4D Boxing is unlike any sports game you've seen before. The boxers themselves were designed not to look like actual people, but to move like them. While the boxy, cubic pugilists look like animated Picassos, their movement around the ring is true-to-life. It features a method of movement called Tru-Motion that makes the boxers walk, punch and crumple to the canvas like the real thing.

You start by creating a fighter using three basic traits: speed, power and stamina. The quicker your boxer is, the faster you'll be able to get off punch after punch, and the quicker those punches will land. The more power you hit for, the more damage each punch will do. Stamina is necessary as fights go longer, since without it, your boxer will stop recovering from hits and from what you throw.

Facing you are 50 boxers of differing abilities. You start at the bottom of the bracket and must fight your way up. You'll only be able to pick a fight with someone three steps higher than you or lower; you can't go for the championship right away. You do have a time limit, though. After 35 fights, your fighter will start to get tired. After 40 fights, a loss will force retirement. And after 45 fights, your boxer is retired automatically.

Between fights, you can work the speed bag to improve your boxer's speed, the heavy bag to improve power or jump rope to build up stamina. The better your boxer is in each of these three categories, the less you gain from training in them.

Your eventual goal is to work your way up to facing The Champ, a one-man wrecking crew capable of putting you face down with just a couple of punches. Get used to both offense and defense unless you plan to take frequent naps during the fights.

You can train yourself by taping the fights and watching the action between rounds. When you've got your opponent on the ropes, taunt him with the special moves and get the crowd behind you. If you get knocked down, take the 8-count to build your stamina back up before shaking off the cobwebs and heading back into the fight. Three knockdowns in a single round mean the fight is over, so be careful.

Drink your glass of raw eggs and spend some time with the heavy bag! 4D Boxing is for real! ~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide