The demo (Xbox 360 delight #008)
We knew that the ability to download playable demos via the Xbox Live Marketplace was a key feature of the Xbox 360, but we never imaged that one not-so-tiny-download could pack this kinda punch. Enter: Fight Night Round 3 demo, two controllers, and a room full of old pals with never ending scores to settle.
Sure this demo has been available for over a month now, but this past weekend was my first chance to introduce it to a room full of old friends, some of whom had sworn off gaming years ago. The result was electrifying. It was like being transported back to the late 90s, when weekend afternoons dissolved into ceaseless Tekken 2 tournaments. And we're talking about a demo here, folks. A demo.
The fact that we were limited to four round fights and a choice between Bernard Hopkins or Roy Jones Jr. wasn't an issue. Perhaps this speaks more to the exceptional gameplay mechanics and design that EA has implemented into Fight Night for the 360, but keep in mind that few of us would be privy to this without the Xbox Live Marketplace feature. The availability of online downloadable demos isn't a groundbreaking concept, but it's new to the console gaming scene, and when done right, a demo can be more than enough to satisfy old friends with an afternoon to kill.
Other Xbox 360 delights: 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007
Xbox 360 annoyances: 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013
