Iron Fist Boxing (iPhone) Review
Posted by Sam Pow on 04.26.2009
Realtech VR shows the appstore a good start for mobile fighting games, but with a few too many bumps and hills to truly be great
Recently released on the iPhone was Iron Fist Boxing, the first true 3D fighting game for the platform. Iron Fist Boxing has great graphics, plays well on the iPhone's touch screen, and has terrific character variety. But the truth is that it all boils down to repetitive gameplay that feels shallow and half baked.
Iron Fist basically revolves around a simple idea. You pick a fighter, and the game chooses many competitors for you to fight. It follows a "career mode", if you will, where your fighter gains experience. The reason I have career mode in quotations is because the only thing that offers any kind of story is the comments after a match given by your coach or other boxers. And may I mention that said comments are terribly written, and offer up either stupid statements that have nothing to do with anything, or tips that are so simple and obvious that you couldn't play the game without knowing them.
Speaking of playing the game, that's where the controls come in. The game focuses on a simple touch screen control scheme that doesn't take long to learn and works fairly well. You tap in the upper corners to punch, and the lower corners to kick. If you hold your fingers on the bottom, you will block your body, and if you hold your fingers on the top, you will block your head. This is made even easier by the fact that the game has dots that flash on the side of the screen where you're about to be punched. This normally gives you plenty of warning, so if you concentrate on blocking, it's almost impossible to get hit. The truth about using these controls in game, though, is that it basically comes down to you hitting the opponent wherever he's not blocking, and using the warnings to block yourself. That's pretty much it. Gameplay does occasionally drift away into training exercises, but these are fairly boring as well. Included with the game is a tutorial that teaches you basic controls.
Along with this are a few simple but effective gameplay features. When you are about to KO a foe, you will perform a special slow-mo move, which is actually pretty funny to watch, mostly because you're punches and kicks go right through the enemy. You also have a health bar and five hearts. Lose all your health, and you are KO'd. You must vigorously shake your phone before you will revive. You can fill the hearts meter by fighting well, and when it gets full you can unleash a devastating unique attack. Just press on the hearts and some shapes will appear on the screen. You must try to madly trace these shapes all while under a time limit (which is short and extremely frustrating). The modes include story, (which has already been described) and sparring mode, which is just an exhibition mode. There are also artworks, achievements, and high scores.
The only truly impressive part about this game is the graphics. The game really shines, and the 3D modeling is beautiful. Textures look good, and the fighters are very well presented, in both visual terms and variety. Punches and kicks are animated well, and hitting an opponent sends sweat and blood flying. It's especially motivating when blood goes all over the place during a slow-mo special attack. While it does look great, there really isn't much to see. Aside from the aforementioned side exercises during story mode, the only place you will really see is the ring. Audio is good, too. The game has a fitting sound track that complements itself nicely, and the sound effects during fighting work just fine. Especially enticing is the countdown after you've knocked down the other fighter.
The 411
The iPhone is especially lacking in good fighting games. It's a genre that was all but non-existent on the platform, until Iron Fist Boxing came around. Its good looks and fighter variety may be convincing, but underneath that sugary coating is a monotonous, lackluster fighting game that shouldn't hold your interest for more than an hour or so. Like a bad movie, it makes you wonder, is it really worth the price?
Graphics
9.0
This is the best part of the game, with great 3D graphics and good visual effects.
Gameplay
6.0
It's just too simple and repetitive. Punch. Block. Kick. Block.
Sound
7.0
Works like it should, but nothing really stands out.
Lasting Appeal
6.0
After one story go through or less, and maybe a few sparring matches, you'll be done with this game.
Fun Factor
7.0
A few gameplay enhancements could have made this so much better, and easier to come back to, but it's missing too much.
Iron Fist basically revolves around a simple idea. You pick a fighter, and the game chooses many competitors for you to fight. It follows a "career mode", if you will, where your fighter gains experience. The reason I have career mode in quotations is because the only thing that offers any kind of story is the comments after a match given by your coach or other boxers. And may I mention that said comments are terribly written, and offer up either stupid statements that have nothing to do with anything, or tips that are so simple and obvious that you couldn't play the game without knowing them.
Along with this are a few simple but effective gameplay features. When you are about to KO a foe, you will perform a special slow-mo move, which is actually pretty funny to watch, mostly because you're punches and kicks go right through the enemy. You also have a health bar and five hearts. Lose all your health, and you are KO'd. You must vigorously shake your phone before you will revive. You can fill the hearts meter by fighting well, and when it gets full you can unleash a devastating unique attack. Just press on the hearts and some shapes will appear on the screen. You must try to madly trace these shapes all while under a time limit (which is short and extremely frustrating). The modes include story, (which has already been described) and sparring mode, which is just an exhibition mode. There are also artworks, achievements, and high scores.
