Foes of Ali
Encyclopedia
Foes of Ali is a boxing
video game that was developed by Gray Matter Studios and published by EA Sports
in 1995. It was released exclusively for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer
console. It was one of the first boxing games to render matches using 3D graphics
. Thus, boxers in the game could be shown to move 360 degrees around the ring in a more convincing fashion than had previously been possible using 2D
sprites
. The gameplay bears many similarities to that featured in 4D Sports Boxing
.
, as well as nine of his real life opponents: George Chuvalo
, Henry Cooper
, Jimmy Ellis
, Bob Foster, Joe Frazier
, Sonny Liston
, Ken Norton
, Leon Spinks
and Chuck Wepner
. The most notable of Ali's opponents not to be included are Larry Holmes
, Antonio Inoki
and George Foreman
.
There are three game modes: 'exhibition', 'tournament', and 'career'. In 'exhibition' mode, the player can choose to fight as any boxer in the game, against any boxer in the game. It is possible to assign control of either boxer to a player or the 3DO. In 'tournament' mode, one or two players fight their way through a tournament of boxers from the game. In 'career' mode, the player plays as Ali, and fights each of the other fighters in the game, in the same order that Ali did during his career. For the early fights in this mode, Ali is known by his original name, which he used during these fights in real life (Cassius Clay). Before each fight, a photo of the original fight is displayed, and an audio segment voiced by Tim Gammon outlines what happened.
Though throwing large volumes of punches does not affect a boxer's punching or movement in any way, it does negatively affect his ability to withstand punches. A fighter is significantly easier to knock out if they have already thrown large numbers of punches.
Although there is the option to turn off TKO
based stoppages, this option has no effect. If a fighter's face is beaten into enough of a bloody mess, fights will be stopped regardless of whether it is selected or not. However, regardless of whether the option is turned on or not, the game does not consider other factors when judging whether to stop a fight. As a result, it is possible for one boxer to pummel another for 15 rounds with no punches being thrown in response. Subsequently, unlike in real boxing matches, it is not uncommon to have rounds scored 10-6 or lower. By knocking an opponent down around 10 times, it is even possible to win rounds by a 10-0 margin.
The boxers in the game reflect characteristics of the real-life fighters who they are based upon. For example, Henry Cooper, who had a tendency to get cut easily in real life, receives cuts after taking fewer punches than other fighters. Similarly, reflecting the fact that George Chuvalo was renowned for his ability to take punches (he was not once knocked down in his career), it is physically impossible to knock him down in the game (even if the player continuously punches him in the stomach for 15 rounds).
Pre-rendered sequences show a ring announcer
introducing the start of the fight or announcing the outcome (only the ring announcer is seen/ heard during such scenes). Like most boxing games, a referee is not seen during the matches.
It is possible to injure your opponent's face in a variety of ways that lead to visible damage effects such as a bloody nose
or black eye
s. Decals are used to simulate blood effects on the ring floor- such blood remains for the duration of the fight. The amount of blood that comes out of fighters' faces can be set to 'none', 'normal', and 'gallon
s'. On the 'gallons' setting, it is not unlikely to see most of the ring becoming splattered with blood during a fight.
The game allows the player to choose from 21 camera angles, including first person views (similar to that seen in 4D Sports Boxing). When playing the game using the first-person view, damage to the eyes affects the view in appropriate ways; for example, if a boxer's eye takes enough damage so that it becomes swollen shut, that side of the view will be replaced by blackness. The view will also flash back when the player takes a hard shot, or red when they are hit by a punch that makes their face bleed. Taking substantial numbers of punches to the head will even result in simulated double vision. Other camera views include a bird's-eye view and a free-roaming camera that can be positioned at an angle and distance of the player's choosing.
The crowd surrounding the fight is poorly detailed, and is unconvincing when seen up-close. Depending on the action in the ring, the crowd responds with different speech effects; for example, someone might shout "Good shot!" when a punch is landed, or "Fight, you bum!" if there is little action taking place. There is also some limited commentary by Tim Gammon.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
video game that was developed by Gray Matter Studios and published by EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
in 1995. It was released exclusively for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer
3DO Interactive Multiplayer
The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer is a video game console originally produced by Panasonic in 1993. Further renditions of the hardware were released in 1994 by Sanyo and Goldstar. The consoles were manufactured according to specifications created by The 3DO Company, and were originally designed by...
console. It was one of the first boxing games to render matches using 3D graphics
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
. Thus, boxers in the game could be shown to move 360 degrees around the ring in a more convincing fashion than had previously been possible using 2D
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
sprites
Sprite (computer graphics)
In computer graphics, a sprite is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene...
. The gameplay bears many similarities to that featured in 4D Sports Boxing
4D Sports Boxing
4D Sports Boxing is a 3D boxing computer game of the 4D Sports series, with motion capture animation, developed by Distinctive Software, Inc. from Vancouver under their secondary trade name Unlimited Software. Its first version, 1.0, was published by Mindscape, Incorporated, on 1991-06-15. The...
.
Overview
The game features Muhammad AliMuhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, as well as nine of his real life opponents: George Chuvalo
George Chuvalo
George Louis Chuvalo, CM is a retired Canadian heavyweight boxer who was never knocked down in ninety-three professional fights between 1956 and 1979. He is often considered to have had the greatest chin in the history of boxing and to be one of its most durable fighters...
, Henry Cooper
Henry Cooper
Henry Cooper may refer to:*Sir Henry Cooper , British Heavyweight boxer*Henry Cooper from Tennessee*Henry Cooper , English recipient of the Victoria Cross...
, Jimmy Ellis
Jimmy Ellis
James Albert "Jimmy" Ellis is a retired boxer from Louisville, Kentucky. He fought in what some consider to be the greatest heavyweight era of all-time, which included Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Jerry Quarry, Floyd Patterson, Oscar Bonavena, Earnie Shavers and George Chuvalo among...
, Bob Foster, Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier
Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
, Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston
Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was a professional boxer and ex-convict known for his toughness, punching power, and intimidating appearance who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round...
, Ken Norton
Ken Norton
Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. is a former heavyweight boxer. He is best known for his 12-round victory over a peak Muhammad Ali where he famously broke Ali's jaw, on March 31, 1973, becoming only the second man to defeat Ali as a professional .He and Ali...
, Leon Spinks
Leon Spinks
Leon Spinks is a former American boxer. He had an overall record of 26 wins, 17 losses and 3 draws as a professional, with 14 knockout wins, and was the former World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association heavyweight champion of the world...
and Chuck Wepner
Chuck Wepner
Charles "Chuck" Wepner is a former heavyweight boxer from Bayonne, New Jersey. As a tough but journeyman boxer he went 15 rounds with world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in a 1975 fight. Wepner is credited as the inspiration for Rocky Balboa. Wepner also appeared in the book Operation Bullpen...
. The most notable of Ali's opponents not to be included are Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes is a former professional boxer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin....
, Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
and George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
.
There are three game modes: 'exhibition', 'tournament', and 'career'. In 'exhibition' mode, the player can choose to fight as any boxer in the game, against any boxer in the game. It is possible to assign control of either boxer to a player or the 3DO. In 'tournament' mode, one or two players fight their way through a tournament of boxers from the game. In 'career' mode, the player plays as Ali, and fights each of the other fighters in the game, in the same order that Ali did during his career. For the early fights in this mode, Ali is known by his original name, which he used during these fights in real life (Cassius Clay). Before each fight, a photo of the original fight is displayed, and an audio segment voiced by Tim Gammon outlines what happened.
Gameplay
The game simulates a wide variety of boxing punches; jabs, hooks, and uppercuts can be thrown (and faked) with either hand. Defensive techniques consist of blocking, clinching and leaning. Fatigue is not simulated; that is, throwing punches or moving about the ring does not cause a boxer to tire. However, receiving large quantities of punishment does cause a boxer to slow down, both in terms of movement and punching speed.Though throwing large volumes of punches does not affect a boxer's punching or movement in any way, it does negatively affect his ability to withstand punches. A fighter is significantly easier to knock out if they have already thrown large numbers of punches.
Although there is the option to turn off TKO
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
based stoppages, this option has no effect. If a fighter's face is beaten into enough of a bloody mess, fights will be stopped regardless of whether it is selected or not. However, regardless of whether the option is turned on or not, the game does not consider other factors when judging whether to stop a fight. As a result, it is possible for one boxer to pummel another for 15 rounds with no punches being thrown in response. Subsequently, unlike in real boxing matches, it is not uncommon to have rounds scored 10-6 or lower. By knocking an opponent down around 10 times, it is even possible to win rounds by a 10-0 margin.
The boxers in the game reflect characteristics of the real-life fighters who they are based upon. For example, Henry Cooper, who had a tendency to get cut easily in real life, receives cuts after taking fewer punches than other fighters. Similarly, reflecting the fact that George Chuvalo was renowned for his ability to take punches (he was not once knocked down in his career), it is physically impossible to knock him down in the game (even if the player continuously punches him in the stomach for 15 rounds).
Presentation
Foes of Ali is one of the few 3D fighting games to have been released for the 3DO, due to the limited capabilities of the system. For example, this is evident in the way boxers fall down; due to memory restrictions, they would not fall down instantly after being hit. Instead, they would momentarily sway back and forth, as the 3DO loaded in the necessary information to show them falling to the floor.Pre-rendered sequences show a ring announcer
Ring announcer
A ring announcer is a paid in-ring employee for a boxing, professional wrestling, or mixed martial arts event or promotion...
introducing the start of the fight or announcing the outcome (only the ring announcer is seen/ heard during such scenes). Like most boxing games, a referee is not seen during the matches.
It is possible to injure your opponent's face in a variety of ways that lead to visible damage effects such as a bloody nose
Nosebleed
Epistaxis or a nosebleed is the relatively common occurrence of hemorrhage from the nose, usually noticed when the blood drains out through the nostrils...
or black eye
Black eye
A black eye , or or 'shiner', is bruising around the eye commonly due to an injury to the face rather than eye injury. The name is given due to the color of bruising. The so-called black eye is caused by bleeding beneath the skin and around the eye...
s. Decals are used to simulate blood effects on the ring floor- such blood remains for the duration of the fight. The amount of blood that comes out of fighters' faces can be set to 'none', 'normal', and 'gallon
Gallon
The gallon is a measure of volume. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use: the imperial gallon which is used in the United Kingdom and semi-officially within Canada, the United States liquid gallon and the lesser used United States dry...
s'. On the 'gallons' setting, it is not unlikely to see most of the ring becoming splattered with blood during a fight.
The game allows the player to choose from 21 camera angles, including first person views (similar to that seen in 4D Sports Boxing). When playing the game using the first-person view, damage to the eyes affects the view in appropriate ways; for example, if a boxer's eye takes enough damage so that it becomes swollen shut, that side of the view will be replaced by blackness. The view will also flash back when the player takes a hard shot, or red when they are hit by a punch that makes their face bleed. Taking substantial numbers of punches to the head will even result in simulated double vision. Other camera views include a bird's-eye view and a free-roaming camera that can be positioned at an angle and distance of the player's choosing.
The crowd surrounding the fight is poorly detailed, and is unconvincing when seen up-close. Depending on the action in the ring, the crowd responds with different speech effects; for example, someone might shout "Good shot!" when a punch is landed, or "Fight, you bum!" if there is little action taking place. There is also some limited commentary by Tim Gammon.
Reception
Foes of Ali had a mixed reception. Though it has been described as the most accurate representation of boxing for its time, it received mediocre review scores. Edge (UK) awarded the game 4 out of 10, saying: "Bung this motley collection of elements together - slow fighters, a finicky punch and block system, clumsy graphics - and you have one shabby game". GameRankings has it rated at 63%.External links
- Cheat codes at Gamefaqs.
- Detailed review at Digital Press Online.
- Detailed review at 3DO4LIFE.
- Review at Videogamecritic.