Fight Night Round 4 is FINALLY HERE!!!First and foremost i didnt pull any of this information from any site these are explicitly my opinions from what i received since owning the game. With the exception of the acheivements list and roster break down (which i already sent credit to) everything is my opinionThere has been a lot of controversy whether people wanted to buy this game soley based on the controller configuration for the game. If you no stranger to the Fight Night series then you must know this before deciding to purchase...The game currently only offers the Fight Stick configuration (Sorry all you button-mashers but as of right now theres no button configuration for any of the punches) right now you use the left thumb stick to manuever the boxer around and the right thumb stick to direct and coordinate all of your punches. I'm telling you at first i wasn't to sure if i would like this idea, but the concept had me intrigue because it makes me feel like i have more control over the boxer and in some way puts me into the game a little bit more then just pushing a, b, x or y buttons to punch...this issue here has been a deciding factor for many on whether they buy the game or not, but just look at it this way1. yes it may be a little bit of a learning curve for some but think of it a challenge to overcome its actually pretty fun fighting this way.2. EA sports is definitely talking about releasing a product update via xbox live that includes a button configuration for people who would rather use the a, b, x and y buttons instead of the fight stick (it hasn't been confirmed but it is being talked about, and in my humble opinion if they want to increase sales they should release it..but then again if they want to build off of this idea of theres then they should just keep it the way it is..) i love the fight stick now and at first i didntas far as the legacy mode goes you began by either choosing a current character from the roster (listed below) or creating/importing a character or using the photo game face system (which you need the xbox live camera or upload your pictures to the ea.com site) if you opt to create one the old fashion way there is around 100 customizable templates that you must pick from at the begining and adjust/customize them from the template characters.this game has a difficulty setting so you can adjust the fighting to your liking..i currently have mine set up at the default setting of pro just to start off and later on ill adjust as i see fit to keep my game tight lol! one thing i have noticed on this game that i didnt notice as much in the other fight nights is that the simulation of boxing here is more realistic then ever before...for one i heard people complaing about the boxer's perhaps blocking to much or running around or dancing to much making it hard to hit people, etc etc etclong story short this is not a ROCKY movie where there is no blocking involved and its a 5 minute slug fest..each boxer is different in there own ways depending on there style, skill, power, speed, reach, and so on..your punches are different depending on close or far away you are, if your leaning in or out or from side to side, and your punches are even effected or different depending on what your opponent is doing as well also.Before i forget to mention since i just thought of this--there is a demo available via xbox live i highly suggest you download and play the demo for few hours up to a few days to see if you can get the feel for the game and whether you like the controlling, if your not totally convinced then i would suggest renting the game first...trust me if you are and were a fan of Fight Night Round 3 or the series in general you will be a fan of this game as well just adapt and overcome the controlling it really isn't that hard hahaha!Let me also comment that the graphics on the game are amazing! by far the best out of all the Fight Nights and amongst the best on the xbox console in general they really pushed the limits on the 360 with the graphics its an amazing fluid performance through out. a few things they added that i heard some yay's and nay's about was how they added these different camera angles and motions of the camera when counter punches are performed and succesfully initiate...there is a confirming sound of a small explosion somewhat and a flashing light which im guessing kind of signifies what a real hard punch would look like if you took one to the face hahaha..there is plenty of tutorials in the game to help you with getting used to using the fight stick and to help you practice getting better at practicing so you can max out on receiving the max amount of performan/strength/skill upgrades for your character. this time around its even more in depth then before where you get twice as many training options which focus on several different series of areas. your punches can be strengthened, toughing your body or head, up your stamina or heart or damage rating, improve your blocking or movement skills, etc etc etc and lots more. there are about 6 or 7 different practice modes ranging from sparring, weight bag, heavy bag combos, maize bag, and more (can't remember all of them off hand) but as you focus on certain parts of your body, or your punches or strengths, some of your other parts of body punch, skills or strengths could be effected as well..during the actual gameplay your HUD shows you your health, stamina, and blocking..all are pretty self explanatory but if you run your stamina down to quickly by doing things like punching too much or like crazy it will drain your stamina making you slower/sluggish and more susceptable of being hurt more..the lower your stamina the harder it is to block and fight back..the punches thrown at you receive a more devastating effect as well triggering more health loss for every punch landed on you. counter punches deal more damage then if you throw the same punch normally and can even cause flash knock downs or knock outs..you character or your opponent will have an immediate flashing health meter signifying that there more easily prone to getting knocked down if they don't block more, hug the opponent, or avoid the next series of punches.if you get knocked down the new way for getting back up is this balancing technique you do with the left and right thumbstick you have to balance your character by a teeter-tottering meter left to right in the center and once you stabilize it you hold up on the other thumbstick to bring your character up..the better you do in each round the more points your corner man receives to help you deal out between rounds where you can use towards gaining your stamina back, getting your health back or taking away some of the dealt damage.The new legacy mode beats any other career mode fight night had before its more in depth then ever before you dont just fight to reach the upper ranks, theres certain challenges of all sorts you must acheive to retire at certain titles like G.O.A.T. or Ring Legend, or Superstar, or Champion....so on and so forth from Bum to Prospect (theres like 10 or more titles total) during the legacy mode you are even given the option to retire whenever you would like, or jump ranks, you can even design your own roster of create-a-characters so they are generated into your legacy some how some way and you play them during the amateur days into the pro days..you have a popularity rating, winning percentage, etc things that are effected by the way you manage your fighter...because if you don't manage right and you constantly fight with out training or resting up efficiently or if you dodge the challenge fights that pop up every once in awhile...things like your rating, popularity, win percentage, etc can be effected..during the gameplay during different challenges that are acquired like maintaining a high connection percentage or win percentage or receiving a high rating or high popularity goodies like new trunks/gloves/shoes/robes/etc are awarded to you as well..lots of things to keep you bizzy and more into the game now more then ever! you can't just move up the ranks to quick because if you do you wont have enough experience to compete at the level or with the higher tiered fighters and you will have more to lose then gain if you challenge them, fight them, and then lose...you need to pick on the lower end fighters for awhile to build up your fighter and to build up on your skills in general for the game..this game forces you to fight strategically instead of mashing you buttons away to victory..if you get tired of fighting cpu's just go to the online mode where there is tons of offerings and guaranteed to keep you bizzy..if you fight incorrectly for the type/style/skill of the fighter the commentators will constantly remind you..and its realistic to because if your not an inside fighter and you try to fight that way it can effect you more because you wont be more productive that way....always keep your guard up because you can be knocked down with out notice or just simply said a flash ko! long story short if you have a reach advantage then you should try to fight from the outside if you don't have the advantage fight from the inside but then again those are more character traits each character may or may not have which you can decide from character customization whether they are orthodox/southpaw, boxer/brawler/unconventional/slugger/wild/speed, whether there inside/outside, whether there confident/focused/etc...all in all i am not dissappointed with my purchase at all..the only negative i have about this so far is preordering the game from gamestop..and thats because people who ordered it from ea.com or gamecrazy received there games a day early!ill keep up with updates in the future so stay tuned for that, but if you ask me you should stop reading already and go test out the demo, rent the game, or go buy it and try it for your self!Roster Line-Up:"Iron" Mike TysonMuhammad AliRicky Hatton"Sugar" Ray RobinsonThomas "Himan" HearnsMiguel Cotton"Sugar" Shane MoselyJake Lamotta"Marvelous" Marvin HaglerRoy Jones Jr.Carlos MonzonJermaine TaylorKelly PavlikManny "Pacman" PacquiaoPernell WhitakerJulio Caesar ChavezGeorge ForemanJoe FrazierLennox Lewis"Sugar" Ray LeonardJames ToneyRoberto DuranMarco Antonio BarreraAmin AsikainenPaulie MalignaggiKermit CinteronEddie ChambersArturo GattiCorey SpinksTommy MorrisonSergio MoraFernando MontielJorge Armando ArceArementaAnthony MundineEmanuel AgustusVinny PazVivian HarrisBilly DibDiego CorralesErik MoralesNate CampbellRonald "Winky" WrightYuriorkis GamboaNonito DonairArthur AbrahamJoe CalzagheRoberto GuerreroEdwim ValeroVictor OrtizTomasz AdamekAcheivement List:Get In The Ring (5)Win a Fight Now match against the CPUJust Like Mike (40)Win a Fight Now match by KO in the first round against the CPU in a 10 round fightMore Machine Than Man (50)Win 50 Fight Now matches against the CPUKnock A Sucker Out (10)Win by a KO in Fight Now against a CPUEcko Trunk Challenge (15)Beat CPU Miguel Cotton in Fight Now on ProMan Up Manny (15)Beat CPU Manny Pacquiao in Fight Now on ChampionPull No Punches (10)Win a Fight Now match vs the CPU while landing at least 500 punchesPound For Pound (40)Win a fight against a CPU opponent in a higher weight class than youThe Road Is Long (10)Win 10 fights in Legacy ModeThe Champ Is Here (40)Win a championship belt in a single weight classThe Latest And The Greatest (50)Retire as a SuperstarFrom Chump To Champ (20)Win the Amateur Tournament in Legacy ModeMovin' On Up (30)Move up in weight class in Legacy ModeUndefeated (20)Win 5 consecutive Legacy Mode fightsMy Style Is Impetuous (60)Beat CPU Mike Tyson on G.O.A.T. using a created boxer in Fight NowXL (50)Win the Middleweight Championship Belt in Online World Championship ModeL (25)Wing the Lightweight Championship Belt in Online World Championship ModeSolid Contender (30)Win 5 online ranked matchesPain Brings Glory (5)Win a match in Online World Championship ModeComeback Kid (10)Win an Online ranked match after being knocked down twiceWalk Like Ten Men (10)Win 10 Fight Now matches against the CPUDavid And Goliath (40)Beat CPU Mike Tyson in Fight Now on G.O.A.T.King Of The Rope-A-Dope (40)Beat CPU Muhammad Ali in Fight Now on G.O.A.T.Punch Drunk (10)Win a Fight Now match vs the CPU while landing at least 250 jabsEnough To Feed A Horse (10)Win a Fight Now match vs the CPU while landing at least 10 HaymakersPrecision Guided Pain (50)Win a fight where you landed at least 70% of your punches vs CPUGOAT (80)Retire as the G.O.A.T. (Unlocks achievements; Retiring as a Superstar and Hall of Famer if not earned)Big Gloves To Fill (65)Retire as a Hall of Famer (Unlocks achievement for retiring as a superstar if not earned)Flyswatter (60)Beat CPU Muhammad Ali on G.O.A.T. using a created boxer in Fight NowXXL (75)Win the Heavyweight Championship Belt in Online World Championship ModeA Force To Reckon With (15)Win 10 online ranked matchesNew Blood (5)Import a boxer into Legacy Mode*Secret Achievement* You're In The Game! (5)Create a boxer using the Photo Game Face tool