GameCube

Black & Bruised

With plenty of gameplay modes, secret fighters, and varied styles, there's a good chunk of replay value here. Black & Bruised isn't Knockout Kings, but it doesn't try to be, and it certainly doesn't have to be. All it has to be is fun and engaging, and on those levels, Black & Bruised succeeds.

If you enjoy arcade style boxing games where simplicity is a major priority then Black & Bruised is definitely for you. It's certainly enjoyable and the characters that populate the game look wonderful and ooze personality. There's also loads of gaming for your money with a range of options to satisfy most gamers needs. That aside the gameplay itself is less than inspiring and GameCube owners looking for something on a par with Rocky will be woefully disappointed. It's not that Black & Bruised is bad, it's just reaching out more to a arcade centered audience rather than one looking for a fully featured boxing sim.

After watching Midway try in vain to capture the classic essence of Nintendo's Punch-Out series with Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, Majesco and developer Digital Fiction try to pull off the cartoon fighter with a solid effort in Black & Bruised. Graphically, it's a great title, using cel shading to update the look and feel of the 8-bit era.

Black & Bruised contains enough substance and style for players who've been awaiting a new arcade boxing installment to come around. It's still a mystery why we've yet to see one arrive from the Big N, but it's refreshing to see another developer get in the mix to get the genre in motion again.

I would recommend this as a rental. It has some depth and some fun, but you won't want to spend fifty dollars on a boxing game that doesn't offer a whole lot that you can get for cheaper in one of the two games mentioned above.

In the end, I rule Black & Bruised a draw. If boxing's your thing, you'll most likely dig it; and at least it's a new direction for the tired sport. Just don't expect the next Punch-Out.

Black and Bruised has some of the best stylized visuals of any cel-shaded game to date, but don’t be fooled by the charming graphics. There is a fairly complex boxing model and elaborate combo system that requires timing, reflexes, and intuition if you ever hope to complete this lengthy and comprehensive boxing game. Gameplay is easy to learn and challenging to master, so be prepared for a lengthy boxing career if you step into this ring.

As long as you don't make the mistake of expecting a serious, deep, strategic boxing sim from Black & Bruised, it's possible to wring fun from it. It suffers from some pretty serious design flaws that keeps me from wanting to score it higher than, say, a seven on the scale, but it's still got some definite possibilities. Check it out if you and your friends are looking for a way to kill some time on a Friday night, but don't bring it home for the one-player experience.

Black & Bruised is certainly some nice eye candy, but under the surface is a pretty boring, simplistic boxer. However, it certainly does have its moments, and the characters are really fun. Casual boxing fans should be satisfied with a weekend rental.

Black and Bruised is a title that both visually and sonically communicates a cool arcade experience. The issue that arises here is that it falls short in the gameplay department. While the game has a bunch of play modes and a lot of cool things to learn, the ultimate experience of the game is one of a button masher. Black and Bruised is still a fun arcade title; you should check it out and see if it's for you.

Gamers looking for a game to pop in for some quick and fast-paced two-player action could certainly do a lot worse, but Black & Bruised isn't the most memorable game in terms of characters or action. With some tweaks to the way it plays, and a better stable of characters, it could be much better. As it stands though, the game is just slightly above average.

Obviously, any serious boxing fan will want to look elsewhere for sim-styled boxing. But in the end, Black & Bruised is a fun arcade-style boxing game that casual gamers will find entertaining for awhile.

Black and Bruised seems to be the exact opposite to Knockout Kings, whereas Rocky falls in the middle. If you are looking for a cartoony arcade boxing match, look no further. If a deep fighter is on your mind then look elsewhere. I would give it a rental round in the ring before committing to training for the full ten rounds.

For fighting and boxing fans hoping for an artistic rendition of Rocky, it was not meant to be with Black and Bruised. The gameplay is strongly rooted in quick and shallow action, and won't hook you beyond the various story and tournament modes that were wisely included. Definitely give it a look if you're helplessly attracted to the style and personality the title spouts; perhaps for a great weekend rental. Purchase with caution, however, as there's little chance that you'll find yourself jumping back into the ring once your love affair ends.

Black & Bruised contains enough substance and style for players who've been awaiting a new arcade boxing installment to come around. It's still a mystery why we've yet to see one arrive from the Big N, but it's refreshing to see another developer get in the mix to get the genre in motion again.

Je suis vraiment désolé pour Black & Bruised. Le jeu dispose de beaux graphismes, d'une ambiance marrante à souhait, d'une durée de vie honnête, le seul hic (mais de taille) étant son gameplay beaucoup trop lourd qui conduit à des affrontements longs et sans intérêt. Zut alors d'excellent petit jeu le soft de Digital fiction descend donc au statut de titre sans envergure et vite saoulant.

If you’re looking for an excuse to beat up a cel-shaded Irishmen, then Black and Bruised may be for you. However, due to its poor use of combos and its shallow gameplay, a rental should be more than enough to see what Black and Bruised brings to the table. If you’re considering a buy, you might end up black and bruised yourself after realizing the money you’ve spent on such a boring gameplay system.