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Boxing games fun again? EA announces FaceBreaker (Update)

11:45 AM on 01.31.2008, Gameboi 28 comments

Boxing games fun again? EA announces FaceBreaker (Update) photo
     Cooler than the other side of the pillow

If your anything like me, you have fond childhood memories of spending time in front of your NES pounding away at "Iron" Mike Tyson, before he went nuts and painted hieroglyphics across his face. Games like Punch-Out!! were magical, and could turn a topic as sinister sounding as pugilism into a fun-filled game you could literally waste away the day with. Boxing games have come and gone since then, but none have tapped into the vein of Nintendo's hit (honorable mention to Ready 2 Rumble) in quite the same way. Realism is for Pay-Per-View events.

If EA has anything to do with it, that just might change. With the introduction of FaceBreaker, they hope to forge new territory into the cartoony world of arcade boxing. As Peter "remember me from my Xbox days" Moore commented, EA is looking to fill that void:

"Arcade boxing takes me back to my roots in this industry, and this game signals our shift to adding more approachable fun to our product lineup."

At this point, we know that like Punch-Out!!, the game will feature fictional characters such as "Latin Lover" Romeo, and Molotov, a Russian baddie who likes to blow things up. In addition, the game is looking to include Game Face technology, so you can add your ugly mug to a character in the game. Best of all, the game is set to release on all three current-gen platforms, so nobody is left out in the cold.

Sounds pretty good thus far, EA. I just hope that the final game does the inspiration justice. You've got big shoes to fill.

[Via 1up

[Update: 1up had the exclusive on this one, but EA has just sent out the official press release along with the screenshot. For those interested, I've added the screen to the gallery, and the press release after the jump. - Nick

REDISCOVER THE JOY OF PUMMELING WITH FACEBREAKER

An All-New Intellectual Property from EA SPORTS Brings Back Arcade Boxing

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – January 31, 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS) announced today that FaceBreaker™ – an all-new intellectual property – is under development at EA Canada and will be released for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft and the Wii™ in 2008.

“We’re very excited to announce FaceBreaker, an all-new franchise from EA SPORTS that is fun, fresh and innovative,” said Peter Moore, president, EA SPORTS. “FaceBreaker reinvigorates one of the great genres in sports videogames.  Arcade boxing takes me back to my roots in this industry, and this game signals our shift to adding more approachable fun to our product lineup.  In no time at all, you’ll be picking up the controllers and knocking your opponent around the ring, smashing faces, and having a riot.”

The renaissance of the arcade boxing genre is upon us. Created by the same team that developed the award-winning Fight Night Round 3, FaceBreaker offers irreverent fun, immersive gameplay and eye-popping stylized graphics. In this in-your-face, arcade world full of ego-wielding characters, each boxer comes to life with unique attributes and distinct personal style, including Romeo, a Latin lover known for his pelvic thrusts, and Molotov, an oversized Russian demolitions expert with a penchant for fighting dirty. Add a little personal motivation to your fight by uploading a photo of your face to create a realistic likeness using Photo Game Face, and go toe-to-toe with a real-life friend or foe.

Laugh out loud as you pummel your opponent with a barrage of blows to the face and watch in satisfaction as your progress is illustrated by real-time facial deformation. With haymakers, face shots and body blows, wait for the right moment to drop a super punch to make your presence known. Taunt your adversaries and flaunt your talent, by tying one hand behind your back to add ultimate humiliation to your bout. In FaceBreaker, it just feels good to rearrange your opponent's face.

EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

For more information, log onto www.easports.com/facebreaker on February 1.

LAUNCH GALLERY (1 IMAGES)
Photo
 

Next page: More Electronic Arts stories




Rockvillian's Avatar
Rockvillian at 01/31/2008 11:30
I'm liking this direction towards the more imaginative, fun, entertaining aspects of games.

So now that we're on the subject, let's make other sports games like football and hockey fun again too, by eliminating 50 button commands and the usual "roster updates" every year. Bring back Tecmo Bowl and Mutant League. Can I get an amen?
MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 01/31/2008 11:31
Wow this all seems too familiar.
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 01/31/2008 11:31
@Rockvillian

I hear you, brother.... AMEN!
Tragic Hero's Avatar
Tragic Hero at 01/31/2008 11:34
@Rockvillian

You know I thought about making a blog about that. Having sports games with a bunch of generated "No names" so that no one knows which team is the superstar team and the game would be all about who plays it better.

Mutant League football would be awesome to bring back. Mutant league hockey...not so much.
SourGr8pes's Avatar
SourGr8pes at 01/31/2008 11:42
Bring back Nintendo World Cup while you're at it
casualweaponry's Avatar
casualweaponry at 01/31/2008 11:45
I wait for the 2009 version, with the marginal graphical upgrade and updated fictional roster.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 01/31/2008 11:46
There was a great GBA Punch Out clone, but the name escapes me. You could box a gorilla.
BS3 Owner's Avatar
BS3 Owner at 01/31/2008 11:53
This looks sooo friggin SW33T!

Like TF2 Boxing, Anyone?
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 01/31/2008 11:54
Just bring back Ready 2 Rumble
Kryptinite's Avatar
Kryptinite at 01/31/2008 11:55
I agree with MrSadistic

But I like that series so maybe this one will do it justice
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 01/31/2008 11:58
This game needs a kangaroo and a guy with a monocle. Then I will purchase.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 01/31/2008 12:09
Can I bring foreign objects into the ring? Such as a tire iron, or a metal softball bat? No sale!
RoMeRtHeGaMe's Avatar
RoMeRtHeGaMe at 01/31/2008 12:25
This game looks promising, I used to love playing Super Punch out on the SNES, I hope they bring that to the Wii Virtual Console.
big filth's Avatar
big filth at 01/31/2008 13:01
Sweetness!

This game should kick ass.

plus we can put our own faces in??

I dont understand why more games dont offer that.

The first time I saw my face on my dude in R6v it validated every penny spent on that camera. Have I used it since? rarely.
mix's Avatar
mix at 01/31/2008 13:17
Super Punch Out has to be my favortie boxing game, I can beat it in like 1hr..lol
galagabug 's Avatar
galagabug at 01/31/2008 14:07
i hope they do this right on the wii. i'll stick to my fight nights when i want some hd boxing goodness.
kawitchate's Avatar
kawitchate at 01/31/2008 14:12
what is going on with EA? they "kidified" NFL Street to become NFL Tour, made FIFA Street 3 all cartoony and shit, and now this? weirdness.
brosef's Avatar
brosef at 01/31/2008 15:55
I hope the boxers have catch phrases like in 'Ready 2 Rumble'. Afro Thunder's "somebody call the Doctaaaaa" was priceless. I'm a fan of just about every boxing game except Wii boxing and that piece of shit game with Sylvester Stallone. When is the release date?
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 01/31/2008 16:11
Speaking of cartoon fighting games, where is a new Punch-Out game?
Eschatos's Avatar
Eschatos at 01/31/2008 16:52
This could be decent.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 01/31/2008 17:25
There is much hope for this to not suck.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 01/31/2008 18:31
Crossplatform? I guess that rules out it not sucking for Wii.
rob91883's Avatar
rob91883 at 01/31/2008 18:35
EA sometimes makes some bonehead mistakes for a succesful company. We all know the target audiance for this title is Wii owners. Knowing EA this is going to be multiplatform game with crappy upgraded graphics for HD systems, and have tacked on wiggle controls for the Wii.
Nubc4kes's Avatar
Nubc4kes at 01/31/2008 21:03
"Taunt your adversaries and flaunt your talent, by tying one hand behind your back to add ultimate humiliation to your bout."

Maybe those wireless Nunchucks will come in handy after all...
Kiranio's Avatar
Kiranio at 01/31/2008 21:14
I'm looking forward for this!

I loved Punch Out (as pretty much everyone else)
shouryuuken's Avatar
shouryuuken at 01/31/2008 21:24
sweet this looks cool.. as much hates ea, when they make arcade sports games, i have a blast. nba street, ssx, and even def jam (the 2nd one) were really fun back the days, i expect this one to be the same way for the first game or so.

now.. nintendo... punch-out wii!! please.
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