RGM Goes Retro: Punch-Out!!

Boxing is a sport I was never able to really get into. I remember my grandfather watching it and being excited about upcoming fights.  For me, it was boring and I had more fun watching the choreographed fights of Rocky then a real boxing match.  Despite not being a big fan of the sport one of my all-time favorite games is Punch-Out!! for the NES.  This game was a test of reflexes and memorization that kept me hooked.

The game was originally released first in North America as Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! This is one of the few games to be released in the North American market before the Japanese market.  It was a huge success and was released in Japan a couple of months later.  Nintendo re-released the game as Punch-Out!! in 1990 after not renewing the license to use the Mike Tyson name.  Mike Tyson was replaced in this version of the game with a fictional character named Mr. Dream.

Cover art featuring Mr. Dream.

The version I had growing up was Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! One of the things I remember most is the colorful cast of boxers that you fight.  Your fighter, known as Little Mac, needed to climb the rankings by defeating other boxers.   Some of the fighters were easy such as Glass Joe who, much like his name, was easy to defeat.  You also had the iconic boxer in King Hippo who’s become a trademark of the Punch-Out!! franchise.  He can only be knocked out by punching him in the mouth at the right time than punching the bandage on his stomach.

Controls were simple. You can dodge left and right, block, body punches, face punches, and a super uppercut.  You are not able to move your character around the ring, you stay in one spot and have to perfectly dodge and time your attacks on the opponent.  Each opponent has a different skill set and punch variations.  I thought of each fight as a boss fight.  The player needs to be quick with their reflexes but also remember the fight pattern of their opponent.  It starts off easy but quickly escalates. Eventually you will get a rematch with some of the fighters you defeated, however, they would come prepared with new attacks and quicker reaction times.  I also enjoyed Mario making a cameo as the referee which was a nice touch.

The classic boxer King Hippo.
The classic boxer King Hippo.

What I found and still find fun about Punch-Out!! is the tension you get while playing.  You are constantly on your toes waiting for the perfect moment to strike or dodge.  One slip up can throw you out of your rhythm and find you face down on the mat in seconds.  Rhythm is required in this game as much as timing and memorization.  Each fight has a certain flow to it to the point that if you play it enough you could probably beat a fighter blindfolded just by knowing the timing and sound effects.  This isn’t a weakness to the game though.  In my opinion, memorizing and reacting to each fighter’s unique pattern is what gives the game its replay ability.

If you do manage to make it to the final boxer whether it be Mike Tyson or Mr. Dream, you’re in for a rude awakening. As a child, I’ve gotten to Mike Tyson without a pass code 1 time.  I’ve beaten him before but that was using the pass code that takes you right to his fight.  If you play the game from the start it is extremely challenging the further up in rank you go.  They released future console titles on the SNES titled Super Punch-Out!! and a version on the Wii simply titled Punch-Out!! Both of those games are fantastic, are worth playing, and have the same addictive formula as the original.

Punch-Out!! is a perfect example of what gaming was in the 80s and early 90s.  Simple concept executed flawlessly.  This isn’t a game with an epic story line but it’s a game that has infinite replay ability that stands the test of time.  The good news is for anyone who has not had the opportunity to play Punch-Out!! you will get a chance to when the NES Classic Edition releases this November as it’s one of the 30 built-in games.

Have you played Punch-Out!! and what are your thoughts on it?  Let us know in the comment section or over in the RGM forums.