Punch Out! (Wii) Review

Get ready to climb back into the ring with this Punch-Out! (Wii) review. While other boxing games, like Fight Night from EA Sports, aim to be as realistic as possible, Little Mac's exploits in the ring aren't at all meant to be a simulation.

One thing that Nintendo seems to do very well is to breathe life into classic franchises. We first enjoyed the original Punch-Out game on the Nintendo Entertainment System nearly 20 years ago. The graphics, by today's standards, were archaic at best, but the gameplay was insanely addictive. It still is and that's partly why free NES games are so popular.

Just as Nintendo did with Mario Kart, the classic pugilist-inspired video game has been reborn on the current console as Punch-Out! Just like with the original game, the hyphen and exclamation mark are both official parts of the name. In fact, the title itself is exactly the same, but the game has been largely updated for today's audience.

As you read through the rest of this Punch-Out! (Wii) review, you'll find that Nintendo (and developer Next Level Games of Canada) borrowed several nostalgic elements, while implementing several new features. This makes for a familiar yet novel experience.

This title was original revealed to the world in October 2008 when Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto announced the game at a conference. Punch-Out! officially hit store shelves in Canada and the United States on May 18, 2009.

The game's original protagonist and hero, Little Mac, has decided to strap on the gloves and boots again to recapture his crown as the boxing champion. The graphics have been vastly upgraded with a 3D-like appearance, bright colors, and fantastic animations. This is not meant to be realistic; instead, it takes on a colorful and cartoon-like look. Little Mac is once again joined by his trainer Doc Louis.

Similarly, many of the computer-controlled opponents have returned. King Hippo is pictured here. Also returning to battle are such favorites as Bald Bull, Don Flamenco, Glass Joe, Great Tiger, Sandman, Soda Popinski, and Piston Hondo (previously known as Piston Honda). Joining them are Disco Kid, Giga Mac and Donkey Kong. Yes, the giant gorilla can box too.

While this game has received substantial aesthetic upgrades over the original, the core gameplay remains much the same. You will play mostly from a third-person perspective with the camera hovering just behind Little Mac. You cannot move around the ring like how you would in a simulation boxing game. Instead, you can duck, dodge left or right, and punch high or low. You can also earn powerful "star punches" just like in the NES version.

Perhaps the biggest change is the introduction of new optional control schemes.

Punch-Out on the Nintendo Wii can still be played in a classic control scheme. This is when you hold the Wii Remote on its side. This mimics the control style of the NES, using the directional pad and the two face buttons. Alternatively, you can use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in tandem. In doing so, each controller is swung to throw punches with the Nunchuk's analog stick being used to duck and dodge.

The truly unique boxing experience, however, cannot be enjoyed unless you try the new game mode using the Wii Balance Board. This is the same accessory that came bundled with Wii Fit, measuring shifts in weight. Using this mode, gamers punch using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, but they duck and dodge by shifting their weight on the Balance Board.

While the Balance Board mode can be a lot of fun, it's not quite responsive enough to get pass the more difficult and challenging parts of the game. This control scheme is also not compatible with the multiplayer mode.

So, what have we learned from this Punch-Out! (Wii) review? The core gameplay may have remained much the same as the original NES game, getting you to learn and predict patterns rather than opting for more of a simulation approach, that's exactly why this newer game is so much fun. It's both novel and familiar at the same time.

Don't expect to get hours upon hours of enjoyment from this, since the single-player campaign is only so long. However, those few hours you do play will put a huge smile on your face.

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