Arcade Archives Punch-Out!!

Genre: Sports (Boxing)

Players: 1

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Review:

Punch-Out!! Is a Boxing game released in arcades in 1984, then ported to Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 with multiple changes. Most notably, the original release on Nintendo Entertainment System was renamed to Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! and featured the titular real-life boxer as the game’s final boss. In later releases, Tyson was replaced by the fictional character Mr. Dream, no doubt due to licensing issues and also to avoid association with Tyson’s more… colorful behavior in later years.

However, that’s talking about the Nintendo Entertainment System port, and the original arcade game, featured here, is something different. Not only does it feature much larger visuals for its opponents, but during the fight your character is depicted as a green wire frame so you can better see your opponent. What’s more, the depiction of your boxer in portraits is wildly different from your character in home releases of the game, because this game’s protagonist isn’t Little Mac, but some completely different character (Little Mac was so named because his sprite in the home versions of the game was tiny compared to his opponents).

Needless to say, this original arcade release is wildly different from the Nintendo Entertainment System port, though it still features the same core gameplay, for the most part. Dodge left and right and block incoming attacks while aiming high and low left and right punches at opponents, each with cartoonish mannerisms that act as “tells” for the moves they’re using and their vulnerabilities.

Despite the game’s age, the pixel art here is surprisingly expressive and detailed, with the game’s large, colorful characters animating in various ways as they fight. This is joined by some decent digitized voice work, and simple chiptune sounds and music. While this game is not up to modern standards, it’s clear why the Nintendo Entertainment System version of the game was changed so drastically – there is simply no way this game could have worked on that hardware without undergoing massive reworking.

Of course, I’m not even telling the full story here, because the arcade version of Punch-Out!! Actually featured two screens, which are shown here by default side-by-side, split-screen, with one showing the action and the other showing your health, time, and stats. This release does allow players to change around how these screens are displayed, including a sideways “Tate mode” for those playing the game in portable mode who can set the Nintendo Switch down sideways on a table… perhaps the most ideal way to play the game if you’re really looking to replicate the original experience. However, all of these feel like imperfect solutions, though I’m not sure there’s going to be a better way to do this on a single-screen platform.

In terms of gameplay, while the arcade version of Punch-Out!! is definitely more impressive on a technical level, I feel like multiple subtle gameplay changes made to the Nintendo Entertainment System version refined the gameplay in ways that made it more accessible, more enjoyable, and just overall more fun.

This version requires players to use directional inputs and more lengthy button presses to move their hands up or down, which feels far less fluid and responsive than the home version, which defaulted to low attacks unless you hold up while attacking, and had you making left and right dodges or holding down to block. In addition, the timing for dodging here is far less forgiving, and attacks seem to come much faster early on in this game, making this version far more difficult than the home game, with a steeper difficulty curve. Finally, it should be noted that this game only has six opponents, as opposed to the home version’s eleven (plus tougher rematch fights). On balance, when talking about pure gameplay, I think the Nintendo Entertainment System version of the game is the superior version.

This release of the game includes a new “Hi-Score Mode” that challenges players to make as many points as they can in one run. There is also a new “Caravan Mode” that does much the same, but with the limit being five minutes. In addition, this release of the game gives players a decent array of options, including various display options (some of which I’ve already mentioned), sound options, challenge modifiers, button mapping, and online leaderboards.

So there are only two remaining elephants in the room to discuss. First: Is this game worth its $8 price tag? And second, is it worth buying if you already subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, which includes the home version of this game on its Nintendo Entertainment System app? For me, the answer to both of these is “maybe”. $8 seems a bit steep for a game this old, but this is a bit more than just an arcade version of a Nintendo Entertainment System game, and this version of the game has not been released on home consoles often, making the $8 premium price a bit more understandable. And while I think the Nintendo Entertainment System version of the game is the better version of the game I feel like this version may just be distinct enough to be worth a look even if you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online… however, it’s probably only worth it in those cases if you’re a fan of this series.

If you’re not already a fan of the Punch-Out!! series, I don’t think this release of the original Arcade game is going to be your best entry point. For that, you’re better off playing the Nintendo Entertainment System version available on Nintendo Switch Online’s NES app, which I feel is a better and more accessible game, even if it’s not as visually-impressive. If you are already a series fan though, this game is probably worth a look, not only to see where the series began, but also to try a version of the classic game that looks and plays differently enough to be worth trying out even if you’ve played the NES version.

tl;dr – This version of Punch-Out!! is an iteration of the classic Boxing game that’s distinctly different from the Nintendo Entertainment System release. I would argue this is not nearly as good as the less visually-impressive Nintendo Entertainment System port, but it’s distinct and different enough from that port to be worth a look for fans of the series, though the lack of content and high difficulty curve means that I would highly encourage those new to this series to start with a different entry in the franchise first.

Grade: B-

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