Which I think is reason enough to play the first game. So let's get on that. The version I'm playing is the original Mike Tyson version, because it's just more satisfying to fight Tyson then Mr. Dream. Just for clarification.
In Punch-Out!! you play as Little Mac as you attempt to fight your way to the top of the WVBA (World Video Boxing Association), fighting a variety of colorful opponents with the support of Doc Louis. Your goal is to get the highest rank by defeating Mike Tyson himself.
Actually there's not much to the plot of this game.
The gameplay in Punch-Out!! is simple. Being locked in place, you have the ability to punch with your left and right fists (Done by pressing A or B respectively.) while aiming towards your opponents head or stomach (Stomach is the default while holding Up allows you to punch the head.). Little Mac is able to dodge left or right in order to avoid damage. Or, he can block in order to greatly reduce damage received, which is done by pressing Down on the D-pad. The key to dealing damage is by dodging attacks and punching while your opponent is open. If you manage to land a hit before they attack, you earn a star. Pressing Select executes a devastating uppercut that gets more powerful the more stars you have, maxing out at three. You lose all your stars if you take damage however, so it's risk vs. reward.
In typical boxing fare, knocking your opponent down will start a count to 10. If your opponent stays down for those 10 seconds, you win. If they get back up, the match continues. If you knock them down three times within a single round, then you win by TKO. This also applies to you however, which will become clear if you decide to take "The Challenge". If you make it to the end of the third round, then a split decision will determine who wins the match. Which is again, very clear if you take "The Challenge".
Now in terms of presentation, this game looks very good for a game made in 1987. All the sprites look really good and are filled with personality. Though sometimes the expressions can look a little...strange.
Yeah...like that...
In terms of the soundtrack, it's full of catchy themes that like to stick in your head. Themes like the Fight Theme, and the Game Over theme are particularly catchy, while the Jogging Theme has gone to transcend meme status. I won't explain why, but it has, and it's one of the catchiest themes in the series.
Now it needs to be mentioned that this game is very hard. It starts easy enough, but then you'll remember that you're playing a game on the NES. Your skills of dodging and punching at precise moments will be tested. Knowing exactly when to receive stars and exactly when to use them will be rough, and memorizing what attacks opponents use and how to dodge them will be key. Thankfully, there are unlimited continues and passwords you receive that help you continue, but it will take multiple attempts to take down later opponents. And especially ESPECIALLY when attempting "The Challenge".
Okay, enough beating around the bush. You all want to know what "The Challenge" is, and many of you probably already know. But "The Challenge" is just my name of the bout between you and...
Mike Tyson. This monster of a opponent is fast and will knock you clean out if you're not good enough. It takes one punch ONE PUNCH to knock you down, meaning you can only afford three mistakes per round. If you're to defeat Mike Tyson, you will need to be perfect, knowing when to strike and when and how to dodge his death-bringing punches. If you can survive the first round, then it becomes slightly easier, reflecting the real Mike Tyson's tactics, but he can still take you out in a matter of seconds if not prepared. Thankfully, there exists a password for fighting Tyson(007 373 5963), and he also won't bite your ear off, but prepare for a challenge when you fight him. But I'm a man! So I went up to Tyson with my fists out ready for a fight and...
Ignoring the extreme difficulty of Mike Tyson, Punch-Out!! is a very fun game. It's simple, yet engaging enough to keep you interested and on your toes for the entire game. Just be ready to have your reflexes and your memory tested, because you'll get destroyed if you're not paying attention. But its worth playing, regardless of what version it is. Once again, the version I was playing was the Mike Tyson version, which can only be played through an original copy of the game, or through emulators. If you get the game on the Virtual Console, Mike Tyson will be replaced with Mr. Dream, who is exactly the same as Mike Tyson. It's just not the same fighting him however, though it does make for some funny Kirby jokes, seeing as he does hail from Dreamland. No seriously, look it up.
The Silent Protagonist wants you to join The Nintendo Fun Club today!
All images are the property of their original owners. If I made these, then this probably wouldn't happen.
No comments:
Post a Comment