Contender (PlayStation)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Ryan Donald
• Reviewed on: 01/26/1999
• Updated on: 04/28/2000
• Released on: 12/31/1998
• Originally published on GameSpot: Contender (PlayStation) Review

To the untrained eye, the sport of boxing looks like two men simply trying to pummel each other into unconsciousness. In fact, boxing is more of a physical chess match, where the mind and body have to work as one to outthink and outlast your opponent. But whether you're a fan of the "sweet science" of boxing's more strategic side or prefer the sheer power of a slugfest, one thing is true: Everyone's favorite part of boxing is when one guy hits the other guy real, real hard and causes him to lose his balance and kiss the mat.

The creators of Contender seem to know this as well. Instead of trying to make a sim-styled game like Knockout Kings, they made an over-the-top arcade boxing game with more of what casual boxing fans like: big punches and bigger knockouts. One of the ways the game's designers have put the emphasis on fun and taking risks in the ring is by giving you a super punch after you've been knocked down. This gives you a chance to turn the fight around with one big punch when the chips are down.

There are four modes to choose from in the game: exhibition, vs., tournament, and career. In career mode, you can take a fighter from obscurity to the top by competing against 40 different boxers, eventually giving you a shot at the title, and after that, its defense. Advancing through career mode unlocks secret boxers within the exhibition mode. While at first the AI of the computer-controlled opponents may seem extremely tough to beat on any of the three difficulty settings, you then get about seven fights into the game and recognize the fighting style of your opponent. You see, while there are 40 different-looking boxers in the game, there are less than a dozen different fighting styles to figure out. The fighters may have different strengths and weaknesses, but their behavior is the same. I have to admit, though, that the career mode was extremely challenging and fun, because even when you figure out how to fight a specific type of fighter, you still have to execute that plan in the ring without getting caught with a good punch. Another nice feature is having to defend your belt against numerous challengers when you become the champion of the world.

Contender has an intuitive control setup that allows you to quickly learn the ways of the ring without having to worry about which button does what. The 3D movement of the fighters in the ring is done quite well, even better than that in Knockout Kings. You can actually step to the side and work the angles a bit.

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