Fight Night 2004 for Xbox - Boxing Video Game | Authentic Sports Simulation for Home Entertainment & Competitive Gaming

I rented this game the other night and I cannot put it down. There are so many features that make this game a great boxing game. It is no longer a "button-masher", as you need precise control with the innovative punch control. You need the finesse to turn the knob to coordinate specific attacks of jabs, uppercuts and hooks. It takes some time to get used to, but once you do, it creates a better playing experience. I would say practice if you can't get it because it helps. You can always coordinate body shots and face shots. Your boxer has full 360 degrees of bobbing and weaving, and 360 degrees of blocking. Not only does it have the all included offense, but the key to victory is coordinating the perfect defense on blocking all types of punches.Included with the exhibition matches, there is the long talked about career mode, which is by far the best of the game. Once you turn off the xbox this feature makes you turn it back on. Just as in Tiger Woods 2004 you can create a boxer to look just like you with tons of features to fully customize him. So you create a boxer and bring him up the ranks. Before each fight you have the oppurtunity of training him in four modes (Heavy Bag, Sparring, Training Mitts, and the Combo Dummy). These missions allow you to get points for increasing your attributes. I am currently 11-1 with a loss by decision and 11 KO's. Each boxer has its own unique boxing style, so you must coordinate your punches differently with each different boxer. Thats what makes the career mode so challenging. The AI is very impressive, and does not do the same things over and over. One minute he is running around the ring, and the next he is comboing you to the mat.The only quam I have with the game is the store. You earn money by winning fights in career mode. The gloves, shorts, and shoes are all for show, they do not help to increase your attributes, they are purly for show. Also career mode allows for many things to be unlocked such as music, rings, outfits, and different suits for the girls.In the ring movement can be inverted to your liking from either the camera, or the ring. Its incredible how you can pin your opponent up against the ropes and pummel him, and when you knock him out, he still bounces back on you while you still punch him. Between rounds your trainer gives you advice on how to beat him, and you can listen to your opponents trainer and try to counter his advice.The rings are very well done with plenty of sounds and eye-candy. The menu-interface is very well done and easy to navigate. You sustain damage, and with each punch, you can see sweat and blood fly off which is pretty cool.Overall this is a great game for the boxer and the non-boxer fan. It keeps you coming back for more, just to pummel, bob, weave and uppercut each opponent.