Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo Released: 09/14/94 Genre: Sports
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out is one of the most popular games of all time. From older gamers to celebrities, every child of the 80’s has either played it or knows of it. I would even say it has earned classic status. But how do you follow that up? Nintendo did just with Super Punch-Out in 1994. Super Punch-Out is a great game but misses that spark that made its predecessor legendary. But even so it is more than worth your time.
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out! for the NES was essentially a remake of the arcade game Punch-Out. It used some of the same boxers but changed the perspective and gameplay. Most would say it was superior to the arcade game and it would go on to become one of the best games of all time. Super Punch-Out is a 16-bit remake of the arcade game of the same name but stays closer to its roots. Super Punch-Out is possibly the best boxing game of that generation but at the same time loses some of what made its predecessor so great.
While it may look the same there are plenty of changes in all facets of Super Punch-Out. The first is the protagonist: Little Mac is gone. In his place is a nameless blonde protagonist. The wire frame boxer of the arcade game is replaced with a transparent fighter which works a lot better. There are no longer three separate rounds either. Now you have three minutes to earn a technical knockout or you lose. And finally the game is split in to four circuits: Minor, Major, World and Special, with the special circuit only accessible with a perfect record.
The general gameplay has also seen a bit of an overhaul. You still have the same left and right jabs and body blows. The speed and power of your punches varies due to the new power-up system. As you land consecutive hits your character portrait will change color. As it does so your blows power up, from weak to strong. It functions like an alternate version of the KO meter. Speaking of which, the star system has been returned to the meter from the arcade. The meter builds as you inflict damage but will also deplete when you get hit. At full power you can unleash a variety of punches, from a knockout punch to rapid fire blows. So long as you aren’t hit the meter stays full, allowing you to use it as you see fit.
The cast of opponents is a mix of characters from both arcade games alongside a mostly new cast. Fan favorites Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman, and Super Macho Man return. From the arcade game Dragon Chan and Bear Hugger make their console debut. The rest of the lineup is a bunch of characters.
Punch-Out has always had an element of ridiculousness to it. Just the idea that any boxing organization would allow a one hundred pound teenager to fight Mike Tyson or Super Macho Man is laughable. But Super Punch-Out takes it to an absurd level. Mad Clown is a surprisingly agile fat man who will pelt you with balls prior to delivering a knockout blow. Dragon Chan bounces of the ropes like a WWE superstar to deliver devastating flying kicks. Hoy Qarlow is a septuagenarian who beats you with his walking stick. In some cases you will recognize the ghost of past fighters among the new cast; Piston Hurricane is essentially Piston Honda. But the game is diverse enough that it doesn’t matter.
Super Punch-Out features an especially steep difficulty curve, even higher than the original. Most of it comes from the single round structure. Previously you could completely botch the first and second rounds and still make a comeback in the third. But with three minutes to not only learn each boxer’s ticks + knock them out it becomes a tall order. It is asking a lot to earn a perfect record to even reach the special circuit. At least the game has battery backup this time. When you do reach the special circuit, wow. That difficulty spike makes the first game seem like child’s play.
With the high challenge Super Punch-Out will take some time to complete. But what adds a lot of replay value is the Time Trial Mode. Competing against the development team’s win times for each boxer is incredibly fun. They highly incentivize mastering the intricacies of each boxer. But they also highlight a hidden feature in the game. Every fighter is susceptible to a particular punch or combination that when executed correctly will guarantee an automatic knockout. Some of these are insane; beating Nick Bruiser in under thirty seconds sounds impossible. But it’s actually doable with skill.
Super Punch-Out has everything; better graphics, fun mechanics, and high replay value. Yet it loses the personality that made the original Punch-Out so great. Following Little Mac’s journey as he rose through the ranks was entertaining. The training montages might have been goofy but they added character. Even the silly chatter between rounds gave the game character. Sure, a lot of it was slightly racist but it was at least memorable. Little Mac is just some guy now, devoid of any charm. And while it may be controversial now the Mike Tyson endorsement was absolutely brilliant at the time. Super Punch-Out is still great but it lacks that last little bit that truly makes a game exceptional.
In Closing
Pomp and circumstance aside Super Punch-Out is an amazing game. Boxing games are rare and Super Punch-Out has held up exceptionally well over the years, making it a worthwhile purchase even now.
