Mike Tyson's Heavyweight Boxing (PlayStation 2)

By JON MINIFIE

(Herald rating: * * )

Mike Tyson's Heavyweight Boxing is more about rearranging faces than recreating the sport. The game features real-time damage, which is not new and I'll admit it's always fun to watch your opponent's face deteriorate slowly over a few rounds, but that seems to be all this game offers.

None of the fighters has quick feet so the bouts are usually brutal affairs, fought toe-to-toe with the patented mashing technique. The end result is that the opposing fighters look like they have been hit by a train.

Unlike EA's Knockout Kings franchise, with its string of present and former legends, Mike Tyson's Heavyweight Boxing stars Mike and an assemblage of no-names best described as journeymen.

So rather than choose one, you can create your own boxer, giving you the chance to create a boxing monstrosity. Codemasters were charitable with the options so you can recreate practically any look you want.

Codemasters has developed quality sports games for years, including favourites Jonah Lomu Rugby, Shane Warne Cricket and the Colin McRae Rally series — fans of Codemasters' titles will likely find Mike Tyson's Heavyweight Boxing an anticlimax.

$129.95

jon@tenthplanet.co.nz