REVIEW: Punch-Out!!

It's funny yet sad to know that there is an entire generation of gamers out there who've never experienced the thrill and challenge of a Punch-Out!! game. Although the Virtual Console has recently added the ability to take the ring in the classic Super Punch-Out!!, we haven't seen a new game in the series in over a decade and a half. Thankfully the wait is over in the form of Punch-Out!! for the Wii from Next Level Games. Now the opportunity is there for the new gaming generation to take on the likes of Glass Joe, King Hippo, and all the blatant stereotypes us repeat players have come to love over the years. But is Punch-Out!! just another cash-grab sequel or could it be the next TKO from Tokyo?

For those of you unfamiliar with the series, it's old-school gaming at its finest: Pattern recognition and reaction time. Through the course of three different boxing circuits, you'll take on over a dozen fighters each with their own blend of themed attacks, many reflective of the idiosyncrasies often associated with those of that culture. For instance, Glass Joe is portrayed as a weak and fearful Frenchman, whereas Super Macho Man is the attention-grabbing, egomaniacal Californian with punches that include poses for the camera. As outdated as some of these generalizations have become, the variety of colorful characters you'll meet add such a great mix to the game that Punch-Out!! would be lacking in its charm without them. It's something you really don't see in the Fight Night games of the world.

Although I'd have a hard time recommending this game to Grandma and Grandpa Casual Gamer, everyone else should give this game a try. Chances are if you're reading this review you probably aren't part of that casual market anyway. This is one of those rare occurrences where the relaunch of a cherished franchise is just as good as the original. The Wii, unfortunately, has had a lull in quality games for awhile now, so if you're looking for a reason to dust it off, Punch-Out!! is definitely worth picking up. If you're a fan of the series, there's even more incentive to do so. The game takes everything you loved from past entries in the series and brings it all into the current generation in a way that it feels both old and new.