Okay, in training sessions, I put all my points into three stats: Strength (obvious), Punch Speed, and Stamina (determines how much damage you take). Once those were maxed out, I put some points into movement as well. I completely avoided training in determination, which determines how easy it is to get up if knocked down. I decided it would be better to spend those points elsewhere and avoid being knocked down.

So these stat choices, combined with my experience with the game, made the Champ setting even easier than when I played on normal mode. Some of the fights lasted a few more rounds (I think seven rounds was the longest) but I was rarely in any danger of losing.

I didn't even need to use any complicated combos. The basic moves you're tought during the training sessions, uses appropriately, are enough to win any fight. As long as you move around appropriately to avoid being hit.

In a way, I appreciate that I was able to beat the toughest setting without going crazy... I'm not that good at fighting games in general, and I figured I'd never get through it. But it really needed to be tougher than this.

With practice, just about any gamer could complete this game without any difficulty. And there's just not enough to unlock to give it a lot of replay value.

It's fun to set up exhibition matches that are interesting, like an Apollo Creed vs. Ivan Drago rematch. Or Clubber Lang vs. Tommy Gun. But the novelty of that wears off pretty quickly.

This is a good game to rent to pass some time. And it may be worth a purchase for some Rocky fans, and possibly (I'm not sure) if you have a lot of people to play the tournament mode. But it's not really worth it for anyone else, IMO. Just not enough to do.




"I will do this. Nothing in my life matters except this. No moment in my life exists except this moment. I am born in this moment, and if I fail, I will die in this moment. - Raistlin