Gameplay

The games have never been particularly easy but they were beatable with memorization of the opponent’s moves. Next Level Games could have been tempted to make the game far more complicated in nature but they stuck true to the source material and Punch Out!! plays just like its NES, Super NES and arcade siblings. The series basic gameplay is based on move recognition and memorizing those moves and this new addition sticks to that formula. In fact players who have played the previous games in the series should be able to jump right in and compete as the classic characters still do their classic moves with a few updates here and there.

The main game touts 14 fighters spaced out amongst three circuits and it includes a variety of fighters from both the NES Punch Out!! and its SNES sequel Super Punch Out!!. The roster includes the likes of Glass Joe, Bald Bull, Great Tiger, Piston Honda (renamed Piston Hondo), and King Hippo amongst others as well as a surprise or two. Each character is still very much a racial stereotype and each match begins with a short intro movie starring the character in their native environment while knocking them out will result in that character seeing something specific to the characters stereotype (like flying baguettes for Glass Joe).

Career mode

While the game can be hard, and does get progressively harder as you go along, all 14 fighters in the game can be completed in a relatively short period of time. This would be a huge detraction from the game except that Punch Out!! includes a second career mode called Title Defense, in which players will have to fight against the same characters as before but those characters now have different tactics in play. Title Defense is a great addition and adds some much needed length to the title but Next Level Games has also included a local multiplayer mode that is perfect for passing around the controller with friends. Each player plays as Little Mac and the game plays and handles pretty much exactly like the single player game with the exception that players can become Giga Mac a huge hulking Mac that packs quite a punch. Giga Mac is quite a sight and while playing in a group setting is sure to get some screams of astonishment. While it is slightly disappointing that there is no online multiplayer it is still great fun if somewhat of a throwaway mode.

Loving tribute

All in all Punch Out!! is a very good package. What Next Level Games has produced with Punch Out!! is a loving tribute to the classic game that will satisfy long time fans as well as being something that gamers who began gaming with the Wii will be able to appreciate and enjoy.