GameCube

Rocky

I have to admit from the beginning that I'm quite a fan of the Rocky Balboa movies. First shown to me by my boxing-loving parents as a small child, the critically acclaimed story of a down on his luck Philadelphia pugilist and his meteoric rise to the top has always struck a chord with me. If Rocky could accomplish whatever he wanted with nothing more than determination and heart, then what was stopping me from doing that very same thing? So taken in by the world of Balboa and his supporting players was I, that for the longest time I wanted to be a professional boxer. Though my few amateur bouts with the kids around the neighborhood was as far as I ever made it, my passion for the movies and the sport itself continued to grow. Even now in my mid-twenties I find myself quite the sucker for Rocky films.

But in the end, what is it that makes Rocky so awesome? Maybe it's the attitude, the gritty urban fight scene. Or maybe it's because the movie was the portrayal of a real hero, a person who was not a godsend for his people, but a simple man who overcame incredible odds. Rocky came from a time when heroes didn’t need to have fancy weaponry or godlike abilities to take down their adversaries. All that was needed was enough determination and heart to see you through. But in this new age, I don’t know what will become of this old hero.

Finally though, the crowd is far less blurred and angular on the GameCube. Nintendo's console wins by a split decision. And, providing you have the patience to learn your opponents' moves to counter them, can train seriously in the gym, and can stand the graphical blemishes, you'll find yourself a winner, too. To paraphrase good old Mikey, you'll have to be a thinker, and a stinker for this cranial and finger-pounding work-out.

Entre arcade et simulation, ce que l'on aurait pu attendre comme une mauvaise licence de plus devient un jeu de boxe tout à fait honorable. Il n'en demeure pas moins que les acharnés du genre lui reprocheront de ne pas être assez technique. Un soft à conseiller à tous les novices. Et même si vous êtes des béotiens en la matière, voilà une bonne occasion de vous mettre à la boxe.

While games based on movie licenses are always a risky proposition, it's clear the developers did more than just slap Sylvester Stallone's face on a generic boxing title and call it " Rocky." There is an attention to detail not normally found in games based on movies, and it's apparent from the moment the fighters strut toward the ring that this is something a bit different, something that will at the very least be memorable. From the inspiring "Gonna Fly Now" that begins each fight, to the clothing, conditioning, and hairstyles that marked Rocky's unlikely rise from loan shark's hired goon to Heavyweight Champion of the World, the game seems to understand the five films making up the series and helps re-create the same spirit, the same look, and to a lesser extent, the same drama surrounding each fight.

In the end, Rocky is completely spoiled by a few major problems, the worst of which makes it possible to get by opponents using only one button. Some punches work better than others, but ultimately once you've discovered them you're never really in any danger of losing a bout, since you can always just keep hitting your opponent on the edge of his recovery animation. This problem is compounded by the fact that beyond 20 matches and five cinema sequences, the game really doesn't offer a whole lot for boxing fans or Rocky fans. If you're still curious, rent the game, see everything there is to see, and then return it.

Rocky is marred with many problems and poor quality. Though the concept of the game and material hold great potential there was little done to produce a quality title. The mechanics of the game, coupled with the below average graphics make this a disappointing attempt at bringing a classic movie to life. If there is ever a follow-up to this title I hope that it is just an upgraded version of this game. With some more time and a little more effort I am sure that this could have been a great game. I feel sad when a game has to cash in on either name recognition or the popularity of something else. In this era of movie-based games Rocky is just another in a long list of failed interpretations of movie hits.