Punch-Out!!
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2009) |
| Punch-Out!! | |
|---|---|
 The most recent Punch-Out!! series logo. Based on the title screen logo of the original Punch-Out!! arcade game. | |
| Genre(s) | Sports, Fighting |
| Developer(s) | Nintendo IRD Nintendo Next Level Games |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Creator(s) | Genyo Takeda Makoto Wada[1] |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Game & Watch, Nintendo Entertainment System, PlayChoice-10, Virtual Console, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii, WiiWare, Wii U, Nintendo Switch |
| First release | Punch-Out!! February 1984 |
| Latest release | Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! October 27, 2009 |
| Spin-offs | Arm Wrestling |
Punch-Out!![a] is a Japanese video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. It started in arcades simply as Punch-Out!! (1984), which was followed by a sequel Super Punch-Out!! (1984). The series was released on home consoles soon after, starting with the Famicom and NES Punch-Out!! / Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! in 1987 and a SNES and Super Famicom sequel Super Punch-Out!! in 1994.
A reboot of the series entitled Punch-Out!!, was released in May 2009 on the Wii, along with a Club Nintendo exclusive WiiWare prequel Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! in October 2009. The series also had a spin-off called Arm Wrestling, which was released only in North American arcades, and was Nintendo's last arcade game they independently developed and released.
Gameplay[]
Playing as Little Mac, a 17-year old boxer from Bronx, New York called The Bruiser from the Bronx, he must climb the ranks of the World Video Boxing Association (WVBA for short), and fight his way against other boxers from around the world, going from the Minor Circuit then the Major Circuit and then the World Circuit, while fighting challengers including Glass Joe, Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman, or in the original NES version, the former heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson. Gameplay differs slightly between each game, but generally, Mac can attack with his left and right fists, at the head or the body, and can also dodge and block to avoid the opponent's attacks. Many games in the series give the player a powerful uppercut ability; its use is limited, must be earned during matches, and has a star punch that can be obtained by hitting an opponent while taunting or at just the right time. Little Mac can also block, causing him to take minimal damage.
The key to defeating each opponent is to learn their fighting patterns, avoid their attacks and respond with a counterattack. Opponents will often give a visual or audible cue to signal their attacks. If the player successfully dodges an attack, the opponent will be left vulnerable for a while, allowing the player to strike back. Little Mac can block some of his opponent's punches by holding up his gloves, but he will eventually tire out if he blocks too much.
Characters[]
List of games[]
| Title | Platform(s) | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punch-Out!! | Arcade, Nintendo Switch (eShop) | Japan: 1984, 2018 North America and Europe: 1984, 2018 |
The first Punch-Out!! title. Later released on Nintendo Switch as part of Hamster's Arcade Archives series. |
| Punch-Out!! / Boxing | Game & Watch | North America and Europe: 1984 | The first purchasable Punch-Out!! title. Originally released under the generic title of Boxing, but quickly changed its title to Punch-Out!! due to the popularity of the arcade game. |
| Super Punch-Out!! | Arcade, Nintendo Switch | Japan: 1984 North America and Europe: 1985 |
The sequel to the first Punch-Out!! arcade, the first to feature the "duck" move for avoiding moves that cannot be dodged sideways nor blocked. |
| Arm Wrestling | Arcade | North America: 1985 | The first spin-off in the Punch-Out!! series, as well as Nintendo's last arcade exclusive game it independently created and released. |
| Punch-Out!! / Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! | NES, Wii (Virtual Console), Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console), Wii U (Virtual Console), Nintendo Switch (NES game library) | Japan: 1987, 2007 North America: 1987, 1990, 2007 PAL region: 1988, 1990, 2007 |
The first Punch-Out!! title to appear on a home console, as well as the first to feature a plot. Also, a semi-port of both the Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!! arcade games (mostly inclined towards the latter) with some variations. Originally featuring Super Macho Man as the final boss in the gold version given out to Golf U.S. Course Famicom Tournament winners. Then came the Mike Tyson version, and later featuring Mr. Dream. |
| Super Punch-Out!! | Super NES, Wii (Virtual Console), Wii U (Virtual Console), New Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) | Japan: 1998 North America: 1994, 1996, 2009 Europe: 1995, 2009 |
An updated home console version of the arcade game of the same name and the sequel to the three NES versions. It is the first to allow players to select any boxer they want to battle against, instead of a group. |
| Punch-Out!! | Wii, Wii U (Virtual Console) | North America: May 18, 2009 Europe: May 22, 2009 Japan: July 23, 2009 Australia: August 27, 2009 |
A reboot of the Punch-Out series. It is the first title in the series to be published in over a decade, and was developed by Next Level Games. It is the first title in the series to be rendered in three-dimensions and full motion video, as well as the first to include a multiplayer option and optional motion based controls.
The game was digitally re-released on the Wii U via the Nintendo eShop's Wii virtual console in 2015. It can be played directly on the Wii U menu instead of going to the Wii emulator of the Wii U. Features 1080p up-scaled graphics in 480p. |
| Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! | WiiWare | North America: October 27, 2009 | A prequel to the Wii version of Punch-Out!!, it is a WiiWare title that was originally available as a download exclusive to 2009 Club Nintendo Platinum members.[2] It was later re-released among over 100 other titles to be claimed by general Club Nintendo members, between January and June 2015 inclusively, as an incentive to spend expiring Coins prior to Club Nintendo's closure. |
Other appearances in media[]
The series has made multiple appearances in other games as well. The SNES version of Super Punch-Out!! was included in the Nintendo GameCube version of Electronic Arts' Fight Night Round 2. The protagonist of the SNES version of Super Punch-Out!! appears as a secret boxer in full 3D with the name "MAC" on his boxers and was referred to as "Little Mac" as part of the Nintendo-exclusives deal between Nintendo and EA in allowing several Nintendo characters to star in EA sports games. Due to the third-party nature of his role in the game, it is considered by several fans of the series, to be uncanon. Little Mac further made a cameo appearance in skip Ltd.'s Wii video game Captain Rainbow, where the title character has to help train Little Mac to get in shape to regain his championship title.[3] Little Mac also appears as an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl before becoming a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U[4] and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
A short story about the NES Punch-Out!! titles was made for the Nintendo Comics System.[citation needed]
In the popular YouTube series "Half-Life but the AI is Self-Aware" the character Dr. Coomer states that his favorite game was Super Punch Out!! because of its story being about a boxer facing impossible odds to become the champion. [5]
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ "N-Sider.com Makoto Wada". N-Sider. Archived from the original on 2007-10-28. Retrieved 2009-07-01. Cite journal requires
|journal=(help) - ^ Craig Harris (2009-07-14). "Doc Louis Hits the Ring - Wii News at IGN". Wii.ign.com. Archived from the original on 2009-07-17. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ "IGN: Captain Rainbow". Wii.ign.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-09. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ Schreier, Jason. "Smash Bros.' Newest Contestant: Punch-Out's Little Mac". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2014-02-14. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
- ^ https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/TearJerker/HalfLifeButTheAIIsSelfAware
External links[]
- Punch-Out!!
- Nintendo franchises
- Video game franchises introduced in 1983
- Video game franchises introduced in 1984