Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions

As arcade boxers go, this is a fun game -- especially for fans of the Rocky and Creed movies they're based on. While not a complete KO, Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions is an accessible and relatively affordable multi-platform game that delivers a solid punch. It straddles the line between being a pick-up-and-play arcade game while still offering plenty of depth. Combos can be chained together with some practice, and the button layout is intuitive and easy to remember while in the midst of a heated skirmish. Adding to the arcade feel of the game is the Super Move, which is unique for each character. When timed just right, you can perform a powerful attack to lay your opponent flat. The storylines are a good way to keep players engaged, but the developers could have done more to flesh out the narrative. Many of the characters only have text-based dialog, and the soundalikes aren't that great (probably because Survios couldn't score the rights to use the original actor's voices or hire them to read new lines). As a result, the story-based experience varies greatly depending on whom you're playing as.

The graphics are decent. though, with characters that look somewhat like their real counterparts on the silver screen (and will get sweaty and bruised over time), but with a more exaggerated physique, including huge muscles. The animation is also smooth, between the fighting moves and when they wobble and pass out on the mat. The sound effects are good, and some music will be familiar to fans of the movies, such as the iconic “Gonna Fly Now,” but it's missing other anthems, including Survivor's “Eye of the Tiger.” There could also be more modes to indulge in (like online multiplayer) but there's enough meat here between the Arcade (single-player gaming), Training mini-games, and local head-to-head battles om the same TV or computer. Overall, Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions is a really fun arcade-style boxing game worth stepping into the ring with.