Boxing Legends of the Ring

Hard-hitting action, awesome graphics, and variable game play combine in two new games from Electro Brain. These knock-down-drag-out boxing games are two of the best games ever to enter the 16-bit ring. Boxing Legends of the Ring for the Genesis and the SNES hits hard and doesn't let up.

The Fighters

Boxing Legends lets you choose from eight of the greatest mid-dleweight fighters of all time -- Jake LaMotta, Roberto Duran, James Toney, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Rocky Graziano. You fight from an over-the-shoulder perspective that switches every round. In one round you're looking over an opponent's shoulder, while in the next round you're looking over your own.

ProTip: Graziano is fast and fetal. He'll come in with several jabs to the head, followed by a body blow. Counter with Body Blow s and Uppercuts. Forget jabbing him to the head -- he'll out-punch you every time. (SNES)

Your fists break bones like jackhammers. Each round, you also get a Super Punch (an unblockable, unstoppable hit that plasters lovely bruises on an opponent's face.) Plus, you get another Super Punch for every knockdown you score.

• When your opponent winds up for a Super Punch, try dodging to the left or to the right. If he misses, he's wasted the Punch. (Genesis)
• Go for the body, then follow with an Uppercut. This tried-and-true technique works well. (SNES)

Of the three modes, Exhibition is the kindest to new boxers. The computer fighters are easier to beat and the stats aren't tallied. In Career Mode, you have to fight against a whole army of sluggers to become a Legend of the Ring. Once you've attained this title, you can fight in the Battle of the Legends against the most merciless fighters ever. Some are real, and some are computer fighters looking for a fool who thinks with his fists.

SNES Punch Drunk

The graphics in Boxing Legends for the SNES are some of the best graphics ever seen in a sports game. The movement of the fighters has been digitized from real footage, and the facial expressions conform to the on-screen action. The fighters' faces in the comers of the screen, which act as health bars, puff up realistically when hit.

The SNES sound effects are clever and well-placed. Grunts, groans, and hits sound real. There's minimal crowd noise, but the ref enters clinches and warns boxers to fight.

• Don't waste Super Punches. For a sure knockdown, use them when you see an opponent's face screen flashing. (SNES)
• The comers are just as dangerous in this game as they are in the real ring. When you've got an opponent cornered, let loose with a barrage of head shots. (Genesis)

The control is as easy as getting pummeled by one of the boxing greats. Punches, blocks, dodges, and clinches are all executed effectively.

Genesis Punch Dizzy

The Genesis graphics and sounds don't have the same punch that they do on the SNES. The graphics are similar, but the animation seems to be missing a few frames, which makes the fighters' movements jerky. The sounds are a little rougher, too. Although it's basically the same, it has a raspy, six-packs-of-cigarettes-a-day quality.

The controls are assigned to three buttons, which means that some punches are executed by using the directional arrow only. This makes hitting the sweet spot on an opponent's body a harrowing ordeal, raising the challenge and lowering the fun factor.

Get Ready to Rumble

The SNES edition scores a unanimous decision over the Genesis game, but either version of Boxing Legends of the Ring is a fistful of fun. The two-player mode is where these games shine. Take on a friend and see who can earn the title "Legend of the Ring." Although the Genesis version does have a somewhat higher frustration level, you'll find that both versions can be beaten with persistence, skill, sweat, and some luck.

Boxing Legends of the Ring lets you play as one of the following eight greats in your effort to become champion: "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler, Jake "The Raging Bull" LaMotta, Sugar Ray Robinson, Rocky Graziano, Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran, Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, and James "Lights Out" Toney.

Exhibition, Career and Battle of the Legends are the three game modes available, with Career Mode allowing you to create your own boxer and slug through six fights for the Middleweight Belt. Each boxer is rated in punch power, stamina and chin, depending on his style of fighting (street, military or Olympic).

After selecting a style, you'll receive ten strength points to divide among the three categories. For every fight you win, you'll earn two more strength points, while every loss will give you one point for experience. Career progress can be saved via passwords received after each fight.

Boxing Legends of the Ring features a perspective just over your boxer's shoulder as your opponent looks toward the screen. Moves such as jabs, uppercuts, hooks, blocks and ducks are all part of the fighting, as are clinches, allowing boxers to hug their opponents to regain stamina.

Other notable features include: super punches earned after each round or knockdown (up to three); optional "blackouts" causing the screen to go black after repeated blows to the head; adjustable exhibition rounds from two to twelve per match; instant replay letting you review each knockdown; and different skill levels for either Exhibition or Battle of the Legends game modes (from one to five).

Boxing Legends of the Ring features:

• Features eight legends of the ring to choose from
• Three gameplay modes
• Option to create your own boxer
• Unique perspective so you don’t miss any action
• Seven different punches and three super punches

Boxing Legends of the Ring is a boxing game for Mega Drive/Genesis and Super NES consoles. The boxers are represented by 2D sprites seen from over the shoulder of one of the fighters. There are two main displays during a fight, a damage inflict meter in the form of two boxing gloves, one on each side and as a player connects a punch, the glove will show a black area of where the glove connected and a damage meter that show's the two fighters faces.

Electrobrain is bringing the knockout cart Boxing Legends of the Ring to the Super NES! B.L.O.T.R. has three modes of play including Career, Exhibition and Legends of the Ring. In the Career mode, you can create a boxing legend of your own. Select his look, name, style of fighting and energy allotted to each punch. Familiarize yourself with the types of moves used throughout the cart to win.

People say:

7.0

Rather than having a Street Fighter side-view perspective boxing game, you almost get a first-person view with this one. The result is a mixed game: the sound effects are very good, but the movements are choppy and sometimes unresponsive. Still, this is a good attempt at recreating a difficult atmospheric sport.

6.0

This is one of the better boxing games to come along in a while The music is really impressive and the wide array of options is a nice feature. The graphics are very realistic and are complemented by the smooth animation The only drawback would be that the control is less than precise and takes a long time to get used to.

5.0

I'm not a big fan of boxing, but if I were, I'd think this is just an okay cart. Although the music and digitized sound effects are first-rate, other elements of the game need a little work. The play control is pretty hard to get used to and the fighting animation is a bit on the c-h-o-p-p-y side. This could've had a chance 3 years ago.

5.0

the pros in this new boxing cart but most fighting fans will find the controls too awkward. The first-person perspective is done rather well and the sound support is decent but what is a fighting game without precise control? A little tweaking would've gone a long way. Looks good though.

Alright boxing fans! Your days of waiting for the ultimate Super NES boxing cart are over! Get ready for Boxing Legends of the Ring by Electrobrain! Featuring some really impressive graphics, Boxing Legends of the Ring is a slugfest extravaganza! To make things even more tasty, there are three modes of play; Career, Exhibition and Legends of the Ring. In the Career mode, you can create your own boxer and give him the fighting attributes that you choose. In the Exhibition mode, you can spar against the opponent of your choice and practice to your heart's content. Meanwhile, in the Legends of the Ring mode, you go head-to-head against eight of the greatest fighters the world has ever known. Names like Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Jake LaMotta and "Sugar" Ray Leonard await you!

So, if you've been waiting to bring home the title of the world's greatest boxer, take a jab at Boxing Legends of the Ring for the Super NES! It'll definitely knock you out!!