In 2002 Ubisoft created the first title, based on the films, known as simply Rocky. Throughout the wide world, there are countless fans of the boxing hero and the great feats he overcame to become world boxing champion. Even people who might not have seen all of the five films might have seen at least one and if not that, then everyone has heard of them at least. It is always the problem with such a vast audience to please---everyone takes the films in their own way and enjoys each and everyone for their own reasons---meaning that a game created on them must suit all of those tastes. For myself and also many others, the first Rocky game released by Ubisoft did not cut it and there were many things that they could have improved and included.
Now, blow after blow, through trial and error and staying the fight, Ubisoft have created a Rocky title worth a lot more recognition and praise. Within the new title they have added more features, fighters and given it an all round polish to stand up with more of a chance against other titles on the market, such as Fight Night 2004. Just as Rocky continued to drag himself up onto his feet to finish off each of his unbeatable opponents, Ubisoft are not going to give up the fight!
For the previous title, there were many who thought that the game lacked length playability and that a more advanced Career mode, as well as the classic Exhibition mode, would add more to enhance the experience to play and live the life of the legendary Italian Stallion. Now, with this new title, there are six modes of play; An in-depth Career mode, Exhibition Match, Knockout Tournament, Survival Mode, Training and Practice.
The Career mode of this new title is the clincher; it is the main factor and drive of the title. Everyone who has watched the films has seen Rocky and his rise from the streets to become the boxing world champion. However, never before has anyone been able to play through his rise from the streets to a status of glory and victory. The pure quality of this game does not stop there! Not for one second. Not only can you play through Rocky’s entire career but also the three other well-known boxers from the films; Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago.
Rocky Balboa’s storyline follows him from his early years as a young street fighter through to his joining Mickey’s Gym and working his way to the top of his profession via a lucky match with the heavyweight champion of the world---Apollo Creed. Once at the top, you have to continue on with his dominance of the heavyweight division.
Apollo Creed is first seen as an amateur champion fighting against Tony, whom he then invites to become his trainer as he truns pro. After a series of fights staged at American landmarks such as Time Square and Las Vegas, his story finishes at the climax of the first Rocky movie with his defeat of Rocky.
Clubber Lang comes from the wrong side of the tracks. His story starts at a low point in his life with him incarcerated in prison. His success in the ring provides him with a way out and into the big time. He stages a fight at the art museum steps to provoke Rocky into a match, and his story climaxes with the showdown against Rocky in New York from Rocky III.
Ivan Drago’ storyline follows him from a raw recruit at a special military training camp to the high-tech facility that becomes his home as they build him into the ultimate fighting machine. His fight locations uses the old-style soviet iconography and often have a military feel with fights set on the deck of a warship at sea, in a tank factory, etc. His second-to-last fight against Apollo in Vegas results in Apollo’s death, leading to the final grudge match against Rocky in Moscow from Rocky IV.
There are forty or more characters to be fought and twenty-six of those were created specifically for the game.
The Exhibition Match mode is fairly simple. All of the characters that you have unlocked in the main Career mode, you can play them off against one another in an arcade like format---just a simple mode to beat the brains out of the boxer of your liking.
The Knockout Tournament does exactly what it says on the tin. It generates a random series of fights in a knockout tournament for you to win to take the World Championship heavyweight belt. There are three levels to complete. Once again, you can use any of the characters unlocked in the main Career mode.
Survival Mode too is quite straightforward. Once this mode is bought from the shop, you can battle it out against as many boxers as you can handle within an unlimited time until they knock you down for the count.
Training is also a main core for this game. With each of the four main characters having their own personal trainer---especially such coaches like Mickey and even Rocky’s best pal Paulie. It was a very popular feature of the first game and now they have expanded it a great deal more, with more tasks to perform and with the use of points earned from them, you can then build up the strengths of your boxer. Unique features such as a personal gym to each of the four boxers, a personal coach, team and also a training exercise that is exclusive to them---Ubisoft has done a great job. Core games like sit-ups, punch mitts, skipping, heavy bag and speed bag, with the addition of chin-ups for Clubber Land, who trains alone in a very dark, run-down gym; a squat pushing machine for Drago, who trains at a high-tech soviet facility; and a special version of sparring for Apollo, who trains at his palatial gym with Tony. As Rocky, you can unlock the ability to “chase the chicken.”
Within practice mode, you can fight with any boxer of your choosing, against any boxer that you have unlocked and is available, to fight with no time limits and no winners or losers. Within here, you can figure out all of the moves that will be able to spray your opponent’s blood onto the canvas.
Unlike new boxing titles such as Fight Night 2004, Rocky Legends has stayed with the classic control system by using the buttons to perform the punches and different moves available to you. Using the main buttons, also the L and R trigger and occasionally the analogue, you can throw jabs, hooks, uppercuts and also a special combo that is unique to the boxer. It is all very straight forward and if you struggle with it at first then get yourself into the practice ring and have a test at it until you have got it down to perfection---or at least close to it.
As always, Ubisoft present their games with a high quality of graphics. Not only that but they have paid a lot more attention to the way that boxers actually get hurt. In other games, like Fight Night 2004 and also other boxing titles previous, including Ubisoft’s own ‘Rocky’, the fighters have set wounds, where they all look pretty much the same and it hardly varies. Around the eyes, bruises begin to swell until their brows are cut and then blood dribbles down the side of their face. Lips get split, bruised and bleed. This has more of an effect when a good shot is taken in the head and spit and blood spray out.
Not only is there such realistic wounds but the boxers themselves are all well made, each of them all having unique looks and characteristics pertaining to their origin and physic. More importantly, each of the four main boxers, Apollo, Clubber, Ivan and Rocky, all very much look like the real live actors and on rare moments you see scenes from the films flash before your eyes when your mind thinks you are actually watching one of the films.
All of the locations are also brilliantly done, fitting with each of the four characters as you progress in their Careers and visit all of the landmark locations from the films. Such places like the streets where Rocky walked are featured, Las Vegas where the great match between Rocky and Apollo fought, the dark training gym where Clubber continued on with his gruelling training and the military like arenas where the monster Ivan was turned into an invincible killer.
Something that always excites a fan of films where they are then turned into games, is to hear all of the loves tunes begin to play when you turn on the game. Rocky starts off with one of its most famous songs and throughout the entire game you will always start to sing to the many tracks from the all-time famous films.
Sadly, none of the real actors from the films have given their voices for the game. However, the actors who have are very good and sound very much like those from the films, you might not be able to tell the difference.
Included are also all of the usual sounds you would expect from a boxing game; grunts, groans, the whir of the skipping rope, the dull thud of hitting the punch bag, etc.
You do not have to listen to me go on and on about how amazing Rocky truly is. The films are exactly as the title of this game suggests---LEGENDARY! But better yet, Ubisoft have finally, after a previous attempt, been able to capture the magic of those films and place them within an enthralling game. You can play as all four famous fighters, through all of their careers, training them up! You can relive all of the magic from those momentous fights! There s just everything contained within this game. It is very enjoyable and you must buy it! YOU MUST! Any Rocky fans out there, stay true to the Stallion and buy this game and if you are new to Rocky (which I find completely impossible!) then you buy it too! Got that?
Tobias Rowe
