Rocky Legends

Next Level Gaming

It has the great gameplay from the original, a new story more, and still looks great. But yanking out the big online feature that made me jump for joy, I can't give the game the same score.

Warcry

Even without any appreciation of boxing, you can enjoy hours of sweat-laden, bloody-pulped frenzy and get sucked in and be amazed. Truly a wonderful creation, Rocky Legends is at the forefront of its genre.

Game Chronicles

Any fan of the legendary Rocky movies will no doubt get a kick out of hearing the familiar music behind the memorable characters in the series so well represented in this game.

GameZone

The fact that you have to train to increase stats, and the fact that training occurs after every match...it's not good.

PSM Magazine

It's more polished this second time around, but if you already own the first, go a few rental rounds. [Dec 2004, p.90]

IGN

Though it's not going to rewrite the boxing genre the way that "Fight Night 2004" did, it still offers a more accessible gameplay engine that players should find easier to get into and easier to win with.

TotalGames.net

Just when it all sounds so promising it all falls apart as the boxing itself feels rigid and restrictive, while the punching animations don't feel nearly as convincing as the original Rocky game, with certain animations seemingly failing to connect for no reason.

GameSpy

While it may not be the best boxing game on the market, it's definitely a huge improvement over the original. Rocky Legends does an excellent job of making the player feel like a part of the Rocky universe.

Eurogamer

If you're just looking to punch someone in the face, Rocky Legends might just be the therapy you need.

Worth Playing

Aside from mediocre graphics, an inflexible combo system, and the omission of one of the best hair band songs ever written, Rocky: Legends is a satisfying experience.

Electric Playground

And while there's only so much that can be done within the confines of the Rocky films, Rocky Legends does an admirable job of giving something solid to not only fans of the movies, but to general boxing fans as well.

Cheat Code Central

If you like the occasional boxing game but aren't a huge fan of Rocky then you can't go wrong renting it. The lack of an online mode reduces the replay value significantly.

GameSpot

The boxing mechanics, while occasionally enjoyable, become practically automatic after a couple of trips through the career mode. And while the career mode itself is cool, it could have benefited from more in the way of story.

Game Informer

While Legends does offer you the most comprehensive Rocky experience to date, it just plain fails to deliver in the ring. [Dec 2004, p.165]

games(TM)

While the sequel doesn’t exactly surpass the original, it’s at least a fair crack at the boxing genre…Shame it’s still not as good as EA’s "Fight Night." [Nov 2004, p.119]

GMR Magazine

There's plenty to unlock, and training games break up the pace a bit, but the motivation to return to the ring isn't there. [Dec 2004, p.119]

GameSpot AU

A solid but unspectacular boxing game that doesn't try enough that's new or innovative to raise it to championship status.

Gamers' Temple

If you are a fan of the movies, then you’ll probably enjoy the game’s story mode and be a lot more forgiving of the bare-basics boxing.

Edge Magazine

None of this feels like a refinement, … just a slight bulking up. With Legends, you’re buying into an upgraded suite of presentation – of lengthy career modes, of yet more movie-faithful music – than anything else. [Nov 2004, p.105]

G4 TV

Where the first game was shorter than trainer Mickey Goldmill, Rocky Legends towers higher than Ivan Drago in terms of replay value. It’s unfortunate that the gameplay isn’t quite as polished.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

Rocky's programmed punch placement and combination systems can't help but seem slow and artificial. [Dec 2004, p.108]

Yahoo! Games

Also aggravating is the half-assed presentation. Cutscenes are crap, and voiceovers are all delivered by stand-ins instead of authentic actors. Even Paulie sounds like he's being voiced by someone's roommate.

Game Revolution

Astonishingly, this series is showing progress. If you owned the first Rocky, there is not much new here beyond playing as other characters, though newcomers will undoubtedly appreciate the way the game pays homage to the films.

eToychest

Another problem is the game's terrible collision detection and absurd recovery times after throwing a punch or ducking to avoid a blow.