The last Rocky videogame managed to win some fans and become a decent hit, but Ubisoft isn't content with developing decent titles, so when they set out to do its sequel, Rocky Legends, they wanted to make it the definitive Rocky experience, and getting some playtime with it, I was very impressed with what the company's put together. If you love boxing and/or eat, sleep, and breathe Rocky, this may be the last game you'll ever need.

Rocky Legends is much more than just a sequel to a videogame. A prequel to the popular films, the game is one of a kind. With MGM's blessing, Ubisoft and developer Venom Games has been granted the privilege of reediting movie footage. What this means, is after you win the game's career mode with one of four boxers (Rocky Balboa, Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, or Ivan Drago.), you'll see actual movie footage that's been reedited to show your fighter winning. In other words, if you play as Drago, you rewrite Rocky IV by making Balboa eat canvas. Not only is this feature one of the game's biggest selling points, but it's taking a place that is unprecedented in the videogame industry, and years from now, we may look back and say that it all started with Ubisoft.

Even though the reediting is cool, Rocky Legends' features are almost endless. For starters, there are 26 new boxers, which makes the game's roster soar past 40, and there are 20 venues including the docks, the Philadelphia Art Museum, and the Russian training camp, and the visuals are very sharp as well. The boxers (composed of double the polygons over the original) are accurate representations of the actors from the films, and the venues are over the top and filled with signatures to make them unique. The blood and sweat that erupts from bruised faces is also very impressive looking, much better than EA's Fight Night.

Let's go back to the career mode. As I said, you can choose from among four boxers, and the object is to rise from amateur punk to champion of the world. Along the way you'll box against fighters from the movies, and to get in shape you'll be able to play eight training games, each of which is tailored to the boxer you're playing as, so if you choose Rocky, expect to chase after chickens.

The career mode sounds like a lot of fun, but there's plenty more to see and do. You can have knockout tournaments for up to 16 players, and you can win money to unlock characters, venues, and costumes. Plus, there are trailers for each Rocky film!

Okay, so we've got excellent graphics and tons of extras, but how does the game play? Surprisingly good, so much so that I want it ASAP. Rocky Legends feels arcadey, making the game easy for anyone to pick up and play, and the hits are absolutely brutal. When you're on the ropes and losing energy, you can enable Fury Mode, an option that makes you stronger and faster but at the same time takes away your ability to block. Think of it as one last adrenaline boost where you need to fight for your life, but don't worry if you're not fond of this, as it can be easily toggled on or off.

If you're on the offensive and looking to unleash some fury of your own, you can build up enough energy to explode with a three-hit super punch combo. Each character has his or her own, and the one I saw, a brutal pounding by Clubber Lang, sent my opponent's face to the canvas faster than you can say Ubisoft. It was quick and very painful looking; one of those exchanges that'll have you jumping on the couch screaming, "DAMN!"

Ubisoft's jam-packed Rocky Legends with so much cool stuff it may be criminal to pass it up. It's definitely shaping up to be the deepest boxing game ever created, and for fans of the movies, it doesn't get much better than this. Definitely keep your eye on this one when it releases this October.