Black & Bruised didn't receive much success when it was first released, as no new entry in the series has been released since then, but those that enjoy the game think that it's worth at least checking out should it be found.
This game provides examples of:
- Acrofatic: Bronto Sore and Jackpot show surprising agility when they bounce back up from getting knocked down.
- All-American Face: Kid USA's shorts have the print of the American flag on it.
- Alpha Bitch: Jumping Janet. Nearly all of her fights in her story mode started because of her bad attitude with her final fight have three of the people she ticked off ganging up on her in an alley.
- Amusing Injuries: Any and all injuries in the story cutscenes are Played for Laughs.
- Bald of Evil:
- Butt-Monkey: Several of the guys, although the biggest example is posterboy Mickey Mcfist who, throughout his OWN story mode, is constantly taking abuse to make his fights harder.
- Defensive Feint Trap: Royal Pain has a move that looks like he is having a heart attack before he sucker-punches his opponent with an uppercut.
- Granola Girl: Ally Gator, although she balances her tree-hugging, animal-loving self out with having one of the shortest tempers in the game.
- Jerkass: While some are better than others, ALL of the boxers have shades of this, especially Janet, whose jerkassery is the reason for half of her story mode fights.
- Masked Luchador: Somewhat. El Luchador dresses like one but like everyone else, he fights by boxing. It is really more of a superhero outfit.
- Megaton Punch: One of the game's power-ups is a "Special" item that allows the player to use their character's signature move. This can be leveled up twice to create a move that can take off around one-third of your opponent's life bar.
- Moose and Maple Syrup: Tiny, the green-haired giant, is a Canadian lumberjack with a stereotypical accent.
- One-Hit Kill: Kinda. The Level 3 Poison power up makes it so landing a single punch drains your opponents stamina completely, dazing them instantly for you to follow up into a potential knock out.
- Person of Mass Destruction: King Kahn is generally portrayed as, while not having much of a personality, someone who is very capable of tearing you a new one if he wants to.
- Straw Misogynist: Old Master has "old-fashioned" views on women. If Maiaguru didn't pay him upfront, he wouldn't have even bothered to train her.
- This Loser Is You: Jackpot is a Fat Slob who has no day job other than a boxer and is always thinking about food until he started his own cooking show.
- Training Montage: The story mode for secret character King Kahn is played out like a training challenge for him.
- Trash Talk: Randomly-generated in-between rounds. The two opponents banter back and forth a few times.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Mickey Mcfist and Bronto Sore. The announcer says that they go way back and they share drinks together at the end of Mickey's story, but the entire time prior, Bronto is seen pummeling on Mickey.
