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How Metascores Are Calculated
68
1942: Joint Strike
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
This in-depth, documentary-style title promises to provide the deepest, most authentic and entertaining experience ever seen in a boxing video game. Prizefighter brings the realism of live action match-ups and the true tactics of the sweet science together for the first time. More than just a night at the fights - players are responsible for building a career by overcoming adversity, avoiding temptation, and balancing their commitments to train and promote, all while focusing on the goal of ultimately winning and defending the title belt. The story is told by a revolutionary sports documentary-style narrative never before seen in a video game. [2K Games]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 81
Games Master UK
Doesn't quite do enough to steal "Round 3's" crown, but takes it right down to the wire. [Aug 2008, p.78]
80
MS Xbox World
I've enjoyed Prize Fighter, because for the most part I found the story mode presentation to be a welcome addition to the game.
 79
Console Gameworld
Don King Presents Prizefighter is a competent boxing game that is fun to play and which offers an entertaining career mode. That's all it is, however, and isn't really going to blow anyone away.
75
Game Informer
Prizefighter definitely has its frustrating moments, but there was enough fight in it – in and out of the ring – to keep me from needing the smelling salts.
75
Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
Eschews the pugilism of "Fight Night" for top arcadey street fighting. [Sept 2008, p.84]
70
X360 Magazine UK
Definitely worth your time if your'e a boxing fan, but not quite the game to wrestle away "Fight Night's" crown. [Issue#35, p.96]
70
Official Xbox Magazine
Prizefighter is definitely a contender in the guilty-pleasure category: its story mode trumps the competition’s, and though its fighting mechanics won’t dethrone the current champ, they still pack a simple, straightforward wallop.
70
Official Xbox Magazine UK
It represents the sport in a grittier light than the super-polished Fight Night series.
67
Game Chronicles
In my opinion, the only reason to buy this game is if you have played all the way through Fight Night and you’re just itching for a new boxing title.
65
Gamer's Hell
It's not a mind-blowing first go, but a new boxing franchise could find its way for fans; Venom will just have to refine the basics to make it a true challenger.
62
GameFocus
Clunky and unresponsive controls.
60
WonderwallWeb
Certainly, Prizefighter has some great points, but unless you are a major boxing fan, it’s probably best to stick with - and still Heavyweight Champion of the World - Fight Night.
60
AceGamez
As the fight draws to a close, Prizefighter's poor early rounds have taken the wind out of its sails and the end result is inevitable.
60
GameZone
Prizefighter’s production values are pretty high, but unfortunately the gameplay took a back seat and fails to capture the essence of boxing.
60
EuroGamer
To some extent it suffers from selective authenticity. Ten two-minute rounds against a tough opponent can be tight, tense and technical, but the skills you're applying are arbitrary.
60
VideoGamer
A solid game, but its career mode is flawed and the gameplay is a strange mix of complex controls and arcade-like knockdowns.
60
GameDaily
Don King's Prizefighter goes the same route as some of the promoter's bigger fights – it's too over-hyped for its own good.
60
Games Radar
The fact that Prizfighter doesn't break any new ground is forgivable, but botching the essential issue of hit detection is obviously a huge problem. Pugilistic devotees seeking the next fix will undoubtedly fight through the flaws, but frustration will likely be the knockout punch for the average gamer.
60
Gamervision
A flawed boxing game with excellent presentation and some features that should make the next Fight Night team stand up and take notice. I stop short of calling it a solid effort because of the actual boxing gameplay, but 2K definitely has something to build on in the future.
59
Team Xbox
Prizefighter’s biggest mistake was trying to be a serious boxing sim. It’s not. It couldn’t be anything further from it unless its name was Facebreaker (zing!). Maybe if the game makers tried to make it a more splendiferous experience, then we’d think it lived up to Don King’s moniker. Instead, it’s a bad boxing game with some really nice extras added on.
59
AtomicGamer
I can see where 2K Sports was trying to go with Prizefighter, but in the end it just falls flat.
58
GamingTrend
Unfortunately, if you are looking for a realistic boxing game, you aren’t going to find it here.
58
GameShark
The game is chock full of high production values, great graphics, and immersive audio. But a boxing game needs first rate controls to be successful, and it’s here where the game gets knocked out like Mike Tyson in Tokyo.
57
GameTrailers
Not even Don King's legendary hair and hype combo can cover-up Prizefighter's mediocrity. It's a case of all glitter and no glam thanks to awkward gameplay and controls.
56
Extreme Gamer
If you have been waiting for the next level in boxing, Prizefighter isn’t going to meet your expectations.
55
Console Monster
It’s quite an enjoyable career for The Kid, but once that’s done, that’s practically the end of the game. Sure, you have the Exhibition mode, Training and Online, but there’s nothing more to it.
55
ZTGameDomain
In the end, the positives surrounding the career mode of Prizefighter just aren't enough to make up for the numerous negatives in control, collision detection, and overall gameplay.
55
GameSpot
Complicated and unresponsive controls combined with uninteresting gameplay and a disjointed story keeps Prizefighter down for the count.
55
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
It doesn’t even measures to something called “Fight Night Round 3”. It only makes us crave more action on the EA virtual square ring. The character editor is quite complete but, besides that, Prizefighter is quite disappointing. [Aug 2008]
51
Planet Xbox 360
It may be worth a one night rental, but if you buy it (as I did) you will be left needing a cutman after you bang your head up against the wall so many times.
50
Cheat Code Central
Prizefighter lacks the necessary skill set to become the next great champ or even contender for that matter. If I had to compare it to a fighter it would be the 'Hurricane' Peter McNeely of video game boxing. It does everything right to sell the fight, it just can't execute anything resembling skillful boxing once it steps into the ring.
50
Worth Playing
The so-so story mode is the game's highlight, and even that does little to shine up the lackluster boxing, poor graphics, and lack of any real replay value.
50
Kombo
The execution of the core gameplay is stopped before it can lift off with controls that are needlessly ill suited for the type of game this is.
50
GameSpy
Ultimately, though, its charms are outweighed by gameplay that lacks the tactics of the sweet science in real life. With better examples of video boxing on the market, Don King Presents: Prizefighter is a very tough sell.
50
IGN
The poorly constructed gameplay handcuffs the game from the word “go” and it never recovers. It’s neither strategic or arcadey in nature and the animations are just plain ugly to watch.
45
GamingExcellence
Unless you're a serious fan of boxing games seeking a fix while you wait for the next Fight Night game you may want to pass on this one.
42
Gaming Age
But it could have been more interesting, had some more personality and been a little less of a headache to play.
40
G4 TV
The games not terrible, but it's not great. The most important element in a boxing sim, the tactics, combos, and impact, are watered down to a button mashing spit bucket.
40
Edge Magazine
Nevermind the sluggish movement, repetitive phrases from trainers, or ability to trap AI in combination patterns: at the most basic level, Prizefighter has suspicious collision detection and a great many gloves that clip through arms and heads. [Aug 2008, p.101]
35
BigPond GameArena
The unfinished, unpolished story mode, the average graphics and worst of all the frustrating, annoying gameplay make me think the Quality Assurance team on the game must be either punch drunk or non-existent.
33
Game Revolution
All the money spent on royalties to have Don’s name attached to it could have been put to better use.
33
1UP
It's a shame that the actual boxing is so bad; with a little more time in development, Prizefighter could've been far more enjoyable. As it is, you'll need to take quite a few blows to the head to have much fun with this one.
25
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Prizefighter turns out to be a big step in the wrong direction. Going back to button-presses to throw leather is like going back to coach after flying first class.
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