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Fight Night Round 3

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9.0 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 18 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: EA Chicago

Genre(s): Boxing, Sports

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: February 20, 2006

Summary

Go toe-to-toe with greats such as Ali, De La Hoya, Joe Frazier, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones. Outside of the ring, gamers can establish intense rivalries through pre-fight events putting purpose and passion behind every hit. Three new Impact Punches a la the EA Sports Haymaker keep gamers at the edge of their seat as players are only one punch away from the entire dynamic of the fight changing. Land a perfectly timed Flash KO or jump into a quick mid-fight mini-game to land a humiliating knockdown punch. Thrown using EA Sports Fight Night's innovative analog punch system, Impact Punches are high risk and high reward - put down your opponent or get knocked on the canvas. Boxing's Greatest Rivalries - Watch ESPN Classic footage of real-life bouts or re-create the greatest fights from past and present including Arturo Gatti vs. Mickey Ward, Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Eric Morales, and Ali vs. Frasier. Establish intense rivalries of your own by intimidating opponents before the big fight with heated press conferences full of hype, trash talkin', and fights at weigh-ins. Relive the best rivalries of your career in ESPN's Instant Classics! Create a style of your own, then see how you match up against the authentic signature styles from the world's best fighters. Licensed boxers use tactics and strategies that match their real life counterparts. Self Determinant AI adapts its style to match user strengths and to exploit weaknesses. [Electronic Arts]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Yahoo! Games

A spectacular boxing game that moves beyond a lot of the systems prior limitations.

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Cheat Code Central

It's going to take some time to learn the ropes but there's a deep game with lots of replay value waiting for you when you become one with the control system.

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Loaded Inc

Don’t let any of that bad-mouthing of the control scheme deter you from buying one of the best PSP sports games available today.

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PSM Magazine

Play Fight Night on the PSP and enjoy it, but know that the heavyweight PS2 version is the true champ. [Apr 2006, p.78]

PSM2 Magazine UK

You'll be amazed by the visuals and satisfied by how well its been converted. [Apr 2006, p.80]

GameZone

Some of the fights, especially early on in your career, are over with in less time than it takes to load the bout. But that aside, this is a title that is fun and addictive.

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PGNx Media

Fight Night round 3 works as well as could be expected on the PSP. EA Chicago tried its best to work around the lack of the second analog stick.

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PSX Extreme

The portable go-anywhere nature of the PSP game makes it easy to tolerate that version's rough spots. If you like boxing, either version should make you very happy.

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Edge Magazine

Plagued by imbalance, the Round 3 career can serve up over 50 bouts before one goes the distance. The new stun punch – a thunderclap of a haymaker – helps to ensure first to third round knockouts for the vast majority of fights. [Apr 2006, p.82]

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

A more exciting, more involving boxing experience than this year's PS2 game. [Apr 2006, p.90]

Game Informer

Unfortunately, this is being docked points for its ridiculous scheme that forces you to play online or give ESPN your e-mail address. [Apr 2006, p.132]

GameBiz

The controls do take a little to get used to but once you have mastered the controls then you are in for a treat.

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Worth Playing

Depth, and oddly enough, simplicity, have been sacrificed for portability, making this a mixed bag when all is said and done.

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Game Chronicles

An adequate port of an outstanding console game.

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Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

Look beyond the somewhat crude control system and there's plenty of life in this deep and handsome boxing game. [May 2006, p.94]

GamePro

Despite the pick-up-and-play allure, Fight Night Round 3 can quickly tire out of frustration. The PSP's limited number and close-proximity of its buttons don't do this boxer justice--fitting jabs, hooks, uppercuts, blocks, clinches, special moves, taunts, etc. for fast access just doesn't work well on the system.

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Operation Sports

The Rival Challenge mode is a blast, and it's perfect for blowing off a little steam and killing time in the process.

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GameSpot

If you can manage to get a handle on the controls, you may find a likeable boxing game in Round 3 for the PSP.

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IGN

But when you make the controls unintuitive and overly complicated, then highlight this with long load times and sketchy multiplayer aspects (two portable no-nos), the game's appeal is drastically reduced.

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Modojo

The hits feel weighty, the career mode is filling, and the other goodies mix up the formula well. I played it so much I actually developed a callus on my left thumb from the analogue nub, which says a lot about how fun and addictive the experience can be. The controls are very close to being a dealbreaker, however.

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Game Revolution

Hamstrung by an awkward control scheme, Fight Night Round 3 for the PSP fights an uphill battle from the start and never manages to snag a belt. But by way of its content and delivery, this contender at least makes it into the middle rounds.

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GameSpy

For those willing to endure the poorly-translated control scheme, the career mode is rather well done, as are the Rival Challenges, which really lend themselves to the short burst gameplay that's crucial to handheld.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Donny H. gave it an8:
Great boxing game. Better than some other reviews have given it credit for.

Mo gave it a9:
Best Game i've played on the psp... i rented it from blockbusters and i had to buy it ASAP! I've had for couple nows and it doesnt get anymore better than this.. amazing graphic, real time movement and absoluate no limitation... 9/10 thats my score.

John H. gave it a10:
This game is one of the best PSP games on the market. Awesome graphics, great interface! From your trainer yelling to your cutman helping you do battle the next round from your own honey of an entoruage who helps recover from knockdowns this game is very detailed. Only drawback is when fight ends in a TKO the game freezes and then a wide shot of the ref stepping in is not very smooth and my hands are sore from playing the game so much.

John J. gave it a10:
Compared to its consle counterparts, the boxing is smooth. This is one of the best games for PSP to date. Create a boxer and get ready for some serious play time.

Jose M. gave it a10:
A must have game, the best grapics I have seen yet on psp system, The action is real, the boxers look Great. If you love boxing you must go out and get this game right now if you dont already have.

John L. gave it a10:
i was sceptical since i also own the console version of this game. I really enjoyed the button layout. Bottom line. i can consentrate on my combos instead of moving an analog corrrectly. The intensity battles if set to (medium and up) is quite challenging. the boxers pop out nicely on the lcd and it's very clear when parrying a blow or just ducking, I like the sense of momentum. onto the interface. the lag is barrable but overall the game play is smooth like butter. (maybe a little too fast. The Ai seems to copy the actual boxer's fighting styles. This game had depth finally a psp game i can pick up and play. the create a boxer mode is straight from the console (sculpting features). overall i really enjoy this fighting sim for what it is. even if you are not a boxing fan. Wi fi 2 bucks is nothing.... This is where it gets personal. a bit of lag (depending on connection) but i hear this will be perfected. it's fun learning other fighters' styles. this is huge! real quick to connect. a true gem for the first time around. because i'm always on the road i've been playing this version over my xbox version.

Robert D. gave it an8:
When I first put the game in, I was shocked by how good it looked. These are some of the best graphics I have seen on the PSP. Ther action is fast, the controls are responsive and the fighting is fierce. Though the PSP has a limited number of "real" boxers, it lacks nothing in the "Create a Boxer" mode. I easily give this game an 8.9 and with a larger stable of boxers, it could have easily scored in the high 9's. Buy this game.

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Fight Night Round 3

Game Info

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What The Critics Said

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