FaceBreaker Review

Written by: Darren Cartledge Posted: 15th September 2008

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Does FaceBreaker deliver tha knockout blow or will it leave you wanting to break someone's face?

FaceBreaker Details:

	Sports
	PlayStation 3/Xbox 360
	EA Sports
	EA sports

12+

Out Now

1-6

Being a fan of the Ready to Rumble arcade boxing games I was quite looking forward to EA’s FaceBreaker from what I had seen of the game. However, my expectations were soon dashed after only a few minutes of the playing the game.

The first thing that is strikingly clear about FaceBreaker is the lack of game modes and content present in the game, which is something strange for an EA Sports title as they are usually crammed full with various different modes to play. Disappointingly FaceBreaker only features 2 single player modes and two multiplayer modes. The single player modes are your standard quick fight which allows you to compete in a real fight or a practice fight in which you are able to choose your opponents role. For example you can choose for them to act as an attacking or defensive fighter or simply stand there like a dummy while you beat the sense out them. The other single player mode is Brawl for it, in which you have to fight through various different belts in order to become the undisputed FaceBreaker champion.

As mentioned above FaceBreaker features two multiplayer modes, online play and Couch Royale. Couch Royale is a winner stays on tournament for 2 to 6 players. Each player competes to become the first to collect the required number of trophy heads. Online play features all the pretty standard game modes unranked and ranked quick matches, lobbies and online leagues. Playing online is pretty much trouble free and I never experienced any lag or trouble connecting during my time playing the game.

During fights you have all the standard moves available high and low punches, dodges, parries and being able to throw opponents into corners. The game also features Breaker punches which allow you to pull off HayBreaker, BoneBreaker, GroundBreaker, SkyBreaker and FaceBreaker attacks. These are controlled by a meter that fills up when you attack your opponent. The meter is colour coded to signal the strength of the attack you can perform. However, should you get hit before you can pull off a breaker move then the meter is instantly emptied. Breaker moves are one the game saving graces allowing you to pull of spectacular and humorous attacks that really give the game that arcade feel.

Fights in FaceBreaker are won in one of two ways by scoring a knockdown three times. This basically means you need to deplete your opponent’s health bar three times. The alternative is achieving a FaceBreaker against an opponent which instantly gives you the win if you can pull it off successfully. If after three rounds there is no winner then the fight goes to a sudden death round in which the first knockdown wins the fight.

None of the games modes are particularly rewarding to play and lack any depth or lasting appeal, this also isn’t helped by the game difficulty, which although can be set to your preference seems to be a bit random. For instance it can be fairly easy to knockdown your opponent with a couple of punches only for them to get up and rapidly knock you on your arse three times as if they have been possessed by Rocky Balboa. Most match ups will have to be attempted numerous occasions as AI controlled fighters seems to be able to comeback from the mightiest of beatings, and after attempting a bout for umpteenth time boredom and frustration at the lack of progress quickly begin to set in.

Adding to FaceBreaker’s woes are the games somewhat jumbled controls. The exact same buttons are used for dodging and throwing punches meaning that your attack can quickly be interrupted if your opponent so much as swings a fist in your direction. It’s highly annoying especially after putting together a good combo only for you to perform a dodge when you could have landed the final blow.

Visually the game is everything you would expect from an arcade sports title, it plays on national stereotypes of the various fighters but for the most part is pleasing to look at. The settings for fights are your typical over the top arcade style with various things going on in the background, Characters are all pretty much what you would expect, sporting exaggerated features and builds which is typical of those found in any arcade orientated sports game.

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game look pretty much the same and are almost indistinguishable from one another. There are some differences however, the PS3 seems a little sharper and handles the games colour better then the Microsoft machine producing a more vibrant look.

Sound in FaceBreaker is what you would expect from any arcade sports title. The games soundtrack is fast paced to get you pumped up for the fight in hand. Sound effects are pretty typical of an arcade fighting game with all the usual thumps and thuds being used to signal landing blows on opponents. Other then that though the games sound design is largely forgettable.

So FaceBreaker is definitely not the game I and many were probably expecting it to be, but even if you didn’t really have any expectations for this title you will probably still feel let down by the lack of game types and overall content with in. It sadly can’t deliver that knockout blow.