As you get older the regret at never having thumped someone properly grows and grows. The opportunities are fewer and the threat of legal action more real. Among a great many other things, this means that there is a bigger need for more realistic fighting games, and as things stand the most realistic of them all is Fight Night Round 3.

It helps that, unlike most other sports games, Fight Night is in real-time. There are 12 rounds in a bout and each of those is three minutes long. This is no highlight reel with the slow, tired parts of a match substituted for a new super punch or adrenalin hyper-charge, this is an attempt at a fair, fun representation of a sport and more often than not it succeeds.

A major factor in the game’s success is also its most talked about – the visuals. Though the convincing skin textures and sweat drips can sometimes jar with the movements of the pugilists, they bring an overall sense of believability to the proceedings that enhances the impact of every jab, cross and hook. There’s something immersive about great graphics, and Round 3 is a clear reminder that strong visuals can do more than just decorate the game’s mechanics.

This being an EA sequel, there’s naturally very little difference in the gameplay from its predecessor, although the Fight Night series has hardly been crying out for improvements. The analogue system is still a tad fiddly but ultimately rewarding whilst the camera still sensibly cruises about the canvas. There is a tremendous depth to the combat as well, with the excitement bolstered by a genuine feeling of progression. Even more agreeable is the number of options available to those who can’t quite find comfort with the default settings. For many the face buttons are a better alternative to the Total Punch Control System, the option being much more combo-friendly. Similarly the camera can be swung about to all sorts of angles, the most notable of which is the PS3’s exclusive firstperson view, Get In The Ring.

Of course, there has been a version of this game out for well over year and we’re not talking about the PS2 one, so a reluctance to buy a game you might feel already dated could certainly be understood. However, we’d recommend against any such inclination – this is still an extremely decent sports game and well worth your attention.

Aaron Asadi