After many years, I finally have been able to get a physical copy of Punch Out!!, and what better way to celebrate than to complete again in original hardware? Truth be told, I also wanted to re-play it 'cause back when I first completed it, I thought it was amazing, and I wanted to make sure if that was the case or just the initial shock for being the first game in the series and because of the fantastic animations and sound design... and no yeah this game fucking rules.
The fact it even exists it's fucking surreal, being the first mainline entry of the series 15 years Super Punch Out released and still being the same arcadie experience as always, in fact it could be considered a full-blown remake of the original if it weren't because of some changes and additions; this game feels proud to be part of the series and it shows, not only because in some ways it's a celebration of it, but because it takes everything that the series stands for and expands on it or changes it for the better.
When I said it could be a remake of the original, I absolutely meant it, because in what refers to controls, this the exact same thing, punches, dodges and all. So your options to face challenges really haven't changed, rather the boxers themselves have. Not only all of them have been given new life and personality by their design and animations that goes past the series’ focus on ''haha stereotype, isn't that a funny joke?'' (to be fair that isn't entirely gone either), but it also expands on the move-sets, challenge and even exploits that the original fighters posed. Every fight feels like it’s own chapter in a series, every boxer has its own weaknesses and it’s own fighting style, and it’s up to you through defeats and concussions to rise to victory, and foes it feel good when you manage to pull off and incredibly hard strategy. For this playthrough I went for trying to beat all of the fights in the first round, and while I wasn’t able to do it in some of the rematches, the fact I pull it off in so many felt amazing, and it shows the game may punish you constantly, but the reward makes it all worthwhile.
Some of the final fights in the title defendant section fall into the dreaded ‘’fail and repeat’’ territory a little too much to make them that enjoyable (Mr. Sandman and Soda Popinski especially), but they are just some rough spots in and otherwise, fun, mechanically deep, hilarious and charming as all hell game, and no matter how much you fail, Doc will always be there to encourage you… or tell you to join the Nintendo Club, and I wish I could Doc, I wish I could…
But beyond all said, the best thing this game did was the immense glow up it give to Don Flamenco, I love that piece of shit; if Don Flamenco has only 1 fan, I’m that fan, he went from a scummy pathetic bastard in the original with the most unfun fight in the game, to the most outlandish, funny bastard I’ve ever seen in my entire life. This fucker oozes charm as much as he oozes rose petals, I both hate him and love him so much. As a representation of flamenco and Spanish culture he doesn’t really make much sense for various reasons, but c’mon, he bull-fights PUCHING the bulls, he’s an asshole, but what an asshole. An olé for you, Flamenco
The fact it even exists it's fucking surreal, being the first mainline entry of the series 15 years Super Punch Out released and still being the same arcadie experience as always, in fact it could be considered a full-blown remake of the original if it weren't because of some changes and additions; this game feels proud to be part of the series and it shows, not only because in some ways it's a celebration of it, but because it takes everything that the series stands for and expands on it or changes it for the better.
When I said it could be a remake of the original, I absolutely meant it, because in what refers to controls, this the exact same thing, punches, dodges and all. So your options to face challenges really haven't changed, rather the boxers themselves have. Not only all of them have been given new life and personality by their design and animations that goes past the series’ focus on ''haha stereotype, isn't that a funny joke?'' (to be fair that isn't entirely gone either), but it also expands on the move-sets, challenge and even exploits that the original fighters posed. Every fight feels like it’s own chapter in a series, every boxer has its own weaknesses and it’s own fighting style, and it’s up to you through defeats and concussions to rise to victory, and foes it feel good when you manage to pull off and incredibly hard strategy. For this playthrough I went for trying to beat all of the fights in the first round, and while I wasn’t able to do it in some of the rematches, the fact I pull it off in so many felt amazing, and it shows the game may punish you constantly, but the reward makes it all worthwhile.
Some of the final fights in the title defendant section fall into the dreaded ‘’fail and repeat’’ territory a little too much to make them that enjoyable (Mr. Sandman and Soda Popinski especially), but they are just some rough spots in and otherwise, fun, mechanically deep, hilarious and charming as all hell game, and no matter how much you fail, Doc will always be there to encourage you… or tell you to join the Nintendo Club, and I wish I could Doc, I wish I could…
But beyond all said, the best thing this game did was the immense glow up it give to Don Flamenco, I love that piece of shit; if Don Flamenco has only 1 fan, I’m that fan, he went from a scummy pathetic bastard in the original with the most unfun fight in the game, to the most outlandish, funny bastard I’ve ever seen in my entire life. This fucker oozes charm as much as he oozes rose petals, I both hate him and love him so much. As a representation of flamenco and Spanish culture he doesn’t really make much sense for various reasons, but c’mon, he bull-fights PUCHING the bulls, he’s an asshole, but what an asshole. An olé for you, Flamenco