by Wyatt "JOEDOG" Elloitt
Last year EA Sports debuted their new boxing title Knockout Kings for Playstation. It was less then legendary. In fact, it was down right terrible. With no competition it couldn't help but succeed. Now EA is back with an all new completely revamped Knockout Kings 2000 for Playstation and Nintendo 64.
What a complete 360 degree turn around. Knockout Kings 2000 is fantastic. Sharp graphics and superb game play. two things the original did not have. These fighters look so much like their real life counter parts its unreal.
Much like the original, KK2000 features real life legends of the ring and current boxers in Heavy, middle and feather weights.
The graphics on the Playstation version are surprisingly better then the N64. Sharper and more detail. Playstation features better music as well, including a Knockout Kings 2000 opening theme.
The graphics are impressive even the audiences look real. Full figures in the crowds. No short cuts here. Each person looks different and is a complete individual. The sound effects are great. each blow is can be heard.
The announcer is right in there calling as it happens. Throw in Mills Lane as the ref and you've got your self a fight.
The best part about Knockout Kings 2000 is you can put together a fantasy fight, featuring Muhammad Ali versus Oscar De La Hoya. KoK2000 is suppose to feature the 50 greatest fighters of all time, but there are some notable absences. Mike Tyson and George Foreman. Its probably due to licensing of the name or something, but it would have been nice.
Knockout Kings 2000 features the best control found in any boxing game. KoK2000 even puts the ol' one two over on the over hyped comic Ready 2 Rumble Boxing. KoK2000 allows you to create your own boxer, then through career mode he can work his way up to the top. Play arcade mode just for fun, Greatest fights to relive some of the greatest matches of all time. Except that whole Tyson/Hollyfield biting of the ear thing.
EA Sports has created a legendary game to do justice to the Muhammad Ali name and legacy. Knockout Kings 2000, don't settle for anything less.
PUBLISHER:
EA SPORTS
PSX / N64
GRAPHICS: 10 / 9 SOUND & MUSIC: 9.5 / 8 CONTROL: 9 / 9
SECRETS: 9 / 7 ORIGINALITY: 8 / 8 FUN & REPLAY: 10 / 10
OVERALL: 9.5 / 9