I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killin' y'allz: The return of Mike Tyson to video game boxing

Written by Jim Squires

Thursday, 08 May 2008 09:35

I'm going to get this one out of the way right now: Mike Tyson's Punch-Out is my favorite video game of all time. Like -- ever ever. On top of that, Fight Night Round 3 was one of the most sublime one-on-one fighting experiences I've ever played. EA, in all their infinite wisdom and glory, has decided to add peanut butter to chocolate. Mike Tyson will be in Fight Night Round 4. I think I just stained my pants a little.

Hopefully this'll make up for the abysmal Mike Tyson's Heavyweight Boxing. I'm praying that we get the face tattoo Tyson -- that dude's scary. Now if only we could get him into Don King Presents.

Expect some gameplay tweaks (good lord why? FNR3 was brilliant) and a 2009 release date. Hit the jump for the full presser;

The Champ Is Back! EA Announces EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4
Mike Tyson Featured in First Boxing Videogame in Nearly a Decade
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq:ERTS) announced today that EA SPORTS™Fight Night Round 4 is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver under the EA SPORTS brand. EA SPORTS Fight Night is back with the most realistic "in the ring" experience to date, featuring some of the greatest boxers in history fighting in their prime.
"The EA SPORTS Fight Night franchise has always been synonymous with quality and innovation that raised the bar for the sports videogame genre", said Kevin Wilkinson, Executive Producer, EA SPORTS. "EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 3 was a platform defining game as the industry transitioned to next generation consoles. EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will change how boxing games are played and measured in the future."
Featuring a re-written gameplay engine, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will add a variety of fighting styles and boxer differentiation to authentically emulate the greatest fighters of all time. Pressure your opponent with the brawling inside style of young Mike Tyson, bobbing and weaving to set up powerful hooks and uppercuts. Capitalize on Muhammad Ali's reach, hand speed and fleetness of foot to bewilder your opponent with lightning fast jabs and straights from the outside. For the first time in history, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 gives you the opportunity to pit these legendary heavyweights against one another and name a true champ.
No fight will be the same with an all-new physics-based animation system that recreates the full spectrum of true-to-life punch impacts, giving boxers a devastating arsenal of punches, blocks and ring movement. The new physics system allows for missed punches, glancing punches, knockout blows and for the first time ever, rough and tumble inside fighting. Fatigue, adrenaline, footwork and timing all come into play as you hammer away at your opponents.
EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will be available for the Xbox 360™ system and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and ships to retailers in 2009. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.
EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.