Punch-Out!! (Wii) Mini-Review
Gamers have been salivating over the prospects of Punch-Out!! on the Wii since the control scheme was first announced at E3 so many years ago. With the ability to throw punches, rather than hitting A or B, the franchise received a new lease on life with the latest title from Nintendo’s go to third-party developer for sports games, Next Level Games. The Canadian company grabbed their dusty copy of the NES classic and began its “research” with reckless abandon.
Being a pseudo-remake of the NES classic, players know what to expect from the title, humor, stereotyping, bad one-liners, ridiculous opponent abilities, and an often useless coach. In all those respects, Next Level Games hits the nail on the head. In addition to the spot on remake with updated graphics and sound, the Canadian team’s handful of new pugilists fit right in to the line-up, especially the cocky, head bopping Disco Kid. The cel-shaded art style really makes his self-loving wink and dance moves sparkle.
Punch-Out!! is not a game that will keep you busy for long, but there is stuff to do beyond the basic, short for those who excelled at gaming in the 80s, Career Mode. NLG packed in alternative challenges such as extensions to your career by the unlockable Title Defense and Last Stand challenges, an Exhibition Mode, that acts as a proving grounds for tough-to-beat boxers, or a challenging area where each fighter holds three special goals. Paired up with those is the series’ first Head-to-Head Mode. Head-to-Head allows gamers to duke it out Wii Boxing style with a Punch-Out!! twist. Land enough punches and go all Hulk on your opponent via the Giga Mac buff. Like the rest of the game, the versus gameplay isn’t very deep, but it’s fun nonetheless.
I’d be remiss if I did not mention that gamers can control Little Mac via the Wiimote and Nunchuck, the Wiimote, Nunchuck and Balance Board, or the Wiimote on its side (classic control scheme). In an age when customizable controls are going the way of adventure games, it is nice to see Next Level Games offer so many distinct flavors.
The current price is still steep for the content, but any gamer looking to take a trip down memory lane would be insane to pass up a discounted Punch-Out!!. It isn’t as deep of a hardcore experience as Super Smash Bros. Brawl or Mario Kart Wii, but the title delivers an excellent boxing experience with charm and humor.
Let me stress that a bit more, Punch-Out!!, even though it is ridiculous, offers the best boxing experience on the Wii. And if you don’t fake the motions, it can be quite a workout!
