Knockout Kings 2002 Critic Reviews

Barring minor flaws in the face of greatness, Knockout Kings 2002 is the closest any boxing fan can get to perfection without the missing teeth and a serious reduction of IQ.

It may not be a true simulation, but it does capture the movement and punches more accurately then any other game. The game looks awesome.

Just what fans of the series had been waiting for, a solid game that's even more real than before.

The mix of realism, accessibility, and dazzling visuals makes this one of the best boxing games available on any console.

The most intense and realistic boxing simulation ever created thanks to its deep and challenging game play, responsive controls, cutting-edge visuals, and something not enough boxing games have: emotion.

I found that I was remarkably addicted, but also frustrated with the defensive scheme.

Most importantly, last year’s control scheme has been reworked to now offer extremely responsive and fluid control of your fighters.

Delivers the thrill of being in the ring with a totally new control scheme that offers players a greater degree of control over their fighters. Plus, the mobility of the fighters has been drastically increased.

Every hard knock is rewarded in the form of a nasty bruise on your opponent’s face.

Its gameplay flaws make sure Knockout Kings will never take the title.

These niggles aside, there’s no argument about Knockout Kings 2002 being the most exciting, addictive and authentic boxing game on PS2.

The boxing isn't as solid as the graphics. It's more fun than in years past, but the collision detection is way off.

The best next-generation boxing game we've played yet.

A decent punching game, but little else. The boxer creator was paltry at best, and training was non-existent.

For being button-masher friendly and suffering from uninspiring Career and Tournament modes, the game still somehow manages to end up as a rather top-notch boxer.

Sadly there is one fatal flaw that destroys any illusion of this being a simulation – the controls. The punches are easy enough to get used to but moving your character around the ring is a nightmare.

With a complex control setup, Knockout Kings 2002 can be frustrating even before the first round ends.

It has some bad control issues, but comes with plenty of boxers, solid AI, a new faster engine and some of the best boxing graphics yet.

While the control isn't quite to the lofty heights of "Victorious Boxers," it holds up well in comparison.

The game becomes nothing more than a button masher.