The Thrill of the Fight - VR Boxing | Game Brain

The Thrill of the Fight - VR Boxing Game Cover

About

"The Thrill of the Fight - VR Boxing" is a room-scale VR game that focuses on authentic boxing experiences. Players can enter a virtual gym and fight against unique challengers with different styles and techniques. Mobility and physical movements are essential in this game, as joystick navigation is not supported. Please note that the game does not support Oculus Quest and may not function properly with Oculus Link.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Thrill of the Fight - VR Boxing screenshot

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,002 reviews

gameplay108 positive mentions

stability24 negative mentions

gameplay
414 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
71%
2%
The gameplay of this boxing simulator is praised for its mechanical depth and realistic fighting mechanics, providing an intense and physically demanding experience that feels immersive and engaging. While the game excels in replicating boxing techniques and offers a solid workout, it faces criticism for inconsistent hit detection, unrealistic blocking mechanics, and a lack of diverse content. Overall, players appreciate the focus on skill and fitness, though some desire improvements in mechanics and additional gameplay modes.
- “The mechanics feel spot-on, and you can seriously dish out some damage if you know your stuff.”
- “The physics, movement, and gameplay are shockingly accurate.”
- “The gameplay is fun, challenging, and exhausting.”
- “The gameplay loop is honestly pretty basic, a series of boxing matches with a lineup of generic fighters from across the world, with you as the main contender.”
- “There are many more things I can negatively comment on, how inconsistent the game's hit detection can be, how it keeps reading my jabs as crosses, inflating my power-punch count, the fact the game doesn't detect your forearms and shoulders, greatly limiting your defensive options, and a completely undercooked clinch mechanic.”
- “Some of the things I enjoyed the least is the horrible 'hand endurance' mechanic which basically means you can only throw 2 effective punches in a combo and then you have to rely on 'defense' for 10 seconds while your hands recover stamina, and while I say defense I say it very lightly as the only forms of defense are holding your hands in front of your face (which the AI at least can still just punch right through) and weave away from punches which to put simply: doesn't work.”
graphics
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The graphics of the game are generally considered acceptable but not groundbreaking, with many reviewers noting that they fall short of modern VR standards. While some players appreciate the simplicity and immersive experience, others criticize the dated visuals, particularly in crowd animations and character models. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics and realism over high-end graphics, which some players find satisfactory for a boxing simulator.
- “The graphics may not be breathtaking, but it's a technically sound, engaging, and robust VR boxing game with a decent lineup of different boxers to fight, and adjustable difficulty for opponents.”
- “The graphics, though not flashy, look great in-game through my Oculus CV1.”
- “Graphics are impressive for VR (running high settings 1060 8GB).”
- “You can't move your corner; the dev puts excuses to avoid adding this function. What a shame, it looks like a 2000's video game graphic-wise.”
- “This game is fun to play, even if the presentation, graphically speaking, is a bit lacking by modern standards for VR games.”
- “I wish the graphics were a bit more current... as graphically it's like a PS3 game.”
story
168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
82%
6%
The game lacks a traditional story mode or career progression, which many players feel could enhance engagement and immersion. While some appreciate the focus on realistic boxing mechanics and workout intensity, others express a desire for a narrative element to provide context and motivation during gameplay. Overall, the absence of a story is noted as a significant drawback, especially when compared to other boxing games that offer richer narratives.
- “Creed features a good story, and it is generally meant to give you a fair workout whilst providing a story to play so that the game doesn't get boring.”
- “I love this game especially when I can't go to the gym in real life; it helps me get my fix, although I wish there was a campaign belt system where you had to follow a set story to get to that champion's spot.”
- “There is no story mode; I wish it had it, but it's still fun to play even without it as you'll face a steady number of opponents of increasing difficulty as you unlock new challengers after every victory in the ring.”
- “I do wish there was more content, maybe an actual storyline with character development.”
- “It's not as fun as some other stuff out there; there's no storyline, it's not multiplayer, and these things are unlikely to change.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
55%
14%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of engaging and atmospheric tracks that could enhance the overall experience. While some users have resorted to using external music players to create a more motivating environment, others feel that the game's silence makes it feel awkward and stale. Overall, there is a strong desire for the inclusion of customizable music options to improve gameplay immersion.
- “Play some epic music in the background, and don't forget to work on your uppercut.”
- “Put some rocky soundtracks playing in the background and knock the hell out of your opponents.”
- “1) Turn on some motivating workout music - sometimes the music will crescendo and sync to your fight, making it a great experience.”
- “The lack of music makes the game feel awkward and stale.”
- “I got sick of boxing in rhythm games with bad music.”
- “Since the game is so awkwardly silent, there should be added music in the background.”
replayability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
29%
8%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, offering a fun and intense workout experience that keeps players engaged. Users appreciate the ability to adjust difficulty and punch force, which enhances the game's longevity and appeal, making it a standout choice among VR boxing simulations. Despite some minor bugs, the overall consensus is that it remains a highly replayable and enjoyable experience, even years after its release.
- “With the ability to increase difficulty, or even manually adjust punch force (including far above or below your actual punch force), anyone focusing on fitness and boxing technique will find this infinitely replayable.”
- “If you're looking for a VR game that will give you an intense workout while still being enjoyable, look no further than 'The Thrill of the Fight.' Despite being released in 2016, this game still holds up as one of the most replayable and fun VR experiences.”
- “It's just fun, and I see the replay value as being endless.”
- “Creed has great presentation, but mechanics-wise and replay value, it is no contender.”
- “But what it has that other games struggle with is replay value.”
- “While I haven't tried any of the other VR boxing sims on Steam, this one seems solid for the price, and has a lot of replay value working through the higher difficulties.”
stability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant issues such as freezing, lag, and glitches, particularly during gameplay. However, others have noted improvements over time, highlighting that the game runs well on lower hardware specifications and offers an enjoyable experience despite minor bugs. Overall, while some users find it frustratingly unstable, others appreciate the progress made by the developers.
- “My hardware specifications are pretty low, and the game runs great.”
- “Graphics are also amazing and run great when supersampled to 1.8 on a GTX 1080, giving a strong feeling of immersion.”
- “The game maintains excellent performance even on lower-end hardware.”
- “Waste of money and an hour of my life troubleshooting.”
- “It gets hitching, it's laggy, it freezes constantly, barely works.”
- “My hands get stuck, my VR freezes and I can't even play a whole round.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the absurdity of the boxing mechanics and the quirky character designs, like the funny Italian coach, particularly entertaining. Many reviews highlight the comedic aspects of the gameplay, such as the lack of a stamina meter and the ridiculousness of trying to clinch in a virtual boxing match. Overall, the game is seen as a lighthearted and amusing experience, perfect for those looking for a fun and chaotic take on boxing rather than a serious simulation.
- “Had a funny thought about how there's no stamina meter or anything before I realized 'oh, it's me, I am the stamina meter.'”
- “If you like your wife laughing at you because you are sore from punching air, then buy it without looking back.”
- “The final boss, which I've now fought around 7 times, after going undefeated through the other 9 fighters, is hilariously unbalanced and unrewarding.”
optimization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The optimization of the game varies significantly across different VR setups; while users with high-end systems like the Valve Index and RTX 3080 Ti report smooth performance and no issues, others using the Quest 2 experience significant tracking problems that hinder gameplay. Some players have noted performance lag and stuttering that affect the game's responsiveness, impacting their ability to hit accurately. Overall, while many praise the optimization, there are notable concerns for users on certain platforms.
- “10/10 on optimization: 144hz on Valve Index, 200 super sampling with a 3080 Ti, ran beautifully smooth.”
- “I run this on a Rift S and have had no issues with performance or graphics.”
- “[b]+ the game runs flawlessly - no performance problems at all[/b]”
- “Fix performance lag/stutter - if there are any performance issues, it seems to affect how the game perceives your speed and how hard you hit, so you won't be hitting as hard or accurately as you should be.”
- “Haven't played the game a bunch, but when I first purchased it I had some issues with performance and some other random problems. I posted to the discussion board and the dev was remarkably quick to reply.”
- “It's crazy cheap too, and from a recent update I learned of LIV support and also using a Kinect v2 to record yourself in the game (if you don't have a big green-screen setup), which I'm working on so maybe I can learn to manage energy use better from analyzing my performance.”
emotional
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience while engaging in the game, feeling a genuine connection to the role of a boxer and the intensity of competition. The immersive elements, such as the presence of a referee and crowd, enhance the sense of achievement and personal growth, leading to feelings of pride and fulfillment after victories. However, some players express a desire for more customization and narrative depth to further enrich their emotional journey.
- “I've only played one match, but no game has made me feel this way. I think the one match was worth the 10 bucks.”
- “This game made me feel like a boxer.”
- “I fought a VR guy and it was very grueling. I sweat a lot, but then I knocked him down and everyone said I was the winner, and that made me feel good about my life and about this game.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
Reviews highlight that while the game effectively simulates real boxing mechanics, it lacks engaging and interactive music that could enhance the overall atmosphere. Players express a desire for more immersive elements, such as pre-fight rituals and a career mode, to create a richer experience. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a missed opportunity that could significantly elevate the game's impact.
- “The atmosphere, the fight mechanics, everything feels very much like real boxing.”
- “If this game would focus a little bit more on the atmosphere and has a career mode, it would round up the whole experience a lot.”
- “Only wish it had more atmosphere like walking to the ring or warming up in the locker room.”
- “I know, the game focuses on being a simulation, but come on, give me some Rocky flair; the above mentioned would add a lot to the atmosphere.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players express that grinding in the game can be excessively demanding, often requiring significant time and effort, akin to needing a "second life" to keep up. While the intense matches can elevate heart rates and provide a workout, the mechanics can unintentionally penalize certain playstyles, making the experience feel tedious for some. Overall, the game is not designed for prolonged grinding, yet it can become a grind if players are not adequately fit.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's not meant to be an hours on end grinding game but can be if you are totally fit (unlike me).”
- “The matches really get your heart rate up; I find exercising like that usually tedious.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers appreciate the lack of intrusive upgrades and in-game purchases, highlighting a straightforward monetization model that avoids frustrating paywalls and unnecessary microtransactions.
- “There aren't any unnecessary upgrades or in-game purchases; it isn't like 'Oh, you knocked out this pro boxer!'”
- “There aren't any unnecessary upgrades or in-game purchases; it isn't like 'oh, you knocked out this pro boxer!'”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Users express a desire for deeper character development and a more substantial storyline, indicating that the current content feels lacking in these areas.
- “I do wish there was more content, maybe an actual storyline with character development.”