Musicians complain about the dreaded second album, and the same could be said of games. Having established Rocky as a knockout from the off, the developer has to come up with something special to take it from a one-hit wonder to an established franchise.

Having already ripped the films apart in the original, where do you go from there? The game now centres on the central opponents from the first four films, with players controlling Rocky Balboa, Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago.

The majority of playing time will focus on the new Career mode. Controlling one of the four, players start at the bottom of the rung fighting on street corners, prison (in the case of Clubber Lang) or a back-alley gym. As you progress you move up the rankings, culminating in a world title shot against one of the leading lights. In between fights, it's back to the gym to sharpen skills with exercises dedicated to improve movement, speed, strength, and stamina. It's imperative to get the balance right - too much punch and too little puff will have you struggling should the fight go the distance.

From a gameplay point of view, Rocky Legends is virtually identical to the previous incarnation. It's still very much an arcade fighting game, but it's all the better for it. There's the usual array of hooks, jabs and uppercuts, and the Super Punch is as devastating as ever. Players must master blocking and weaving whilst varying punches if they're to come out on top. Standing toe to toe and slugging it out will see you hit the canvas in most fights. There are a few new touches, and none better than Fury mode which appears when you're on your last legs. By pressing Back, you're able to throw punches twice as hard and fast Unfortunately, you can’t block, but at this late stage you'll try anything to get back into the fight.

This time round there's the welcome addition of Xbox Live, with gamers able to fight online in one-off bouts and form leagues. This perfectly complements the multiplayer mode which was a huge hit first time round and proves to be as good, if not better, this time out.

The one big question mark is over the longevity of the Career mode. Once you've taken one fighter to the top, you know what to expect when you replay the game through, so completing the careers for all four boxers might become tiresome. Especially as it reminds you how sluggish they are at the start.

That said, this is still a great game. The graphics are much sharper than before and players of the original will feel at home from the opening bell. However, with the exception of Xbox Live it's pretty much the first game with a few bells and whistles. Overall, it's still a game that should grace any collection and Rocky proves he can still deliver that knockout blow.

1. Excellent all-out boxing action which beats the crap out of Fight Night 2004 in terms of visuals and gameplay.
2. The new Career mode works incredibly well and controlling Creed, Lang and Drago is a major plus.
3. Just hearing the authentic Rocky theme is enough to get the adrenaline pumping. Adriaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
4. The controls are easy enough to master, although it can be a drag starting again with a new character.
5. Unlockable movie clips will have you searching around for your old Rocky videos. Or running up the shops to buy the boxset DVD.

A sure-fire hit and the addition of Xbox Live makes this game a beat-'em-up fans simply have to own.