Instinction

Review of Super KO Boxing 2, a fast-paced boxing game for Android!

Glu’s Super KO Boxing 2 was very well received when it was launched on Apple’s iPhone last year and this Android port has obviously caused quite a stir; at long last Google’s platform is getting a steady stream of top-notch games. Sadly in this case, the translation hasn’t been as smooth as you might expect. Visually Super KO Boxing 2 looks fantastic. The massive cartoon characters are bursting with charm and they show a surprising amount of animation. The biggest issue is when they actually start moving; while the game may have operated smoothly on the iPhone, here on Android it’s more sluggish than Rocky Balboa after 10 punishing rounds in the ring.

Tested at Nexus One

We tested the game on a Nexus One – hardly a slouch in Android terms – and the game chugged severely at certain points, making it hard to take advantage of the excellent combo system and dodge mechanics. We also had the misfortune to play Super KO Boxing 2 on a HTC Hero and naturally the effect was even worse. The characters move as though they’re underwater and when the action hots up the game drops to a painful crawl. With these massive issues in place it seems almost pointless describing what Super KO Boxing 2 actually does well; it features a massive cast of boxers, a decent career mode and two well-realised control methods. You can opt to have on-screen buttons or you can use the unique “touch regions” interface where you tap parts of your opponent’s body to land jabs, uppercuts and hooks.

Gameplay

The gameplay is certainly engaging, with a reasonably deep level of interaction. It’s possible to dodge blows to launch a counterattack and your character is capable of landing a jaw-breaking super punch which slowly builds up as the match progresses. Picking when to unleash this power is one of the many tactical decisions you’ll have to make during your climb to stardom. Sadly all of this complexity is undone by the aforementioned performance issues.

Super KO Boxing 2 is currently being offered free of charge and to be brutally honest it’s easy to see why – Glu has taken little care when porting the game over to Android from iPhone. Because the game won’t cost you a penny it has been handicapped by obtrusive and downright ugly pop-up adverts which appear at the bottom of the screen during menus and loading times.

Final Words

We had really high hopes that Super KO Boxing 2 could have been a real contender, but sadly this is one iPhone conversion you’ll want to leave on the canvas.

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