Knockout Kings 2000

Knockout Kings 2000
North American cover art featuring Muhammad Ali
DevelopersBlack Ops Entertainment
Digital Eclipse (GBC)
PublisherEA Sports
SeriesKnockout Kings
PlatformsNintendo 64, PlayStation, Game Boy Color
ReleaseNintendo 64
  • EU: October 10, 1999
  • NA: October 12, 1999
PlayStation
  • NA: November 2, 1999
  • EU: 1999
Game Boy Color
  • NA: December 21, 1999
  • EU: 1999
GenresSports, fighting
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

Knockout Kings 2000 (known as Box Champions 2000 in Germany) is a video game developed by Black Ops Entertainment and published by EA Sports for Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and Game Boy Color (the latter as simply Knockout Kings) in 1999.

Gameplay

Knockout Kings 2000 features 25 boxers, including Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, and includes the ability to design custom fighters.

A pound for pound boxing arcade style where players can play any of these three modes: Championship, Slugfest, and Training. The "Super Punch" is used where players can instantly knock down his opponent to the floor.

Music

The single "In the Game" by Los Angeles rapper O was specifically created for Knockout Kings 2000. It was promoted jointly by EA sports and Hollywood Records (which also helped promote the game). People who bought the single received coupon discounts for the game. The single sold 25,000 copies.

Reception

The PlayStation version received favorable reviews, and the Nintendo 64 version received mixed reviews, while the Game Boy Color version received unfavorable reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Adam Pavlacka of NextGen said that the former console version's "biggest strength lies in its realism. The lack of arcade play is going to turn off a lot of potential fans."

In one review, Air Hendrix of GamePro called the Nintendo 64 version "a true title contender that every N64 gamer should check out." In another, however, he changed his tune and said of the same console version, "There's a lot of flash and name recognition going on here, but this fighter doesn't have the iron will necessary to be a true champion." He later said of the PlayStation version in one review, "If you're looking for a PlayStation boxing match, there's no better bout in town – with its improved in-depth features and controls, it even beats out its N64 counterpart and the Dreamcast's glamorous Ready 2 Rumble. It's no contest; KO Kings rules the console boxing ring." The Burn Out said in another review that the PlayStation version "achieves its goal of creating a realistic boxing experience that's better than the original. Die-hard boxing fans are sure to dig the massive list of moves and combos. If you liked the first Knockout Kings, you'll definitely enjoy this one as well. But if you're looking for a game like Ready 2 Rumble, then you're stepping into the wrong ring."

The PlayStation version was a runner-up for "9th Annual GamePro Readers' Choice Awards" for "Best Boxing Game", which went to Ready 2 Rumble Boxing for Dreamcast. Said console version did, however, win the award for "Console Sports Game of the Year" at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.

Notes

  1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the PlayStation version, three critics gave it each a score of 7/10, and the other gave it 6/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 5/5 scores for control and fun factor in one review.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 3.5/5 for sound, and 2.5/5 for control in another review.
  4. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 4/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 for control in one review.
  5. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 4.5/5 scores for control and fun factor in another review.

References

  1. ↑ Kennedy, Sam (October 12, 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 Ships [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on April 21, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  2. ↑ Kennedy, Sam (November 2, 1999). "PS Knockout Kings 2000 Ships [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on May 29, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Release Dates Updated". GameBoy Station. December 20, 1999. Archived from the original on April 2, 2002. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Pavlacka, Adam (January 2000). "Knockout Kings 2000 (PS)". NextGen. No. 61. Imagine Media. p. 98. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Sound reasoning: Game music shifts from blips to hip-hop". Janesville Gazette. 23 April 2000. p. 37.
  6. 1 2 "Knockout Kings for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Knockout Kings 2000 for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Knockout Kings 2000 for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019.
  9. ↑ Huey, Christian. "Knockout Kings (GBC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  10. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Knockout Kings 2000 (N64) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  11. ↑ Kanarick, Mark. "Knockout Kings 2000 (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  12. ↑ Mahood, Andy (December 10, 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 (N64)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  13. ↑ Goble, Gordon (April 7, 2000). "Knockout Kings 2000 (PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Knockout Kings 2000 (N64)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 125. Ziff Davis. December 1999. p. 270. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  15. ↑ Hager, Dean; Davison, John; Smith, Shawn; Chou, Che (December 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 125. Ziff Davis. p. 273.
  16. ↑ "Knockout Kings 2000 (N64)". Game Informer. No. 80. FuncoLand. December 1999.
  17. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (December 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 - PlayStation". Game Informer. No. 80. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on December 5, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  18. ↑ Mears, Rick (October 12, 1999). "REVIEW for Knockout Kings 2000 (N64)". GameFan. Shinno Media. Archived from the original on June 1, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  19. ↑ Dr. Moo (December 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 Review (PS)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  20. ↑ MacDonald, Ryan (October 1, 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 Review (N64) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  21. ↑ MacDonald, Ryan (November 12, 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on January 21, 2005. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  22. ↑ Norton-Smith, Hugh (January 2000). "Knockout Kings 2000 (N64)" (PDF). Hyper. No. 75. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 71. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  23. ↑ Harris, Craig (January 7, 2000). "Knockout Kings". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  24. ↑ Boulding, Aaron (October 20, 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 (N64)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  25. ↑ Bhatt, Andy (November 2, 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  26. ↑ Weaver, Tim (December 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000". N64 Magazine. No. 35. Future Publishing. p. 63. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Knockout Kings 2000". Nintendo Power. Vol. 125. Nintendo of America. October 1999. p. 122. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  28. ↑ Kujawa, Kraig (December 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 3, no. 3. Ziff Davis. p. 151. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  29. ↑ Air Hendrix (November 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 KOs the Crowd (N64)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 134. IDG. p. 143. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  30. ↑ Air Hendrix (November 24, 1999). "Knockout Kings 2000 Review for N64 on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on December 16, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  31. ↑ Air Hendrix (December 1999). "The New Heavyweight Champion!". GamePro. No. 135. IDG. p. 210. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  32. ↑ The Burn Out (January 28, 2000). "Knockout Kings 2000 Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on November 30, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  33. ↑ Dan Elektro (July 2000). "Your Final Answer (Best Boxing Game)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 142. IDG. p. 49. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Third Interactive Achievement Awards: Console". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on October 11, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2022.