Facebreaker
Score: 50% ESRB: Teen Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Canada Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 2 (Co-Op 2) Genre: Fighting/ Arcade/ Online
Graphics & Sound: Graphically, EA's Facebreaker is a bit on the cartoony side, but it really does look good. The player models have unique attributes that help them stand apart from each other, from chiseled jaw lines and six-pack abs to fat boy nerds. There are only a handful of characters to choose from at the start, but the game also includes a decent Create-A-Boxer feature, AKA the Boxer Factory. Here you can choose from a foray of stock body parts and even put your own face on your fighter. Unfortunately, the EA Game Face feature doesn't work as well as in other titles, so you won't be able to recreate your perfect face the way you know you want to. Environments also look good and lend a hand to the semi-believable cartoon feel of the game. As far as audio goes, Facebreaker busts out some sweet and unconventional videogame menu music. The in-game audio is okay, but there's nothing special. Here you'll get the typical punching sound fx, as well as big slams and knockdown noises. The characters also have dialogue, and the voiceovers generally fit their physical characteristics.
Gameplay: Facebreaker is nothing more than a stock fighting game that lacks kicking and weaponry. Instead, this is a very off-beat, cartoony boxing title that has an extreme arcade feel to it. Conventional wisdom will say that fighting games have developed into a fistful of button-mashing and the need to learn five-button combos that need to be timed perfectly to defeat your opponent. With Facebreaker, some of that is true, but it's at a slightly lower level than most fighting titles out there. There definitely is a lot of button-mashing in Facebreaker, and this is the part of the game that gives me the biggest annoyance, to the point where my hands start to cramp up and my knuckles hurt. It's not necessarily the fact that you have to rapidly press buttons, but more the fact that you really only have to hit a few buttons, and there aren't any true crazy combinations to master. On one side, this is great for newcomers and those out there that don't like to play games from the fighting genre because of the steep learning curve. But on the other side of the coin, it sometimes feels like there is no skill involved when playing Facebreaker... unless that is just the way it seems because I'm so bad? It could be. Facebreaker is also a game that lacks a lot of personality. It's pretty cool how the player models' facial features change based on how badly you pummel them (or get your own snot knocked out of you), but there aren't that many modes of play to bounce between to hold a lot of interest. Offline, Facebreaker has only a few modes of play. You can hop into a quick Fight between two players or Brawl For It All, if you're playing alone. Here, you'll take on a series of boxers in succession, coming at you at different difficulty levels. You'll also be able to have a Couch Royale, where two to six players can play in a winner-stays-on tournament, vying for the most trophy heads. Oh, did I mention that beating characters will allow you to hang their heads on your trophy wall? Pretty hilarious. Facebreaker also has Xbox Live support. While the actual gameplay is great over Live, with little to no noticeable lag, there are some concessions. Unfortunately, a player can simply disconnect when about to be defeated and there isn't much in the form of repercussion to the player, aside from the ability to report them to XBL. Unlike defeating them outright, you won't be able to keep their trophy head either. A cool feature is that players can, however, play with their created characters (even with your own Game Face on them), and defeating them will have their actual bloodied-up heads on your wall. You can also download and upload characters, and players can vote online to see who came up with the best created fighters. Unfortunately, like its offline counterpart, the Xbox Live modes are limited as well, with standard fights or an Online League feature, which allows for multiple players to get down and dirty in a tournament.
Difficulty: Being a flat out button-mashing fighting game, Facebreaker relies very heavily on two things, quick fingers and reading your opponent's moves. Against computer-controlled boxers, it is possible to figure out some patterns, and thus, you will eventually be able to beat them. But to do this, you really have to have a keen eye because some of the A.I.'s tells are subtle, while others are blatant and obvious. Against human opponents, of course, all bets are out the window. While characters will certainly still have their precursors to certain types of punches, the patterns won't necessarily be there. This is especially true when going online because of the ability to have a Quick Match with so many different players. Offline, with your buddies, you will all likely develop habits, so keep you eye on the gloves and pick up on their idiosyncrasies. Beside the fact that I'm terrible at fighting games in general, Facebreaker's special moves tend to throw me for a loop. Don't worry, every move has a counter move, so it is possible to still hold your own. There are also three difficulty settings to choose from, but for me, the lowest was still a challenge.
Game Mechanics: Button-mashing, button-mashing, and, did I mention... button-mashing? That is what Facebreaker is all about. There really isn't much to talk about in this section. You'll essentially be using all of the face buttons, with high and low punches, an uppercut (haymaker), and a throw. The throws and haymakers are slow, but can buy you some time and knock out the lights of your opponent, respectively. You can also pull the trigger to modify the punches into blocks and power punches. The learning curve is small, however, because you will likely be mashing the high and low punch buttons eighty percent of the time. Facebreaker is an entertaining title, but I don't know that it's worth its price tag. If you are into fighting games, you'll definitely want to check this one out. The action is very fast, and very furious, and there isn't much in the way of breaks in the flow of body blows and head shots. I highly recommend a rental for Facebreaker before purchasing, simply because the replay value just isn't there. The game seems more of a quick fix for a new fighting game than a permanent fixture in your game collection.
-Woody, GameVortex Communications AKA Shane Wodele
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