Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing fell short with critics due to poor controls and graphics, scoring a low 37 out of 100 on Metacritic.
Despite mixed visual reviews, the game’s create-a-boxer mode received praise, but wasn’t enough to save its overall rating.
Other boxing games like HBO Boxing and Showtime Championship Boxing have also been panned by gamers for similar issues with controls and graphics.
A video game that features a boxing superstar could entice fans to buy it – but it may not always live up to the hype –that’s the case with Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing.
The title, which was first released in July 2002, featured 17 heavyweight boxers including Tyson, and the ability to fight in 20 international arenas. It was available on both the original Xbox and PlayStation 2. However, the sequel to Mike Tyson Boxing was far from being on the same level as Fight Night, which is seen as the greatest combat sports game series by many gamers, according to critics.
Why The Game Was Regarded Bad
Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing Was Rated 37 Out Of 100
Critics slammed the graphics and controls.
GameSpot classified the title as “terrible.”
Some gamers had positive views of Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing.
On Metacritic, Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing has been scored 37 out of 100, and is classified as “Generally Unfavorable.” Most of the complaints were about the control system.
One critical review on the website said: “From a simulation perspective, the game suffers because there is no way to control the pace of the fight. The jab and the straight cross have very little effect on the computer so you are forced to get in close and throw uppercuts and hooks the entire time.”
But it’s not just Metacritic, GameSpot has the title developed by Atomic Planet Entertainment rated 2.5 points out of 10, and is classified as “terrible.”
The worst thing about this game was the controls.
“This has got to be one of if not the worst control scheme for any game that i have ever played,” one disgruntled buyer of the title said.
“What the hell were they thinking. Obviously not the creaters. How could anyone market this piece of crap and call this a game. Mike why would you degrade yourself to this level homie. This is just a sad sad game that needs a hug.”
The Graphic For Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing Had Critics Divided
Some Considered The Visuals Good For The Early 2000s
When it comes to the graphics portion, the reviews were mixed. Some appreciated how it looked compared to its time in the early 2000s, while others can’t get themselves to play now because they’ve been accustomed to high definition and 4k. So there are potentially three major issues for combat sports fans in addition to the movement and controls.
Meanwhile, a minority of reviewers have listed some positives about the game.
“The deep create-a-boxer mode is the only aspect of the game that truly excels, but one good feature doesn’t even out a sub-standard title,” a Metacritic reviewer, who scored the game 40 out of 100, said.
On GameSpot, one reviewer even went as far as rating the title 9.8 points out of 10. They said, “The skill [it] takes for this game is little, but the graphics and great pick-up ability learning curve meshes together perfectly. With many options to choose from, too, this game, or should I say, experience, will not leave you hoping.”
Other Panned Boxing Games
One Game Is Rated Even Worse Than Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing
HBO Boxing scored 26 out of 100 points.
Showtime Championship Boxing and FaceBreaker were also not rated favorably.
But the game that starred Tyson on the cover isn’t the only abysmal boxing game to launch. Gamers have bashed other titles on major review sites.
This includes HBO Boxing, which was available on the original PlayStation. It has been scored 26 out of 100 on Metacritic, which is 11 points worse than Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing. One gamer bashed the 2000 launched title for its abysmal controls, animations, and collision detection.
“These detrimental factors ultimately make HBO boxing a bigger waste of money than the Tyson vs. Golata fight,” the angry review read.
Another title that did not resonate well was Showtime Championship Boxing, which launched in December 2007 for the Wii and the Nintendo DS. The game was scored 35 points out of 100 on Metacritic.
And it’s also worth listing FaceBreaker, which was made for the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii, for its 54 rating on Metacritic. While that would indicate it’s far from as bad as the titles above, the mediocre score won’t make most gamers nostalgic to go back and play it.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many newer options for combat sports fans to play today. The last boxing title was Fight Night Champion, which was released in 2011. Luckily, a new game called Undisputed will be released on October 11, 2024, for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Currently, it’s available for early access on Steam.
Of course, there’s always UFC 5 – but MMA isn’t for everyone. Until the fall, boxing fans may have to stack up their favorite Fight Night games to get them through the next several months.
