When the original Thrill of the Fight was released by Ian Fitz over six years ago (October 2019), it was rightfully touted as one of the components of an effective home workout regimen. Combined with other VR games that could be used for fitness—such as Beat Saber and FitXR (rebranded from BoxVR)—these games formed a trifecta for cardio, arm and leg muscles, and overall core workout. For many people the results were fantastic and people still use them for fitness today.
Some VR enthusiasts who use VR as a means for exercise do stick with the same game and play daily or as part of a regular weekly regimen—racking up points and skill in a particular game while winning in physical reality through weight loss, muscle gain, and improved health.
Others—like myself—prefer to switch up a bit and try new games regularly. Or sometimes it’s nice to revisit popular games to see how sequels are handled and whether they’re as good as (or better than) the original.
Unfortunately with The Thrill of the Fight 2, available on Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S and Pro headsets, this is a story of a sequel with lofty intentions that didn’t quite land. But it’s not all bad, as there are some appealing additions to the game.
In the full release, you’ll find:
Endlessly replayable career mode - Challenge at your own pace. Start as a rookie, commit to the program, and fight your way through the ranks until you qualify for the world tournament.
Adaptive AI opponents - When I was playing with AI, it felt realistic and there were times when I was a little confused and thought perhaps they weren’t actually AI (although I knew they were). I started playing multiplayer so I could compare the AI to the movements of actual humans, and unfortunately was immediately put into a match where my opponent seemed more interested in inappropriate sexual motions rather than boxing. But at least I knew he wasn’t AI, so there’s that.
Coach Berg - With over 2,000 lines of dialogue voiced by Dave Rivas, Coach Berg guides players through training with advice, humor, and analysis. Coach Berg is a player favorite and Rivas has an appealing voice that makes you want to actually listen. Choosing Rivas as the voice actor was definitely a winning choice by the Halfbrick Studios team.
Coach Dave and Instructional Videos - There are areas in the game where you’re connected to online tutorials on The Thrill of the Fight YouTube channel, and while you can see these in your headset, it begins to feel a little like the team lost their focus. Are they creating a top notch VR game or are they building a following on social media? Don’t get me wrong. Coach Dave is amenable and a great teacher. He’s easy to listen to and clear in his instructions.
I guess I really just wanted to be in the ring boxing, and the main thing I was looking for was for it to work well. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Punches didn’t always seem to have an effect and my arms glitched on a regular basis.
Overall, this is a decent game, but I agree with many people that the original version of the game was actually better. Also, you can still play The Thrill of the Fight (original) and watch all the Thrill of the Fight 2 videos on YouTube for additional knowledge of boxing strategies.
The Thrill of the Fight 2
Good
The Thrill of the Fight 2 boasts that it's the most intense boxing experience, but it fails to achieve a champion belt this time around. Enthusiasts will likely enjoy the career mode campaigns simply for the pursuit of glory, although the game simply doesn't live up to the quality of the original version.
Pros
- Endlessly replayable career mode
- Coaches Berg & Dave provide great motivation
- AI opponents are fun
Cons
- Game is incredibly glitchy
- Punches often don't connect or register
- Damage doesn't seem to be properly calculated
This review is based on a retail Quest copy provided by the publisher.
