Fight Night 2004
{{short description|2004 boxing video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Fight Night 2004
| image = Fight Night 2004.jpg
| caption = Cover art, featuring Roy Jones Jr.
| developer = EA Canada and NuFX
| publisher = EA Sports
| producer = Rory Armes
| artist = Ali Kojori (Technical Art Director)
| designer =
| engine =
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|April 5, 2004|EU|April 30, 2004}}
| genre = Sports
| modes = Single player, multiplayer
| platforms = PlayStation 2
Xbox
}}
Fight Night 2004 is a 2004 boxing video game developed by NuFX, Inc. It features Roy Jones Jr. on the cover.{{cite web |last=Adams |first=David |date=December 11, 2003 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/12/ea-sports-announces-fight-night-2004 |title=EA Sports Announces Fight Night 2004 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028202503/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/12/ea-sports-announces-fight-night-2004 |archivedate=October 28, 2022 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}} It is the successor to EA's previous boxing series, Knockout Kings. Four sequels followed, Fight Night Round 2 in 2005, Fight Night Round 3 in 2006, Fight Night Round 4 in 2009 and Fight Night Champion in 2011. Its chief features are a career mode, in-depth and reasonably realistic fighting and an analog stick-based control scheme dubbed Total Punch Control, which was re-used, with enhancements, in the sequels.
Total Punch Control
With Total Punch Control, most maneuvers, including punching, leaning and blocking, are performed with the left or right analog sticks, modified by the left or right triggers. For example, with the default controller configuration, moving the right analog stick up and to the left will cause the fighter to throw a straight punch with his left hand, while holding down the right trigger while performing the same movement and then holding R1 will cause the fighter to raise his guard to the left side of his head, ready to attempt a parry.
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Reception
{{Video game reviews
| PS2 = true
| XBOX = true
| na = true
| MC_PS2 = 85/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/fight-night-2004/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Fight Night 2004 critic reviews (PS2) |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419095155/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/fight-night-2004 |archivedate=April 19, 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}
| CGM_PS2 = B+{{cite magazine |title=Review: Fight Night 2004 |magazine=Computer Games Magazine |publisher=theGlobe.com |issue=165 |date=August 2004 |page=6}}
| Edge_PS2 = 7/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Fight Night 2004 (PS2) |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=136 |date=May 2004 |page=107}}
| EGM_PS2 = 8.5/10{{cite magazine |last1=Intihar |first1=Bryan |last2=Gifford |first2=Kevin |last3=Ford |first3=Greg |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/0/05/EGM_US_178.pdf |title=Fight Night 2004 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=178 |date=May 2004 |page=87 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040604053354/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,2053,1561817,00.asp |archivedate=June 4, 2004 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}{{efn|Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 8.5/10, 9/10, and 8/10.}}
| EuroG_PS2 = 6/10{{cite web |last=Reed |first=Kristan |date=May 5, 2004 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/r-fightnight-ps2 |title=Fight Night 2004 (PS2) |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107070319/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_fightnight_ps2 |archivedate=November 7, 2014 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}
| GI_PS2 = 9/10{{cite magazine |last=Helgeson |first=Matt |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/7934A00C-FB0C-4E65-8BB0-2A5340466940.htm |title=Fight Night 2004 |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |issue=132 |date=April 2004 |page=88 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202160402/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/7934A00C-FB0C-4E65-8BB0-2A5340466940.htm |archive-date=February 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 7, 2014}}
| GameRev_PS2 = B{{cite web |last=Silverman |first=Ben |date=April 29, 2004 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34405-fight-night-2004-review-2 |title=Fight Night 2004 Review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911163425/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/fight-night-2004 |archivedate=September 11, 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}
| GSpot_PS2 = 8.8/10{{cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Ryan |date=April 5, 2004 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fight-night-2004-review/1900-6092967/ |title=Fight Night 2004 Review (PS2) |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050126042757/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/sports/fightnight2004/review.html |archivedate=January 26, 2005 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}
| GSpy_PS2 = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Padilla |first=Raymond |date=April 4, 2004 |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/ea-sports-fight-night-2004/503951p1.html |title=GameSpy: Fight Night 2004 (PS2) |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610182809/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/ea-sports-fight-night-2004/503951p1.html |archivedate=June 10, 2007 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}
| OPM_PS2 = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Varanini |first=Giancarlo |url=http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1561922,00.asp |title=Fight Night 2004 |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=80 |date=May 2004 |page=97 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040426174828/http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1561922,00.asp |archivedate=April 26, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 7, 2014}}
| OXM_XBOX = 8.9/10{{cite magazine |title=Fight Night 2004 |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |publisher=Future US |date=April 2004 |page=71}}
| XPlay_PS2 = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |date=May 10, 2004 |url=http://www.g4techtv.com/xplay/features/194/Fight_Night_2004_PS2__Review.html |title='Fight Night 2004' (PS2) - Review |website=X-Play |publisher=G4techTV |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041029211641/http://www.g4techtv.com/xplay/features/194/Fight_Night_2004_PS2__Review.html |archivedate=October 29, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}
| rev1 = BBC Sport
| rev1_PS2 = 80%{{cite news |last=Trickett |first=Alex |date=September 24, 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/game_reviews/3769143.stm |title=Let's Play: Fight Night 2004 |newspaper=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928205107/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/game_reviews/3769143.stm |archivedate=September 28, 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}
| rev2 = The Village Voice
| rev2_PS2 = 8/10{{cite news |last=Catucci |first=Nick |date=April 6, 2004 |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/greatest-boxing-title-knocks-off-fighters-to-k-o-competition/ |title=Greatest Boxing Title Knocks Off Fighters to K.O. Competition |newspaper=The Village Voice |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107064626/http://www.villagevoice.com/2004-04-06/news/greatest-boxing-title-knocks-off-fighters-to-k-o-competition/ |archivedate=November 7, 2014 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}
}}
Fight Night 2004 received "favorable" reviews on both platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. Four-Eyed Dragon of GamePro called it "the victor in all weight classes for this year. If you're into boxing, this should be the only game to pick up and play."{{cite magazine |author=Four-Eyed Dragon |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/a/ab/GamePro_US_188.pdf |title=Fight Night |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=188 |date=May 2004 |page=84 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309055249/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/34932.shtml |archivedate=March 9, 2005 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game three 5/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4.5/5 for sound.}} In Japan, where the PlayStation 2 version was ported for release on August 5, 2004,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/1234/ |title=EA スポーツ ファイトナイト2004 (PS2) |language=ja |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Kadokawa Game Linkage |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617183932/https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/1234/ |archivedate=June 17, 2024 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}} Famitsu gave it a score of two eights, one seven, and one nine for a total of 32 out of 40.
The Village Voice gave the PS2 version a score of eight out of ten and stated that "Taking on generic career-mode opponents can't match fighting friends." BBC Sport gave the game an 80% and said, "The road to the top is a long one and things become repetitive long before you get the chance to glove up against "The Greatest". And training - which is essential to boost your power, stamina and chin - becomes a real chore." Maxim also gave it eight out of ten and said, "Instead of the usual push-button pugilism, throw punches using the analog stick—the direction and speed of the stick determine the swing; the trigger controls handle bobbing, weaving, and blocking."{{cite magazine |last=Porter |first=Alex |date=April 5, 2004 |url=http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_7216.html |title=Fight Night 2004 |magazine=Maxim |publisher=MaximNet, Inc. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040401103957/http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_7216.html |archivedate=April 1, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 7, 2014}} Playboy gave it a score of 75% and said that the game "adds a bit of bob and weave through a control system that allows you to swivel your fighter at the hips."{{cite magazine |title=Fight Night 2004 |magazine=Playboy |publisher=Playboy Enterprises |date=April 2004 |page=38}}
GameSpot named it the best Xbox game of April 2004 in review.{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |date=May 3, 2004 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamespots-month-in-review-for-april-2004/1100-6094997/ |title=GameSpot's Month in Review for April 2004 [date mislabeled as "March 28, 2005"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041019185831/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6094997/p-3.html |archivedate=October 19, 2004 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 17, 2024}} It was also nominated for the "Best Traditional Sports Game" award at the website's Best and Worst of 2004 Awards, which went to ESPN NFL 2K5.{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |year=2004 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2004/day4f_19.html |title=Best and Worst of 2004 (Best Traditional Sports Game Nominees) |website=GameSpot |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041229051131/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2004/day4f_19.html |archivedate=December 29, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 17, 2024}}
Sales of the game surpassed 1 million units worldwide by the end of June 2004.{{cite web |date=July 6, 2004 |url=http://www.multiplayer.it/b2b/articoli.php3?id=11489 |title=EA: risultati finanziari |language=it |website=Multiplayer.biz |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040823070959/http://www.multiplayer.it/b2b/articoli.php3?id=11489 |archivedate=August 23, 2004 |url-status=dead}} By July 2006, the PS2 version had sold 850,000 units and earned $36 million in the U.S. NextGen ranked it as the 68th highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube between October 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Combined console sales of Fight Night games released in the 2000s reached 2.5 million units in the U.S. by July 2006.{{cite magazine |last1=Campbell |first1=Colin |last2=Keiser |first2=Joe |date=July 29, 2006 |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1 |title=The Top 100 Games of the 21st Century |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Future US |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028115051/http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1 |archivedate=October 28, 2007 |url-status=dead}}
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Notes
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/12912/fight-night-2004/}}
{{Fight Night series}}
Category:Fight Night (video game series)
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in Canada