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0 Golden Gloves may have been out for a few years, but is this boxing game by Engine Room VR LLC worth picking up now? Having first released in 2022, the game was created to mirror the real-life skills you might learn in boxing. However, with it being a video game, there needed to be some element of fun there as well. Let’s hope that it delivers a haymaker then.
Time To Box Clever
If you’ve played any of the boxing games on the Quest, you will know essentially what to expect. So let’s dive straight into the review.
Gameplay
Being the official game for the Golden Gloves of America, this game has a certain expectation to live up to. Aiming to deliver a game that lives up to 100 years of history, Engine Room VR LLC had a challenge on their hands. Thankfully, they have delivered a game that is both fun and heart-pumping.
Diving straight into Golden Gloves, you are shown a sort of calibration section. You are there at your weigh-in against your first opponent. Move to the centre of the circle, either using the locomotion in the game or just walking if your physical space is big enough. Then you are transported to your gym. This is where you will hone your skills, take on training, or work your way through the list of fighters.
A licensed coach helped develop the virtual gym that you find yourself in to ensure that authenticity was key. Realistic physics tracks all your punches, dodges and even movements to ensure that if you land a strong hit, the opponent feels it. In and around the gym are multiple training stations. My personal favourite was the heavy bag. Just unloading on this one was a lot of fun. It’s just a shame that you can’t actually feel the bag.
If, after all that, you want some more training, then head into the workout section. This will see you throwing specific punches and dodging walls as they come towards you. Kind of like a more exhausting Guitar Hero! I found that once I got into my groove, I could just carry on bobbing and weaving.
Fight Night
It wouldn’t be a boxing game with some actual boxing. Thankfully, Golden Gloves does this incredibly well. I am by no means a boxer, but some well-thrown punches seemed to connect well. With the harder ones landing with a great thud on your opponent. As you progress through the rounds, the opponent visibly gets more bruised and battered. With small cuts appearing as well, if you catch them with a ferocious uppercut.
Playing Golden Gloves, I think you will be in two different categories. Those who will just throw their arms around and hope for the best. Or those who will be tactical about their boxing. Personally, I am in the first category. Although, it felt like I had done a workout after a few rounds against the AI. They are pretty tough as well, not to brag. But you do have to give them a fair few hits to knock them down.
Graphics & Audio
As with most VR games, the graphics are always scaled back. Thankfully, Golden Gloves still looks the part, especially when up close to your opponent. With great rendered models, and even the arenas that you find yourself fighting in. Although if you stray too far from the main path, you will be greeted with scary-looking audience members. These character models are faceless, so they may instil terror into you. Kind of like you are fighting to save your own life.
The audio in the game is spot on, and all the punches sound great. I always imagine someone hitting a punching bag as hard as possible to get the sound effects.
Longevity
This kind of game is endless. Even if you happen to complete all the main fights, you will probably make use of the workout modes for a long time to come. Add in the multiplayer element, which unfortunately I didn’t get to test, Golden Gloves has a longevity that may well far surpass even your own expectations.
Final Thoughts
Golden Gloves delivers everything it promises. With an authentic boxing experience that is only let down by the fact that you are punching into thin air. Offering not only a great workout tool but also a fun campaign to play through. This could quite possibly be the fitness app you didn’t know you needed!
Golden Gloves receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received to write this review.
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