iTWire - Review: Punch-Out!! - Box on your Balance Board

Review: Punch-Out!! - Box on your Balance Board

By Mike Bantick
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 16:49

The venerable Punch-Out makes its way to the Nintendo Wii, and gives you something else to do with your Wii-Fit Balance Board.

If, like me, your Balance Board is somewhat gathering dust in the corner, then it is time to drag it out and get ready to use your pugilistic skills against cell-shaded stereotypes.

Punch-Out!!
	Developer	Next Level
	Publisher	Nintendo
	Rating	PG

Wii

This update of an old NES title, is also a virtual shake off of dust for the franchise, whilst retaining a significant percentage of old-school arcade game design.

You play as Little Mac, a rising hopeful on the comic boxing scene. Starting on the minor circuit and working his way through the major and finally the world circuit, Little Mac will need to train hard and listen to his coach before claiming a title.

Well not really, game-play in Punch-Out!! is not really this involved.

Stepping into the ring with Little Mac, the opposition consist of a series of over the top racial stereotypes that go beyond offensive to comical (which is a good thing).

Little Mac can jab, go punch high or low, left or right and dodge and duck to avoid the – usually – telegraphed attacks.

The player can use either a button mashing control method, or the more physical punch and jabbing with Wii-mote and Nunchuck. Add to this the Balance Board for ducking and weaving control and a session of Punch-Out!! can result in quite a work out.

My experience with the Balance Board was not great; I found the natural dodging action did not translate well to Little Mac’s on screen bob. My wife actually had more success, almost hopping from side to side – this was so annoying to me, I returned the Balance Board to its ‘awaiting next Wii-Fit session’ position.

Punch-Out!! is not so much a boxing game as a traditional arcade memory test. Each opponent has a set of signature attacks that once the correct counter is learnt are pretty straight forward to defeat.

If you time a counter well, Little Mac can earn a star, up to three stars can be expended in a devastating attack. Conversely Little Mac has a heart meter that depletes with actions and blocked attacks. If the heart meter get’s to zero Little Mac can no longer attack, resorting instead to dodging until his cartoon opponent over extends. Stars and the heart meter add some strategic spice to the mix.

Presentation is crisp with a healthy over-stereotyped sense of humour and game-play that progresses at a rapid rate.

Whilst game-play cannot be extended with the non-existent online play, there is instead a fun head to head option to take on fellow living room opponents. There is an added element of Giga Mac Juice to be earned in a Head to Head match, swigging the juice will increase Little Mac’s powers for a period, which could be the edge to winning.

Its old-school arcade fun, with a new-school spit and polish wrapped up in a solid, not over extended package. Whilst there could have been more content to flesh out the experience, Punch-Out!! delivers a quick jab of Wii fun.

7.5 King Hippo’s out of 10