Before Rocky, the old chestnut of 'boxing not making for great video games' never looked like going away. Knockout Kings 2002 and Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing didn't do much to dispel it.

Compared with the pyrotechnic martial artistry of so-called 'proper' beat-'em-ups like Soul Calibur or Dead Or Alive 3, a couple of blokes repeatedly punching each other was dull and not much fun.

That was, until now.

Rocky's key and unique achievement is making boxing exciting to play. The controls are simple enough so that you can perform high and low punches with your boxer's left and right arms using the four main controller buttons. The triggers modify punches into painful-looking uppercuts and activate a useful block; used together, they manoeuvre your chosen pugilist around the ring.

Moving and basic fighting are so easy to learn that you can soon target exposed areas of your opponent's body. Dodging a big punch and punishing the kidneys of its thrower by way of return is brutal, gripping stuff.

Once you get into the game - and you will want to - there are a large number of combos to learn, resulting in supremely satisfying, super-quick flurries which can turn a bout your way. They are especially necessary when playing against current office champ, Gavin 'The Machine' Ogden.

Crucially, and also unique to this game, the punches really feel like they're connecting with your opponent, thanks largely to some thumping sound effects. When such solid fighting mechanics combine with a few other choice elements, it makes every bout a dramatic, strategic confrontation.

Each boxer has a stamina bar (blue) that indicates the strength of his punches and an energy meter (the green/red one). Both recharge slowly if he gets out of the action - good footwork is almost as vital a skill as fighting. And avoiding a beating for a few moments to get some health back can make all the difference to the result.

You might not be able to get that fight-winning knockout punch in if your punching power is drained (which often happens late on in lengthy fights). But if you find a few seconds' respite here and there, you should have the resources for a killer blow.

Essentially, the two recharging bars facilitate dramatic comebacks, making matches far more exciting than real boxing - just like the films, in fact.

Factor in all those combos, and there's significant depth and strategy accompanying the larger-than-life boxing action.

Rocky makes brilliant use of its licence - it's up there with GoldenEye in the way it manages to capture the spirit of its cinematic source material so well. Its mix of nostalgia, intense rivalry, high drama and climactic punch-ups is brilliant and addictive.

A big part of this is the music, which features some of the best tunes ever penned for a film. But it goes much, much deeper than that. From the way training is incorporated into the game, to the fighting action itself, it's obvious that Rocky has been developed with an enormous amount of fondness for the films. If, like us, you think Rocky films are super (we're thinking parts and IV, in particular), you'll lap this up. If you're not familiar with the chronicles of Rocky Balboa, playing this game will likely make you want to be.

The game is also very strong graphically, although slightly suspect clipping makes some punches look like they pass through your opponent on occasion, but you won't mind too much during the excitement of a ding-dong fight.

The single-player Movie Mode takes you through the Rocky timeline. Playing as Rocky, you get to face famous opponents like Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang (Mr. T) and the fearsome Ivan Drago, and participate in a series of training mini-games between fights.

The training sessions are a great idea, and while they're fairly simplistic, they do add to the game, making you feel like you're working with your coach Mickey to become a better fighter. You'll want to improve, because success in the Movie Mode unlocks lots of different boxers (30 in all) and arenas for use in exhibition matches and two-player confrontations.

Getting everything from single-player is quite a challenge. There are plenty of fights and the CPU poses a real test at Contender difficulty level, never mind Champ. Once you've finished fighting Tommy Gunn at the end of Rocky V, though, you won't want to do Movie Mode again, not least because only being able to fight as Rocky is a bit restrictive. But then, as with most beat-'em-ups, it's multiplayer matches that make Rocky truly special. Winner-stays-on with a group of friends and a full complement of unlocked boxers makes for some of the most entertaining moments we've yet to experience on Xbox. This is the only game to knock Halo off our lunchtime gaming schedule.

Rocky is superb fun; its excellent graphics, gameplay, atmosphere and fantastic soundtrack making it essential for your gaming get-togethers. With mates around to get the most out of the game, you won't be sorry for making the investment.

1. Captures the Rocky spirit brilliantly
2. Looks and sounds marvellous
3. Unpredictable two-player clashes
4. Oomph in punches

1. Needs more single-player options

Power
Great lighting effcts, fully 3D crowds and sweet visuals throughout Xbox used to full effect.

Style
Authentic Rocky, with brilliant music and a look virtually traced from the celluloid itself.

Immersion
Learning the moves is fun, and getting through Movie Mode is addictive. Must... beat... Drago...

Lifespan
It's been a popular out-of-hours choice here for weeks now, and we still want more...

Summary
A brilliantly evocative punch-up, Rocky through and through, this is dramatic multiplayer scrapping at its finest.