Genre
Boxing

Dominant Algorithm
Stimulus/Timed Reaction

Game-play
You control Little Mac, an ambitious boxer with dreams of the big time. Getting him there involves winning matches against increasingly strong/fast/intellectually complicated enemies. The controls are simple: Outside of the punching and dodging, there isn’t much but occasional button mashing to wake Little Mac up in the event he’s KO’ed.

Sweetness
When the mountains of boxing power you are forced to face finally tumble. The animation and sense of achievement are fantastic.

Weakness
Difficulty, as per most 8-bit games, ramps way too high before the game is over.

Invaluable Life Lessons Which I Still Apply To This Day
1) Attacks are frequently preceded by erratic behavior or needless grandstanding.
2) The little guy has a chance if he works hard at his goals.
3) Coaches pedal. Heros run.

Still Fun?
Yes. Until you get to King Hippo. I can’t remember how to beat him.

Relevance Satellite to the Paradigm Shift from my Youth
Technically, the game was a mile-stone achievement for the hardware. The character sprites are massive and they are all lovingly rendered with humor and incredible attention to detail. Such attention to detail is only possible through their sheer size, a result of some clever programming techniques.

Fan Art Roundup (click on the image to visit the artist’s homepage)


The Cast by Dan Schoening

Civilian Clothing by Karniz

The Last Supper by Tim Doyle

Customized by Fugazi


  • Punkdefied

    This is how you beat King Hippo –
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqCgeZrTMxQ

    :P

  • http://www.bonus-level.com Paul

    “Relevance Satellite to the Paradigm Shift from my Youth”

    I loled. Awesome. Looking forward to the next one.

  • http://www.Bonus-Level.com Lance

    I couldn’t agree more! Excellent first go! Can’t wait to see the next one!

  • chris

    Great post, I think I’ll go find my copy of Punch Out and see if I can speed run it.

  • Freddie

    Still my favorite game to this day.

  • http://www.Bonus-Level.com Jesse

    Chris – If you speed run it, post your time. I would give it a once over and post against yours. Is this a challenge? Perhaps. However, for speed runs, please tell me what emulator tricks you are and aren’t using (if any).

    Paul/Lance – Thanks! Glad you dug it!

    Punkdefied – Super thanks! I’m going to punch the hell out of his big fun belly.

    Freddie – Well, I guess this column can only go downhill from here then… Oh well.

  • http://www.Bonus-Level.com Chris

    So In m attempt to speed run Punch Out this was my result 1 hour 35 minutes. I just used a straight emulator of an original Xbox.

    Definitely not that impressive.

  • http://www.Bonus-Level.com Lance

    Beating Punch-Out is always impressive.

  • http://www.Bonus-Level.com Jesse

    Chris – I don’t think I’m going to beat your time. I don’t even think I’m going to beat the game. Soda Popinski is murdering me repeatedly and without apology.