Having the most memorable sweat in a videogame is a bit like having the most Don King-like hairstyle in your local town - it doesn't seem the kind of title you'd want to draw attention to owning. It's strange then that EA Canada - the developers of Fight Night Round 4 - appear to be brimming with pride at being regarded holders of the top prize in perspiration - or perhaps it's not when you consider that their sole focus seems to be crafting the most realistic sports game ever.

Back in 2006, the release of Fight Night Round 3 caused even those who weren't ardent boxing fans to stand up and take notice. So impressive was the look of the action that it was almost a watershed moment which heralded the arrival of the new console era and enabled the title to not only transcend the general appeal for boxing games at the time but also for the sport of boxing itself, which was already on the back foot against the aggressive advances of the mixed martial arts phenomenon. The fact that Round 3 stopped just short of delivering a knockout performance meant that, in all likelihood, the sequel would sell on little more than a series of tweaks and refinements. It's a tribute to the self-motivational skills of the developers then that they've decided to push the bar even higher, particularly when you consider the lack of direct competition, and that the next closest approximations to the sweet science - the likes of Super Punch Out and Facebreaker - are different animals altogether.

The time away from the spectacle and spotlight of the ring has afforded EA the opportunity to analyse the reception to Round 3 and use this to mould its protégée into an even more complete fighter. One of the foremost problems with the last game (and an issue with which the sport itself is all too familiar) was that - well, how can I put this - there were moments in fights that were slightly too rehearsed to be believable. It's an accusation that the developers are willing to fully admit to, and one they've ensured won't be resurrected in discussions over FNR4 by introducing a dynamically reworked physics system. By combining adaptive motion capture technology with the same framework of muscles found in the human body, the basic character models will move naturally, realistically throwing and taking everything from glancing blows to contest-ending haymakers. On top of this, each of the forty-eight pro fighters in the game (a full list of whom can be found at the end of this preview) will feature their trademark appearances and mannerisms; so as well as Ali's effortless shuffle, you can expect the likes of Ricky Hatton's terrier-like tenacity and Manny Pacquiao's electric, out-of-the-gate pace to be fully evident in the final product. Rather than being just for show, these unique characteristics will also play a heavy role in dictating the tactics used with each boxer; with parrying removed and guards much easier to break through, playing to your fighter's strengths has never been more important, as while the likes of Lennox Lewis may benefit from intimidating amounts of height and reach, you'll need to utilise these to keep smaller, faster fighters at arm's length and prevent them from getting close and working you inside before darting away again to safety.

With no HUD to draw your eye away from the action, the top level of visual sheen - which sees eyes blacken, cheeks swell, lips burst, and the aforementioned sweat sent shooting into the air - will once again be vitally important in gauging your fighter's remaining resilience. In between rounds, the corner game returns, albeit in a revised form, displaying your current health, stamina and damage bars and allowing you to bolster these with the points you've earned for punching accuracy, dodging, stuns, and knockdowns.

The feedback that EA received on Round 3's single player career was that it was a bit of a featherweight option. In bulking this out to create FNR4's new Legacy mode, the developers have included eight weight divisions from fly to heavyweight, with multiple titles to challenge for in each division and the chance to move between these weight classes. The story once again seems likely to be of the wannabe to world champion variety but the game will constantly be tracking your record, popularity and pound for pound status, so that when you finally hang up your gloves you'll be able to see whether history will view you as merely a contender or the greatest of all time. It's a feature that EA are hoping will extend Round 4's longevity for solo gamers in the same way that online ranked and unranked bouts and the online world championships - complete with belts to win and defend - will for multiplayer.

Rather than producing a cynical update, the developers have decided to take on the much more arduous task of crafting a true sequel - and until it's finally released, questions will continue to be raised in relation to the balancing of the computer A.I. and whether the game will be able to move at an unhindered sixty frames per second whilst reproducing so much detail. EA Canada have put so much effort into this game that the blood and sweat they've exerted are only one step away from what fighters are losing onscreen, and while it's not yet certain that there won't be any tears to go along with these, it's looking like Fight Night Round 4 will be a game where you truly can believe the hype.

Fight Night Round 4 is scheduled for release on Xbox 360 and PS3 on 26th June 2009 in the UK and 25th June in the US.

The full, pre-release announced roster of fighters is as follows:

Thomas Adamek
Muhammad Ali
Amin Asikainen
Marco Antonion Barrera
Jorge Arce
Emanuel Augustus
Joe Calzaghe
Nate Campbell
Eddie Chambers
Julio Cesar Chavez
Kermit Cintron
Miguel Cotto
Diego Corrales
Billy Dib
Nonito Donaire
Roberto Duran
George Foreman
Joe Frazier
Yuiorkis Gamboa
Arturo Gatti
Robert Guerrero
Marvin Hagler
Vivian Harris
Ricky Hatton
Thomas Hearns
Roy Jones Jr.
Jake LaMotta
Sugar Ray Leonard
Lennox Lewis
Paulie Malignaggi
Fernando Montiel
Carlos Monzon
Sergio Mora
Erik Morales
Tommy Morrisson
Shane Mosley
Anthony Mundine
Victor Ortiz
Manny Pacquiao
Kelly Pavlik
Vinny Pazienza
Sugar Ray Robinson
Corey Spinks
Jermain Taylor
James Tony
Mike Tyson
Pernell Whitaker
Winky Wright

Previewed by James Hamblin for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).