Developer: Survios
Publisher: Survios
ReleaseDate: 3rd September 2021
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch & Steam
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X
▫️ Code provided by the publisher ▫️
Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions is the follow-up to the 2018 VR hit Creed: Rise to Glory. An arcade boxing game with lots of favourites from the Rocky franchise like Rocky Balboa, Adonis and Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago and more. So grab your gloves, get in the ring and let’s get started!
Impressively, there is a short campaign for all characters. These play out with still images of the characters and text dialogue along the bottom of the screen. None of the stories is overly memorable, but the fact that they went the extra mile to bridge the gap between fights and give people a reason to invest is admirable. Each character also has two alternate attires which can be unlocked along the way.
Gameplay is fairly basic, making the game easy to pick up and play. A is dodge, X is light attack, Y is power attack and B is bizarrely listed as a grapple, although it performs a clinch and punch. Both light attack and power attack have modifiers depending on which direction you are pressing on the left stick. LB/LT performs a super once you have built up your meter and RB/RT are used to block.
To have any success in the game you need to get the timing on your blocks down. Initiating the block at just the right time will perform a slip, where you parry the punch and issue a receipt of your own. This requires pinpoint timing though, even in rookie difficulty.
There are some downsides to this arcade throwback though. First up, only local multiplayer is available, so you won’t be able to test your skills against challengers from around the world. By default, the game is set to a max of 4 knockdowns. At first, the AI was getting up at the same number each time. Two for the first knockdown, four for the second etc. However, over the last few sessions, I have played this has switched up and I have even won the odd fight only having to floor the opponent three times.
Meanwhile, hauling your own ass off the canvas is more of a challenge. At the first and second attempts you will be on your feet by 6, but to rise from a third knockdown takes an International Track & Field style herculean effort at mashing X. It is something to keep in mind as this can often leave your AI opponent capable of withstanding one more takedown than you.
The achievement list is well-executed, tasking you with seeing all that the game has to offer. You’ll need to beat the arcade mode with all twenty characters, although thankfully each one can be done in under half an hour. There are also many misc trophies for performing slip counters, breaking your opponent’s guard meter, interrupting their super attack and more. The hardest and likely final achievement you will get is completing a single arcade mode on the hardest difficulty.
Big Rumble Boxing may be missing online multiplayer and have a rather steep entry price of £30+, but what you get is a really fun arcade boxing game that is both easy to pick up and play, while hard to master thanks to the timing required for reversals, blocks and dodges.
-Craig 🧐
