Beast Boxing 3D Review

There aren't many classic games that translate as well to new technology as Punch Out and Super Punch Out. The graphics have gotten much better, but the same formula applies to any modern day knock off. Take an underdog boxer and put him in the ring with a slew of menacing fighters that all have special moves and fight patterns that you must memorize to win.

For better or worse, Beast Boxing 3D changes the formula a bit to take advantage of the iOS device's accelerometer. In addition to the block, jab, hook, and uppercut (all of which are buttonless touch or swipe controlled), you can also have your boxer move to the right and left by tilting the screen. The swipe definitely adds some simplicity to dodging attacks, but it does kill some of the fun of memorizing punch patterns. Instead of memorizing the patterns of Dragon Chan, each fight is more of a random experience with the added movement.

As mentioned before, the actual boxing controls are spot on, giving you the freedom to fight an entire boxing match without buttons. Also nice is the computer AI that learns your combos if you use them too much. Instead of being able to use 99% right jabs, you actually have to learn to time hooks and uppercuts with jabs to make this effective. The more entertaining you make the fight (the more big blows you dish out), the more coins that fall in the ring. Coins in the game are used to upgrade your stats as well as give you power-ups and potions to use in difficult fights.

The real draw to the game though isn't the boxing itself, it is the high quality graphics that you get to play with. The beasts that you fight in the game are all extremely detailed with smooth animations. Even the background animation is impressive, something that you don't often see in iOS games.

I was disappointed that there was no multiplayer included in the game, but there's always room for new game modes in future updates. Even with no multiplayer, it is still one of the best all around boxing games in the App Store. If you're a fan of solid Punch Out clones with slick controls and even better graphics, you'll be as happy as a kid in a candy store.