DESCRIPTION

Midway is known for throwing out the rules when it comes to sports games. Instead, they go for the full Arcade experience. They successfully accomplished this with their NBA Jam basketball series and their NFL Blitz football games. The rules are thrown out the window yet again with Ready 2 Rumble Boxing. With Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Midway has taken a comical approach to the sport of boxing by creating a cast of off-the-wall characters who can perform typical boxing moves and specialty moves not found in a real boxing match.

Along with specialty moves a boxer can perform something called a "Rumble Flurry." As each boxer pounds on their opponent they will be awarded letters each time they inflict a particular amount of damage. When the word "Rumble" is spelled out the player must hit both trigger buttons at the same time to cause their boxer's gloves to begin to flash. Then they hit both the "A" and "B" buttons at the same time to unleash the "Rumble Flurry."

Ready 2 Rumble Boxing features a large number of playable characters, some of which include: the retired cab driver Afro Thunder, sumo wrestling grand champion Salua, and Eastern Europe's living legend Boris "The Bear" Knokimov. While each of the characters was created from scratch, their footwork is supplied by a real-world kick boxer via motion capture animation. In the ring Ready 2 Rumble's characters experience the same punishments a real boxer would encounter, from open wounds that bleed and jaws that can become dislocated to skin that bruises and teeth that can be knocked out.

There are two primary modes of play to fight in, Arcade and Championship. Arcade can be played as a single player match against the computer or a head-to-head match between two players. Also in this mode players can fight their way up the ranks to become the champion on one of three difficulty settings.

While the championship mode allows players attempt to take their fighter to the top of the rankings as well, it takes a more realistic approach. Before selecting their boxer players must first create a gym. This is where the boxer will train and increase their abilities. Training takes place through mini-games that typically require players to use timing and rhythm to be successful. Boxers have seven different types of training: Rumble Aerobics, Sway bag, Speed Bag, Heavy Bag, Weight Lifting, Vitamin Program, and Rumble Mass Nutrition Regime.

However, in order to train, equipment needs to be purchased. Buying equipment costs money of course, something that can only be earned during prize fights. To earn money from a prize fight a player needs to bet on themself and then be victorious. The money won can be used to purchase equipment as well as to enter title fights. Title fights each have an entry fee and this is the only place where boxers can improve their overall rank.

As you may have guessed by the title, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing also includes Michael Buffer and his trademark phrase "Let's Get Ready to Rumble." ~ Jonathan Sutyak, All Game Guide