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Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution

(2009, Video Games - Sports, Rated T, Play it on: Nintendo Wii)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Horrible controls + stereotyping = one big sucker punch.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–18

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The game has 18 cartoon boxers which are suppose to be extreme caricatures of famous people. Some seem more like stereotypes that appear to promote bigotry and racism, particularly the ones that show an African American character's mother having 18 children and another character who looks like a pimp out of grade D movie.
  • Violence:

    The violence is of a cartoon nature and there is no blood. Powerful punches do lift boxers high into the air, however.
  • Sex:

    Stereotypes for women include ring girls with too-tight outfits and giant, jiggly breasts.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    You'll see some of the boxers smoking cigars.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution was written by Harold Goldberg

Parents need to know that this boxing game is an update of an old Midway game. While the game is supposed to be a satire with funny extreme caricatures of famous people from the music, acting, and sports industries, some of the portrayals could be interpreted as offensive stereotypes instead. It has poor controls, so players may become frustrated and discouraged.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about satire in video games. Do you think there is a fine line between funny satire and offensive sterotyping? Are there any characters you like in game? Which ones promote negative stereotypes? How so?
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More on Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution

What’s the Story?

READY 2 RUMBLE: REVOLUTION is Atari's attempt to revive a Midway boxing series, one which didn't understand the difference between hurtful racial stereotypes and honest satire. In career mode, you choose one of about a dozen fighters, some of whom look like Brad Pitt or Jack Black, to rise among the ranks to become the top boxer.

Using the Wii Remote and the nunchuk, you are supposed to be able to pull off a variety of moves from jabs to uppercuts to roundhouse punches for offense. For defense, you are able to block, bob and weave. In addition, there are some mini games which require precise target punching to complete.

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Is It Any Good?

There is really very little to commend the game, unless you simply want to brawl. If you have a love for old arcade games like Punch Out, which approximates the sweet science of boxing and adds humor to the escapade, you'll be disappointed. If you love more simulation-like representations of fisticuffs like the recent Fight Night series, you'll go from disappointment to despair because the controls are rarely accurate. You end up flailing around a lot. Heck, the simple Wii Sports Boxing is more exact than this.

If you're at all sensitive about bigotry in games, Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution will raise some red flags. One African American character's mother had 18 children. Another character looks like a pimp out of grade D movie. This isn't funny: it's degrading. Plus, the so-called parodies of Jack Black as a kind of spoiled child and Brad Pitt circa Fight Club will cause some to raise eyebrows. Unfortunately, this boxing game is a debacle rife with bad taste at the least and racism at the worst.

 

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Publisher’s Details

Released on 3/17/2009, price $39.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: T (for Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Tobacco Reference)

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