RETRO REBOOT | Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)

Punch-Out!! on the NES has always been one of the most beloved Nintendo properties, and fans adore Nintendo's pugilistic pandemonium so much, that only ONE Punch-Out!! game has been released in the last 26 years. Some of Nintendo's IPs have a layer of dust so think on them, you could roll it into a tumbleweed. Not that I'm unappreciated towards or have anything against the newer franchises the company produces, and generally Nintendo doesn't attempt something with a game without trying to make it too similar to its predecessor, but the campy nature of the Punch-Out!! series is missed.

Most follow-ups to NES games that made their debut on the SNES were branded as "Super", and in many cases that was more than paramount. Super Mario World and Super Metroid were certainly more grandiose. Super Punch-Out!! would come out the same year as Super Metroid, 1994. The same core gameplay remains intact, you can dodge left and right, while punch accordingly, everything just feels so much better. You fight you way through the W.V.B.A. defeating the champions and climb the ranks, all the while the competition grows more fierce with each opponent. The Power Meter returns from the arcade games and functions very similar. Each successful punch landed builds meter, and when fully charged allows Little Mac to use uppercuts, hooks, and powered up rapid jabs.

Punch-Out is carried by its colorful personalities. The roster is a little juggled up from the previous home-based entry, which excluded some characters from the arcade (will Pizza Pasta ever get his due diligence?). Dragon Chan, Bear Hugger, and Piston Hurricane make their debut on the SNES. Familiar faces Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman, and Super Macho Man return as Minor, Major, and World circuit champions. I was a little disappointed that some of my favorites Don Flamenco and Piston Honda (who is now called Piston Hondo, most likely to avoid any confusion or legal issues with the car manufacturer), but you can't always get what you want.

Gabby Jay is essentially a substitute for Glass Joe, who remains his only victory. I feel a bit sorry for him. The losses pile up, he's getting older, but he's refusing to quit, as the spirit of the fighter never dies. Perhaps in my own advancing years, I find this relatable. Being boxers from all over the world, all of the characters are ethnic stereotypes mostly played up for harmless laughs. In retrospect, I could see WHY a new Punch-Out!! game hasn't come back, especially in today's climate. I had always figured since they poke fun at themselves, it's fair game...right...? It can certainly be done, just gotta work that creativity at Retro Studios or Next Level Games.

With a blend of some new faces and the returning of characters from the arcade game making an appearance, Super Punch-Out!! does have a fun roster that I enjoy over the NES line-up. Special Circuit's Narcis Prince is one of my favorites, a foppish aristocratic dandy of a character that does everything possible to keep from being hit in the face, which causes him to aggro, it's such a fun idea.

There's the radical change to Little Mac, whose diminutive size against the much larger competition, ragtag black A-shirt and beginner's shorts gave him great underdog appeal, even if the character didn't speak a word. This incarnation of Little Mac is bigger in stature, so I suppose it would make sense that being in the W.V.B.A. for a longer period of time would be natural progression. With the ability to name him (used for tracking records) further strips his personality and renders him feeling closer to avatar status. I don't know if this is SUPPOSED to be Little Mac, but he always has been to me.

Matches aren't divided into rounds, you have three minutes to win the match, or a draw results in a loss. Opponents also attack in wider varieties of offensive patterns, meaning blocking high and low, along with ducking becomes key in defensive strategy. Characters like Heike Kagero, Hoy Quarlow (and his walking stick, which he uses to beat you into a pulp), Mad Clown, and Masked Muscle intentionally use illegal attacks to disrupt you. Striking Aran Ryan with an uppercut will cause his cornerman to grab you and regain health. Also different is Super Punch-Out's!! counterattack windows which are much wider and do more damage. These more effective counters gives this sequel good replay value for speedrunning, and give this game a much more satisfying learning curve.

Clearing the First three circuits with an undefeated record unlocks the Special Circuit, introducing four new characters and the final opponents. The aforementioned Narcis Prince and Hoy Quarlow, along with the Bruiser Brothers Rick and Nick. This provides easily the toughest opponents in the game. Narcis Prince and Hoy Quarlow both are pretty unique and fit right in with the W.V.B.A. cast of wacky personalities. As for the Mr. Michael Chiklis Twins, the idea was likely to include serious straightlaced boxers as your final opponents for more of a big fight feel. I've made fun of Mr. Dream and his John Cena jawline, he at least has the benefit of being a reskin. Nick and Rick are both as interesting as sticks of margarine. Bald margarine. They're good fights, just visually uninteresting.

Super Punch-Out!! does feature some good music and amusing voice acting (Mario VA Charles Martinet providing a lot of the voice work for the boxers), along with some great expressive visuals. I find this to be a much more endearing game than NES Punch-Out!!, which I assume retains so much staying power due to nostalgia and the attachment to the Mike Tyson marketing. But Super Punch-Out!! plays so much better, and the accumulating skill feels significantly more satisfying.

When it comes to sequels or follow-ups that outclass its previous entry, this is definitely one of them that rises to the occasion. I'll always recommend Super Punch-Out!!, going back and trying to beat all of my previous clear times gives it a ton pof replay value. Wii Punch-Out may stand at the top of the mountain, but Super can certainly box with the heavyweight.