What happens when you put together some realistic arenas with some highly-tuned boxers of past and present? You get EA Sport's new game Knockout Kings 2002 . Boxing games are in their own universe it seems, as relatively little needs to be worried about graphically. You need to show realism when the boxers move and punch. You need to show a charged crowd in lifelike arenas. You need to show spit flying and bruises whelping as youthful (and not so youthful) visages are battered repeatedly. Put these elements together, and you have yourself a great looking boxing game. Knockout Kings 2002 has those things, and even beyond that. Movements are realistic and the punches are the best punches I've ever seen this side of Final Fight . The pummelings are in your face, just like they're supposed to be. The crowd writhes as you deliver one great combo after the other. Finally, the knockdowns are absolutely brilliant. Fighters will stagger, or try and be tough only to have their legs give out. They will also stumble backwards, trying to keep up with the momentum of a well placed uppercut.

To note, the players are as lifelike as they ever looked. A youthful Muhammad Ali is chiseled and cocky; just like his prime. Butterbean on the other hand, is 'well-rounded' staying true to his lifelike counterpart. Tons of boxers are represented here (no Roy Jones Jr? Ah!!!!!), all with their signature moves as fluid as the brakes on a race car. The boxers you can create look uniquely brilliant as well. Choosing his body type, color, hair, etc, you feel that you can really create a boxer that's you. I wish more little things would have been available like tattoos and earrings to customize your boxer just that much more, but for the most part, the graphics are top notch. After all, this is EA we're talking about.

Ear-wise, the Main Menu screen is interladen with rap and hip-hop. It's bearable with lyrics ranging from things like 'I'm going to put you on the canvas,' to 'Knockout the block out.' These of course deal with the game, and are not too cheesy. Still though, it's nothing I'd blare over a large PA system or anything. Coincidentally enough, the music stops in game to let you know it's time to get down to business. That's where the crowd comes in. Boy, do they sound lifelike too! They boo at illegal hits and really get worked up when you're getting worked over. They will also react based on the judges' decision, etc. The in-ring sounds are great as well, sounding as if they came directly off of Tuesday Night Fights or something similar. There's the thud of the glove that produces a throaty 'uumph' in some cases. I'm still convinced that you can hear when you knock the spit out of someone's mouth. I loved the sound, though in the beginning I wished for some kind of music, I quickly became enchanted with the whole true to life thing that EA Sports was trying to portray.

This will throw off those entire arcade bash-happy folks out there. This game is exactly what it's supposed to be. Boxing. It is meant to be an art form, strategic if you will. Thought out combos bring big results, while button mashing brings a tired boxer that gets his trunks pasted to the mat. Opponents have strengths and weaknesses. Your goal is to find and exploit those things. Oscar de la Hoya has the vicious left, so side step to the right and keep hooking. Keep him away with the jab. Lennox Lewis has reach, so sway back and forth, in and out of his reach and attack fast. All these things, if not known, will be learned soon enough or your mouthpiece will end up on the fifth row of Caesar's Palace . I have been looking for a game like this for a long time, and as usual, EA Sports delivered another great title.

The different Modes to have you ready for a Heavyweight title are simple enough. Exhibition Fight Mode pits any player you choose versus any player you choose. You can create a boxer and fight with him if you want. There is a Tournament Mode, that for some uncanny reason, I had a lot of fun with. It's limited by only being able to do 8 players at once (what's wrong with 16?), but it is so fun. You can set up some weird matches. Felix Trinidad will take the wood to so many Heavyweights, it isn't funny. Naturally, if you put Muhammad Ali in the tournament - good luck. He's real good. Career Mode is where you should spend the most of your time. You create a boxer, and your goal is to become the heavyweight champion and defend your title. You progress up the ladder as a challenger until you finally beat the champ. You start out really unskilled, and as you win, you gain points to put into things like Stamina or Speed. Eventually, you can mold the exact boxer that you want, and gear him up for the title. Watch out though, because too many losses nets you an early retirement. No one wants to be battered and bruised while living in a nursing home. Once you win the title, the journey isn't over, as you have to successfully defend it. Of course, if you want to bypass all this hoopla, and just get into the ring, then try Play Now Mode. It pits two fighters together in less than a nanosecond (just kidding, that'd be a record) and you can duke it out until your heart is full. Aaaaaah.

There are four difficulties that boil down to one thing. Whether you have it on Amateur or Champion, you have to learn how the game is meant to be played. Slow and steady with a gameplan. There are no fireballs to bail you out. If you don't learn combos and weakness exploitation (sounds like 'witness relocation'), then your cheek turns a realistic bloody. At first KK2002 seems difficult, but I sat down one day and it all just sort of clicked. It became very easy. I've become the champion on the first few levels, but Champion is still difficult. As usual, harder difficulties only result in the AI knowing how to jack you up two seconds before you even think about hitting the block button. It's okay though, as the game is definitely balanced and fair. The controls lend a nice feel to the game, being absolutely flawless in movement and punching. You can do illegal blows to turn the tide in your favor. Beware, because too many equals a disqualification. There are hooks, uppercuts, body blows, haymakers, etc. All in all, the controls are what make you keep trying to get better.

The camera is one of the finest I've seen on this type of game. Victorious Boxers had camera work so difficult to follow at times, I seriously considered putting my copy up for adoption. The camera is perfect and follows your boxers well. There isn't any 'my player tried to hit him dead on and missed' stuff. Both boxers face each other continuously, and that's absolutely pertinent to a non-frustrating, fun boxing game. Again, the controls are a gem, while memory card usage is nice and low. The game does take a while to load sometimes, but nothing too unbearable. Lower load times would have made me quite an elated camper nonetheless.

Riot Rundown : Knockout Kings 2002 is no Mike Tyson's Punchout , but it is a superbly thought out game that undeniably captures the spirit of boxing, and all that Muhammad Ali did for the sport. It mixes many greats of past and present to bring a refreshing mix to the otherwise dull boxing console table. It may be a turn off for all the Street Fighters out there, but a little patience goes a long way to making this game loveable. Granted, some smoothed down load times, mixed with a little more customization on the boxers, and I'd be a super happy man, but I am pleased with what I have. And what I have is a fine, fine game.