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Rocky Balboa

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8.7 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 4 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Ubisoft / MGM

Developer: Ubisoft

Genre(s): Sports, Boxing, Fighting

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: March 13, 2007

Summary

Rocky Balboa is the latest story in the saga of one of Hollywood's most beloved characters, Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa. Retired, and with his beloved Adrian passed away and his grown son too busy to spend time with him, Philadelphia's favorite boxer is a lonely man. When an ESPN sports show runs a simulated fight between Balboa and the current champ, Mason "The Line" Dixon, Balboa wins, prompting a resurgence of interest in his illustrious career. Presented with the opportunity to wage one last exhibition fight, Rocky accepts the challenge, despite the protests of his friends and family. Facing a powerful young champion, personal tragedy and, ultimately, his own doubts, Rocky steps into the ring one last time to prove that he still has the heart of a champion. [Ubisoft/MGM]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

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...

WHAM! Gaming

Rocky Balboa smacks hard with the love its authors must have for the series of movies it takes its inspiration from. One wonders why on earth it’s a PSP exclusive when it could’ve been done so much better on a platform that allows for more scope than a portable but given the circumstances they’ve done a fine job.

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Play UK

Due to a hit-and-miss control system and lack of personality, Rocky Balboa is more fumbling foal than Italian Stallion. [Issue #150, p.87]

PSM3 Magazine UK

Not as good as "Fight Night" PSP, nor even the old PS2 "Rocky" games. So no title contender, but not bad either. [Mar 2007, p.68]

Games Master UK

Not a disaster but fails to deliver the same action and satisfaction as earlier Rockys. [Mar 2007, p.79]

GameSpot

Rocky Balboa has plenty of heart, but it's counted out by a poor fighting system and frustrating controls.

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VideoGamer

Rocky Balboa offers PSP owners a solid boxing experience, but without a career mode to work through it doesn't quite feel like a complete game.

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Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

A tidy boxing game in itself, but one that lacks the punch of previous Rocky games or any real element of sophistication. [Feb 2007, p.74]

Playstation Official Magazine UK

The one thing that's original about Rocky is the way you recover from a KO: steadying your boxer on his feed by wobbling the analogue nub left and right. Apart from that Rocky feels like a step back to thte clumsy old days of button hammering and counter-intuitive combos. [Mar 2007, p.110]

Eurogamer

A slick and stylish boxing game that plays like a champ when you're winning, but is worryingly featherweight when it comes to defensive options.

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PALGN

Rocky Balboa is a good boxing game and a fitting commemoration for the franchise, but there just isn't quite enough here.

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Pure Magazine UK

A decent collection of boxing matches, but too disjointed to be world champion. [Mar 2007, p.77]

GamingExcellence

The problem with Rocky Balboa is that it just doesn't have enough depth to satisfy any real boxing urges.

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Cheat Code Central

It's a form-less game that lacks direction. If you can tackle the control system and come to terms with it, you'll be somewhat rewarded, but the average gamer is unlikely to invest so much time for so little compensation.

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Edge Magazine

With little to differentiate fighters beyond base levels of aggression, symmetrical faces and notions of characters they’re meant to represent, it doesn’t take too long for Balboa to flag, or indeed trudge to an unceremonious end. [Mar 2007, p.87]

games(TM)

Rocky Balboa is the second best boxing game on PSP, but then there are only two of them. [Mar 2007, p.102]

IGN

It isn't very interesting and it has a severe lack of fun. Had the control scheme been simplified and the movements been made looser, Rocky could have had a better chance.

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Pocket Gamer UK

Looks good, but over-complicated controls and needlessly lengthy bouts mar Rocky Balboa, making it a real test of stamina and patience.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes

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

Matt P. gave it an8:
Solid title this. I don't see why the lack of a career mode can be such a heavy negative. I look to my PSP (and other portable devices) for a short fix, not a long session. And this game provides that in spades. I also found that this game required your actions and combos to be thought out as opposed to simply mad button mashing. Mashing seemed to yeild no result. I also fail to see how the controls were complicated... face buttons for left and rights, analog nub for movment; hell leaving the nub in a central position initiates the auto block. Presentation is top notch with great, recognizable character models, authentic sound track, play-by-play, and footage from each film. The only true negative I could level at this game would be due to the load times that are somewhat a trademark to the PSP. Especially noticeable in Historic Fight mode (progressively go through all the fights from Spider Rico in R1 to Mason Dixon in R6), where pre-fight footage from the movies is loaded. IMO this is a great solid title for the PSP. Hopefully some US reviewers will agree when it is released there come March.

Nelson S. gave it a10:
A great game rocky fans wont be dissapointed it gives good coordination a realistec traing. you almost feel that your rocky balboa "great".

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Rocky Balboa

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