Background Info
For too long, Playstation gamers had to do without any sort of boxing game. Finally, EA Sports released Knockout Kings, a game which simulated boxing and included famous fighters from the past and present.

Hot on its heels comes Sony's offering, Contender. With more emphasis placed on action than any simulation aspects, Contender has a distinctly different feel than Knockout Kings. But is it successful in representing the actual sport?

Presentation/Graphics : 65
When you boot up a game for the first time, the graphics are usually the first thing you notice. So while they are certainly not the most important aspect of any game, they are usually what you base that first, immediate impression on. On that note, Contender suffers a first round knockdown. Actually, I find it hard to believe that Sony would release a game with such a primitive look to it. It reminds me of the first generation PSX games that were released immediately after the Playstation's release. That's not to say that the graphics aren't functional; they do the job adequately enough. Each fighter has his (or her!) own unique appearance. The fighters are made up of polygons, though they are quite blocky, much like the original Tekken game. Movements are quite fluid and there is no slowdown to speak of.

There are different arenas depending on how far you have gotten into the game. They are mostly exaggerated in their appearance and color, in accordance with the feel the game is aiming for. The crowd is merely pasted on top of the stands and adds little to the atmosphere.

There are seven camera angles included, and for the most part all are useful. I find the default camera works best for me, as it moves around to keep on top of the action. Also included is a first person view, which is fun for a while but certainly increases the difficulty level of the game, as it is harder to get a read on what your opponent is planning.

Presentation/Audio : 70
The sound effects in Contender are decent and nothing more. The thud of punches landing is done well enough that you can tell whether you have landed a solid body shot or if your punch has been blocked. You can occasionally hear your trainer barking at you from the corner, though the information is not useful in the least; it's just an effect, and it gets tiresome after a while. Crowd noises are adequate as well, as their interaction depends on what is happening in the ring. One nice touch is that as you advance through the ranks, you will draw larger and larger crowds, adding quite a bit to both the atmosphere and the feeling that you are becoming more and more successful.

A ring announcer will introduce both fighters before the bout. He sounds reasonably like the real deal, so no complaints there. There is no running commentary during the fight. While this will bother some gamers, I myself can do without it, given the fact that such commentary often comes off as stilted and phony.

The incidental music played on the menu screens is of the typically generic, immediately forgettable kind.

Interface/Options : 80
The menus for Contender are laid out in a simple, obvious fashion, and this makes navigating them a breeze. There are three different modes of play, including Exhibition, Tournament and Main Event. A variety of options are available to the gamer. Controllers can be set up to one of three choices, and vibration can be toggled on and off. You can adjust the volume of music and crowd noise to suit your taste. Other options include CPU opponent difficulty, camera setting, the 3-knockdown TKO rule and Time Display overlays. Memory card management can also be accomplished via the Options screen.

The actual controls of the game are simple and efficient. The Triangle and Square buttons are used for upper and lower punching, while the circle and X buttons are used for upper and lower blocking. Repeatedly tapping the buttons results in combos, while miscellaneous directional pad commands can be used to add a bit more control over hooks. In addition, the L1 and L2 buttons let your fighter sway clockwise and counterclockwise respectively, a good way to avoid the advancing onslaught of your opponent. Combined with good responsiveness, the layout of the controls makes the game easy to just pick up and play.

Gameplay : 77
The sooner you realize that Contender is aiming to please the arcade crowd and NOT the simulation lovers, the more enjoyment you may be able squeeze out of it. The action is fast and furious, with little time (or need) for true strategy. Sure, you can use common sense strategies such as moving quickly and counter attacking when you are fighting an opponent that has lots of power, but otherwise it is pretty much hit or be hit. It is quite possible for that most dreaded form of fighting gamer, the "button masher," to rack up some pretty impressive victories. But since it is hard to tell when you should block high or low (there is no "tell," the way some boxers telegraph their next move), defense is all just guesswork. You are better off just moving around the ring a lot and attacking in flurries. A Special Punch mode is included, allowing a ton of damage to be done with a single shot. This is something to be wary of, as you may be cruising along to an easy victory when your opponent suddenly unleashes a bomb that has you praying for the bell. Different boxers have different Special Punches, and your trainer will teach you new punches as you progress through the ranks.

By far the most satisfying mode of play in Contender is the Main Event. Here you start out as just another pug at the local gym. From there, you battle your way up through the ranks, with the competition growing more fierce with each bout. As you box your way to the Local, National and finally World Championships, you will encounter some truly frightening opponents that will require every bit of ring savvy you can muster. This is the one place in the game where strategy must be used, though again, there is not much depth to it. You simply must fight to your boxer's strengths while at the same time avoiding the strengths of your opponent. Still, getting the World Title is one hell of a challenge, and then you have to defend it. Get ready for some serious brawls. It is in this sense that Contender brings a good deal of arcadish fun to the table, much like Punch Out did in the arcades so long ago. After you lose to the same opponent a couple of times, you become obsessed with finding a way to beat him. Punch Out veterans will find themselves reaching into their pocket for "just one more quarter"! This addictiveness is the main attraction to the game.

Difficulty : 85
Contender is NOT a game for the easily frustrated. It offers an immense challenge to even above-average gamers, as the disparity between great boxers and mere pugs is quite dramatic. The further you climb up through the ranks, the more often you will find yourself replaying matches after a crushingly frustrating loss.

In addition to this already formidable challenge, there are also three levels of difficulty to choose from. Only a masochist would start the game at the hardest level, but having the ability to choose is always welcome. Contender offers all the challenge a gamer could want, and does so in a reasonable and fair manner.

Overall : 75
Those looking for a boxing simulation should have taken the hint already and realized that Contender will not satisfy their hunger. But for fans who want an action-packed challenge, Contender may just be what you are looking for. However, even with its challenging difficulty, Contender's game play is more than a bit limited in scope. The game does become repetitive and may be best suited for a weekend rental. Still, there is no denying that a certain "fun factor" exists for those properly attuned.