A famous fast food chain recently adopted the tagline, "Gather 'round the good stuff." Now I know they were referring to a deep dish, cheese crust pizza. I, however, will use that line to tell you about the latest edition to EA's family of boxing games: Fight Night Round 3.

Built on older technology than every other version available (except the PSP version, which I won't compare this one to), Fight Night Round 3 does not instantly stand out like the PlayStation 3 version did when it was unveiled last year. It doesn't have the visual potency of the Xbox 360 version either. What did you expect? I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but came out feeling satisfied in most respects. The gameplay, though still very much in the current generation, is top-notch. And while the visuals may not have the power to turn heads, drop jaws, and cause an audience of thousands to stand up and cheer, they do take advantage of every graphic technique the PS2 can push.

Like Burnout, Metal Gear Solid and other classics, the developers of Fight Night Round 3 took a few cues from Hollywood when designing the game. Computer generated imagery isn't needed when the real-time effects are perfectly cinematic. They're the best you'll find in a PlayStation 2 boxing game. The camera tricks are unreal. Receive or deliver a hard punch and the screen will shake. It jerks sideways for a second, then snaps back into place.

This effect sounds simple and could've been done years ago, but it's the Fight Night team that thought of it. Simple or not it adds so much to the experience. It pulls you deeper into each fight, and really makes you feel each and every punch. Even lighter punches cause screen changes. These are the kinds of things you see in movies and on TV, not in real-time while you play. Ultra impressive.

Fight Night Round 3's gameplay isn't as cinematic as the camera angles, but it too delivers a healthy dose of inspired entertainment. The two-stick Total Control system is deeply rewarding. One slight touch can change the way you're standing, the punching fist, the type of punch, anything. The controls are sensitive and respond accurately. Button-mashing is almost completely eliminated – I can't say it's been a problem on game consoles, but it gave gamers an easy way to cheat at arcades. That's not something EA would want to do in a boxing game that's better to play with a friend than it is to go solo. The single-player modes are fun, however, they cannot compare to the long-lasting entertainment value that emerges from two vengeful gamers.

For newcomers and gamers looking to master every single move, Fight Night Round 3 offers a decent training mode. It'll teach you the stances, positions, various punches, and provides other helpful hints. It also shows you how to combo, which is not going to be easy for someone who has not played Round 2. Not that I'm trying to imply that this version has a steep learning curve – you'll learn (and master) every move about 10 times as fast as it'd take to master 1/5 the characters in Tekken or Soul Calibur. But will you fall along the way? Take a few hard hits – hit the mat one too many times? Most likely.

Once you know what you're doing the difficulty doesn't seem that high anymore. A game that once seemed like a great challenge becomes one that you can plow through without batting a ... fist. Hopefully this won't turn off the hardcore fans. There's a lot to love, and a lot to devour your time. The career mode has some interesting and unexpected novelties to look forward to (I'll refrain from spoiling them). And who can deny the coolness of the EPSN Classics mode?

New to Round 3, ESPN Classics lets you enter the ring as one of your favorite boxers: Ali, Jones Jr., Hopkins, Gatti, etc., and face off in a match that mirrors the real event. Boxers cannot be mixed or matched – this is strictly a mode for reliving (or re-creating) an unforgettable moment. Technically it's the same as all the other modes – the gameplay isn't drastically tweaked, nor are the visuals significantly different to show that this is a classic fight.

Multiplayer is Round 3's best feature, serving up a deep dish of seriously competitive action. I had a much harder time putting down the controller when I had a real butt to kick. The challenge is much more severe since this gameplay style, as complex as it is, can be mastered by almost anyone. That means that even your friends who suck at most games might not suck that bad at this one. Back to the training mode...

So go on. Gather 'round the good stuff. Plop down on the floor, pour yourself a cold drink and get ready for EA's great boxing game.

Gameplay: 8.0
Another night of cinematic intensity. EA’s tradition of applying movie-style techniques continues with Fight Night Round 3, bringing a cluster of camera angles and artistic perspectives that are new to video games. After a few hours the dual-stick controls are practically second nature; a few spins, pulls and twists will have you throwing punches that’ll make E. Honda jealous.

Graphics: 8.9
Big, bold, realistic-looking players with an impressive amount of facial detail. This version is likely to surprise you, even if you’re dwelling on the next generation (darn those anticipation-building tech demos).

Sound: 6.0
I know they pick the music based on what they “think” that particular audience desires. Nonetheless, about 50% of the licensed soundtracks I hear are comprised of a type of music I can’t stand. There are exceptions, but this isn’t one of them – Fight Night’s rap lineup stinks.

The sound effects aren’t bad, but I’m not going to increase my score because of it. A game has got to be aurally entertaining to penetrate my defenses.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
This analog stick-heavy gameplay takes some getting used to. It’s frustrating at first, then slowly begins to sink in, and it’s at that time when Round 3 is at its best. As with most fighting/boxing games, you’ll have more fun becoming a master than you will have being a master.

Concept: 7.5
Fight Night Round 3 doesn’t push as many boundaries or break down as many walls as its predecessors. On the up side, the idea of taking a great game and making it better has been realized. That’s not a new concept, but it is an admirable one.

Multiplayer: 8.5
It’s hard to say that Round 3 is better than the last edition considering it was so good, but this is easily the best new boxing game you’ll play until the PlayStation 3 version is released. Action-packed, challenging battles that require new skills and unfamiliar techniques. This isn’t a next-gen version of Punch-Out, that’s for sure. Players will be consumed by the two-player action – impressed by its flair, addicted to its replayability.

Overall: 8.2
The most intense, most cinematic boxing game you’ll find on PlayStation 2. Fight Night Round 3 pummels players with an improved in-the-ring experience, pulling the camera closer to ensure that even stoic gamers feel the hardest hits. The control style will throw newcomers for a while, but it’s far from a challenge that can’t be overcome.