Nostalgia Game Review

Punch-Out! for the NES is a fan favorite among sports gaming fans, especially of the Nintendo variety. The difficulty and the characters made for a memorable game, as did the prospect of an underdog boxer taking down big, burly boxers.

How did the sequel Super Punch-Out! do compared to its predecessor? Well, it wasn't as synonymous with being a Nintendo classic as its ancestor was. Many critics view the game as bland, with most of the characters lacking any personality (and speaking English on top of that). Only a few characters were retained from the NES version and the new characters were either from the arcade versions or were new altogether. Still, the new characters had little to set themselves apart from the other boxers. I mean, who's heard of a ballet dancer or an opera singer as a boxer? It also sounds like every boxer has the same rock-and-roll theme, only with different plays.

There are some redeeming qualities to the game. For starters, the new Time Attack mode in Super Punch-Out! gives speed runners incentive to practice their tactics. It also serves as a practice mode for players who want to sharpen their skills. A new element was also added in the form of the "super uppercut". Unlike the "star punch" in the NES game, you can use the "super uppercut" as much as you like as long as you don't get hit.

Overall, the game is a good game. However, it could've had a few improvements to it. If you're looking for a game to give a try, look at Super Punch-Out!