All of the mainline sports game developers and publishers have ignored boxing for at least a decade, with the last fully-fledged, triple-A boxing game being 2011’s Fight Night Champion. As if to add insult to injury, Fight Night’s creators, EA Sports, opted instead to run with UFC games, bringing Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to UFC 4 as Octagon fighters.
However, there’s promising news on the horizon as a new, larger-scale boxing game has now arrived. Perhaps it’s not a sprawling boxing simulation game that includes some of the biggest names in the modern boxing scene, but Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions is an impressive arcade-style boxing simulation game that draws its characters from the memorable Rocky-Creed universe. Big Rumble Boxing joins a scene of smaller, independent boxing games, but looks to be the most prominent release for the sport in the last decade.
Creed Champions enters the ring
Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions features 20 unique characters derived from the Rocky-Creed universe, with the likes of Adonis Creed, Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa, Ivan Drago, and Clubber Lang all familiar faces within the game. So, while the game doesn’t feature any real professional boxers, there are, at least, several notable faces from the boxing movie franchise.
As for the gameplay, Creed Champions has incorporated robust boxing mechanics that go far deeper than its arcade boxing game brethren. So, while it’s relatively straightforward for you to throw your punches and take on foes, mastering the full scope of the controls and maneuvers is a challenge.
As many avid fans of the movies would hope, there are training montage-like mini-games. These features allow you to master the skills of the sport whilst paying homage to the iconic scenes from the movie franchise. As we all know, the 80s-influenced, synth-heavy Survivor soundtrack accompanied many an inspirational training montage, often featuring Balboa training under the tutelage of his first coach, Mickey Goldmill, or the guidance of other characters such as Tony “Duke” Evers.
It’s these thoughtful odes incorporated within the game that suggest developers have striven to honor the film universe and cater to the faithful film fans among the demographic to take up the game.
Other ways to experience boxing in gaming
As far as hands-on boxing gameplay goes, Creed Champions looks to be the biggest step forward of the last ten years, but if it’s a licensed boxing game that fans seek, there’s at least one other modern option. Let’s Get Ready to Rumble is legendary American ring-announcer Michael Buffer’s very own slot game, which features in the library as one of the top picks at Bonusfinder Canada. This online casino directory lists numerous options, outlining competitive attributes such as their offers like free spins, bonuses, and no-deposit schemes for new players.
For more of a simulation experience, two indie games stand out from the admittedly small crowd of boxing games available. Found on the Nintendo Switch and Steam, Boxing Champs lets you create your own pugilist, box to earn exp and level up their parameters and work up the rankings to fight for many belts. The controls are tight, but the gameplay offers an enjoyable learning curve that needs to be mastered to overcome statistical disadvantages as you rise up the rankings.
Alternatively, you could take more of a backseat and become a boxing coach. The indie PC game Victory Road has you direct the careers of your fighters, train them, alter their style, grow their stats, get them different equipment, and teach special techniques. After making the go all-out in the gym, you go to fight night, supporting and making calls from the corner to try to guide them to victory in real-time bouts.
There certainly aren’t many modern boxing games around, and Fight Night Champion – though Xbox’s backward compatibility plan – may still be the best of the bunch. However, Creed Champions is certainly a big step forwards that boxing fans want to see in the gaming space.