Developer: EA Chicago
Publisher: EA Sports
Platform: Playstation 3
Also On: Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, Playstation Portable
Genre: Sports (Boxing)
Rating: T (For Teen)
Number of Players: 1-2
Release Date: December 5, 2006
Fight Night: Round 3 Gallery

The Fight Night series has always been known as an attractive game of each title’s time. Round 3 lived up to the hype visually 10 months ago when it was released on Xbox 360. Luckily for PS3 owners there were some visual upgrades during those 10 months. Fight Night Round 3 looks great, but a game needs to be more than pretty to be the champ, and Round 3 doesn’t disappoint.

Let’s start with the basics of what makes Fight Night the best boxing series around, besides the fact that it’s the only boxing series around. Total Punch Control is back and it is as effective and fun as the first Fight Night. If you’re a Fight Night first timer, Total Punch Control emphasizes using the thumbstick, instead of the buttons, to throw your punches. The right thumbstick, sometimes in combination with buttons, can do almost everything you need to play the entire game completely except for moving your boxer, which is done with the left thumbstick.

But boxing isn’t all about offense; you’ve got to protect yourself too. So where do we look for the defensive skills? The thumbsticks have us covered again. While holding down R1 you can block and parry your opponent’s blows using the right thumbstick. You have the option to block head or body shots by tilting up or down on the right thumbstick. You can also attempt to parry attacks by guessing the spot that the blow will hit. If you guess wrong you’re going to get hit hard, if you guess correctly then you can parry off their attack and leave them vulnerable to a devastating counter. Holding L1 while using the left thumbstick will allow you to attempt to dodge incoming swings by leaning out of danger.

A quick diagonal motion will throw on a jab with the hand of the direction you motioned towards. A quarter circle will throw a hook, a half circle produces an uppercut, and the list goes on. Additionally, the farther you pull back the stick during the motions will produce more power, but will decrease the speed. Holding L1 while performing the same motions will switch from head attacks to body attacks. If this will be your first Fight Night, the Total Punch Control will feel foreign and awkward, but when you become more familiar with the system it becomes really enjoyable and you feel like you have more control over your boxer.