Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2

The boxers dance back and forth, bobbing, weaving, and throwing jabs and vicious straight-for-the-jaw punches. Each score brings up a letter below the fighter’s character. The word “rumble” is completed, the boxer’s hands light up and the action is fast and furious.

Each blow punctuated by the slapping sound of skin under duress. The program is Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Round 2 for the Game Boy Advance by Midway. The program has three modes of play – arcade, championship and survival. Forget difficulty levels, if you can’t hold your own in this fastest-finger fight, then you don’t deserve the privilege of attempting to pummel your opponent into the land of unconsciousness.

Arcade is a one-on-one fight, which is the basic tune-up for the championship and survival modes of play. Here is where you will learn how to effectively taunt your foe (you can earn a letter that way), as well as move and hit for power. Spell out ‘rumble,’ stab both left and right keys simultaneously and you unleash the knockout power of a rumble flurry. Championship mode allows you to train a boxer and then move them through the ranks for a title shot. Don’t walk around saying, “I could have been a contender” in your best Marlon Brando voice. Prove it. Training involves solid hand-eye coordination. You must hit targets when they appear. Too slow, and you will need to begin again. And just so you don’t get too cocky, the game keeps track of your swings and misses.

In survival mode, you again work your way through the ranks. But unlike championship mode, your fights are back-to-back, which means damage can accumulate and unless you take care of your health bar, you will find yourself flat on your back in later fights.

The game comes with eight boxers and three special celebrity fighters (which include Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jackson). It also features the voice of famed boxing announcer Michael Buffer. His trademark cry of “Let’s get ready to rumbllllle!” echoes throughout the game.

The sound quality is quite nice, from the fast and furious flurry of fisticuffs, to the intonations of the ringside bell. The graphics are very nice, from the detailing of the boxers in the options menu when you select which one will represent you, to the glowing fists. The animations are solid, the colors rich and despite the location of the game (a boxing ring), the graphics are bright.

Controls in the game are simple. The D-pad shuffles your fighter across the ring and, used in combination with the A and B buttons, produces a variety of punches, from jabs to a straight punches to uppercuts. The L and R buttons, used individually, are your blocking controls. Everything is fairly easy to learn.

Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Round 2 will wear your fingers out. The game is more reflexive than cerebral, but still a lot of fun.

It is rated for Everyone.

Install: N/A

Gameplay: 7.5.
While you can vary the knockdown rule, and the number of rounds fought in a bout, this game moves smoothly through every phase of a fight – from introductions to the final bell.

Graphics: 8.
The animation is solid, and the game is bright and colorful.

Sound: 7.5.
Solid audio really supports the video aspects of this program.

Difficulty: 8.
Learning how to place your punches, when to attack, when to step back, and watching – not only your foe – but your health and stamina meters at the same time takes a little getting used to.

Concept: 7.
The fight game has been around a longtime in the video game market. Midway does effectively translate it to the smaller format of the Game Boy Advance without losing too much in the way of the feel of the genre.

Multiplayer: N/A

Overall: 7.5.
As with any fight program, this is a matter of speed over smarts, reflexives over cognitive thought. You have to understand the controls, and then react to what you see in the other fighters health and stamina bars. Sharp eyes, quick reflexes will win the day.