending on how you wish to "raise" your boxer's career.
- Press conferences (cosmetic I know, but it feeds the image of a career mode, makes things like the pay-per-view events and fight cards more believable and realistic.)
These are all the things I came up with off the top of my head, so if I didn't list obvious changes or choices then its probably cause I overlooked it haha
Boxers - I personally have a lot I want to see in this category but i'll just "summarize"
- Updated rosters (Martinez, Ward, Alvarez, Mayweather etc. etc.)
- Boxers/Legends that haven't been in before (Willie Pep, Donovan Ruddock, Naseem Hamed, etc. etc.)
Engine
- Better boxer representation. Body build, punching/movement/defensive animations should be unique if applicable for real-life boxers.
- Deeper range of facial animations during a bout (smiling, surprise, anger, taunting etc.)
- Foot movement shouldn't feel like the boxers are "magnetized" to each other
- Getting stunned should not result in you becoming a pile of molasses. You should retain your movement speed but punches should be off-balance should you chose to defend yourself during this state. EA had this bad because getting stunned, unless your boxer had impressive chin or heart, being knocked down was inevitable due to slow footspeed and slow blocking speed. Stun animations should be more realistic and organic. Just like knockdowns, stun animations should not be canned, or at least have a broader range of animations.
- Inside/mid-range fighting improved. Add things like being able to punch during a clinch and accidental headbutts, possibly getting tangled during an exchange, especially when fighting orthodox vs southpaw fighters
- Knockdowns should be more organic, in relativity to the punch received, where landed on the boxer and the force. Canned knockdowns should be almost
non-existent.
- Stamina should really make more of a difference and it should affect punch output and strength in later rounds. Unless the boxer is known for being conservative and smart about his output, I shouldn't be weathering a barrage all 12-15 rounds.
- Being damaged badly on either side of the face, whether its severely swollen or cut and blood is in the eyes should affect that side's punch accuracy/blocking ability noticably.
Gameplay Tweaks, Additions, and Cosmetic Additions
- Return of a manual player controlled cornerman/cutman feature. Lots of times knowing how to speedily dress a cut or when to stop a fight if the ref isn't going to makes a huge difference in a bout.
- Selectable gameplan for the bout. If the gameplan is followed to a T or partially, extra EXP should be rewarded. THQ's UFC games were genius in this.
- Selectable referees
- More athletic mini-games that actually improve your physical stats. Weightlifting, jump rope, medicine ball, running, etc.
- Speech from real-life boxers, trainers, coaches, and referees. Between rounds, corner should have banter and selections on how to tweak the game plan for the fight. These options can be manual selected or suggested for you.
Customization
- Add more boxing brands (like Cleto Reyes, etc)
- Deeper customization, such as creating your own logos, adding props* and creating designs on existing equipment or "bare bones equipment". Prop Example*: A hispanic fighting wishing to come to the ring in a pancho, sombrero or both.
- Ability to choose long, mid or short ring entrances for those who have custom intro music.
- Customizable ring entrances, boxer movement, in-bout/victory taunts
- Additional hairstyles/ better quality hairstyles for those of specific ethnic backgrounds. (I'm tired of the fades for black people looking like a damn bowl cut or the braids looking generic.)
Career Mode
- Similar to THQ's UFC games (R.I.P) I'd like to see the ability to create or generate Pay-Per-View events or Fight Cards.
- Real-life sanctioned boxing committees such as the WBA, etc.
- Real-life boxing promotion companies (Golden Boy, Top Rank, etc.) or create your own
- Keep the ability to chose your training camp and location, but add more depth as far as picking which trainer you want to work with and their specialty.
- Being injured can set you back time during the fight calender year depending on the severity of the injury. Stats can suffer. If bad enough, it could be career ending or the boxer will never be the same in that particular category.
- More personalized career mode. Boxer will have a voice, and will interact with trainers, coaches, etc. Will be able to choose branching paths depending on how you wish to "raise" your boxer's career.
- Press conferences (cosmetic I know, but it feeds the image of a career mode, makes things like the pay-per-view events and fight cards more believable and realistic.)
These are all the things I came up with off the top of my head, so if I didn't list obvious changes or choices then its probably cause I overlooked it haha
