Super Punch-Out!! (arcade game)

Super Punch-Out!!
Arcade flyer of Super Punch-Out!!.
Developer(s)	Nintendo IRD
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Arcade game
Release	1985
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	Single Player

Super Punch-Out!! (スーパーパンチアウト!!, Sūpā Panchi-Auto!!) is a 1985 arcade game by Nintendo. It is a boxing game with the same gameplay and digitized speech of its arcade precursor, Punch-Out!!. This second game in the Punch-Out!! series introduced recurring video games characters such as Bear Hugger, Dragon Chan, Vodka Drunkenski, Great Tiger and Super Macho Man.

Description

File:Arcade macho.gif

The final match in Super Punch-Out!! against Super Macho Man.

Like in the previous game of the Punch-Out!! series, the player assumes the role of a green-haired boxer, known by three initials the player assumes the role of a boxer working through the ranks of the WVBA (World Video Boxing Association). During matches, the player's boxer is viewed from behind as a wireframe (so the opponents can be seen). The player must time his punches, dodges and blocks in order to defeat the opposing boxer. Hints are given as to the opponents next move by subtle eye changes (the white of the eyes turn from white to yellow), but the player must ultimately predict what moves the opponent will make and react appropriately.

The figures in the game are very cartoonish, but are very appropriate for the game's genre. The player faces five opponents, in the following order:

• Bear Hugger from Canada is immune to body blows. Every time he stands up after being knocked down, he will try to do his one-hit KO move: the Bear Hug. The only way to dodge it is to crouch.

• Dragon Chan from Hong Kong utilizes kung-fu, as well as kick-boxing. He was modeled after Bruce Lee while his name is a reference to Jackie Chan.

• Vodka Drunkenski from Russia is an alcoholic boxer who does powerful moves, some without warning before being unleashed. He later appeared in the NES versions of the Punch-Out!! series as Soda Popinski.

• Great Tiger from India has the ability to do a mirage dance, which makes him rapidly move left and right, before sending a move similar to the Hurricane Rush of Piston Hurricane from the original Punch-Out!! arcade.

• Super Macho Man from the United States incorporates his exercise routines into his powerful attacks, such as his trademark Super Spin Punch.

Once the player defeats Super Macho Man, the opponents repeat, while the player will win the Heavyweight Belt, then defend it against the same characters that he has beaten. On each successive round the opponents are harder and quicker. For each opponent, the player must knock them out within three minutes (three knockdowns guarantees a TKO). After the player's second loss, the winning opponent comes forward and taunts the player.

The game is housed in a modified upright cabinet. Like the last game, it requires two monitors, one atop the other, for the game's display. The top monitor is used to display statistics while the bottom one is the main game display. Apart from this, the game is more or less a standard upright. The game has a joystick and three buttons. Two buttons control left and right punches, one for each arm. One button delivers an uppercut or knockout blow. Unlike the original Punch-Out!!, Super-Punch-Out!! also featured a joystick which could be pulled straight up (almost as if you were trying to yank the joystick out of the machine). Doing so caused your green-haired character to duck, which was crucial in beating certain opponents.

Notes

• Like in the previous installment, Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Junior all appear in the audience. Also, one of the victory tunes heard in the Super Punch-Out!! arcade was also used in Nintendo's Baseball for the NES as the home-run tune.

Super NES version

This game inspired the development and release of Super Punch-Out!! for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System console in 1994. Several elements, such as opponents, were changed for this version. Characters from both Punch-Out!! arcade games were featured in the game with basically the same looks (sans Piston Hurricane) and attacks. The gameplay is mostly similar to both Punch-Out!! arcade games as well, but with a few new features.

External links

• Template:GameFAQs
• Super Punch-Out!! at the Killer List of Videogames
• The Arcade History.com entry on this game