Punch-Out!! (arcade game)
Punch-Out!! | |
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Mode(s) | Single-player |
Punch-Out!!
The arcade game was a global commercial success, becoming the top-performing arcade game of 1984 in the United States. It produced an arcade sequel known as Super Punch-Out!!, a spin-off of the series titled Arm Wrestling, a highly popular version for the NES originally known as Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!, and Super Punch-Out!! for the SNES.
The arcade game introduced recurring video games characters such as
Gameplay
In the game, the player takes the role of a green-haired unnamed boxer (sometimes claimed to be Little Mac from the NES versions[6]), known by three initials the player chooses when the game begins. During matches, the player's boxer is viewed from behind and above as a wireframe so the opponent can be seen. The player must time his punches, dodges and blocks in order to defeat the opposing boxer. Opponents' impending offensive moves are telegraphed by subtle eye changes (the whites of the eyes flash yellow), but the player must ultimately predict what moves the opponent will make and react appropriately.
Once the player defeats the last opponent, the opponents repeat with increased difficulty. The player has one 3-minute round to score a knockout and will automatically lose if time runs out. A fighter who is knocked down three times in one round will be unable to rise, leading to a knockout. In the event the player loses, the computer-controlled victor will taunt the player and the corner man for the player will try to entice the player to play again ("Come on, stand up and fight!") via the game's distinctive
The game is a modified upright, and was unusual in that it requires two video monitors, one atop the other, for the game's display. The top monitor is used to display statistics and fighter portraits, while the bottom one is the main game display (similar to Nintendo's Multi-Screen
Development and release
The game was developed in 1983
Miyamoto and Takeda discussed an earlier arcade game created by Takeda: EVR RACE, a horse racing game from 1975, which used a video tape. It was a mechanical game, and was hard to maintain after it was released and had many breakdowns. While they were developing Punch-Out!!, laserdisc-based games were considered to be the next major advancement in the arcade industry. However, the maintenance requirement would be very large if they released laserdisc-based games worldwide. Despite this, domestic sales people wanted something like laserdisc, so they tried to find if it could be done with semiconductors. Miyamoto explained that that's why they were interested in microchips that could perform zooming and show pictures at a similar size as a laserdisc. However, he called it a "rascal of a project", explaining that when he made
He stated that a lot of new things were being created, but most of it was still under development. They told Miyamoto that they could zoom in or rotate the image, but not both at once. They were planning on using the new microchips as well as the two monitors, considering lining them up side by side and making a big racing game, but it was not powerful enough to accomplish this, only able to expand one of the images. Takeda stated that if they could only expand one image, it could be a person. This eventually allowed it to become a boxing game, with one opponent, deciding that one monitor was good enough for a boxing game. They were stuck at that point, but thought that a boxing arena has big lights and banners hanging from the ceiling with things like "World Heavyweight Title Match" written on them. The game would also feature several meters, so they thought it would be more fun to have two screens instead of one.[9]
Reception
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The arcade game was a hit in all regions for Nintendo.[10] In Japan, Game Machine listed Punch-Out!! on their April 15, 1984 issue as being the second top-grossing upright/cockpit arcade cabinet of the month.[11]
In North America, Punch-Out took the arcade market by storm according to
The arcade game was reviewed in the August 1984 issue of Computer and Video Games, published in July 1984. The magazine gave the game a positive review, describing it as a "knock-out" and a "fabulous boxing game". The review also praised the graphics as being "great" and "cartoon-style" and concluded that it is "a very addictive game which is great fun to play."[3]
Punch-Out!! was later marked in the
Legacy
In
Re-releases, sequels, and spin-offs
During the same year, an arcade sequel to Punch-Out!! titled Super Punch-Out!! was developed and released by Nintendo, which has fewer, but tougher boxers to fight against.
In
In
During its release, the Game & Watch game called Boxing was re-released as Punch-Out!!, which used the front box art of the Mr. Dream version as its package art. Sometimes it was released with different cover art.
A Super Nintendo Entertainment System title, Super Punch-Out!! was released in 1994. It was far more faithful to the arcade stand-up gameplay; however, it was not a direct port either.
A Wii title, Punch-Out!! was released in 2009. It is a reboot of the Punch-Out!! series, that brought back many characters from the previous games, as well as introducing Disco Kid and Donkey Kong as opponents.
On September 13, 2017, Nintendo announced during a Nintendo Direct that they would be re-releasing some of their classic arcade games on the Nintendo Switch, and that Punch-Out!! would be one of the several games that would be re-released. It was released on March 30, 2018.[22]
Notes
References
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2007) |
- ^ ISBN 978-4990251215.
- ^ a b c "Punchout (Registration Number PA0000204664)". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ EMAP. 16 July 1984. p. 47.
- ^ Daniel Hower, Eric Jacobson. "The Arcade Flyer Archive – Video Game Flyers: Punch-Out!! (Spain)". The Arcade Flyer Archive.
- ^ "Nintendo Interview: Koji Kondo". Kikizo. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ One of the Origin/Game Settings Tips about Little Mac's origin and All-Star Mode for Super Smash bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U implies that Little Mac actually debuted in the 1984 Punch-Out!! arcade game, yet the trophy from the game says he debuted in the NES game[permanent dead link]
- ^ ボクシングゲームの名作,「パンチアウト!!」がWiiでカムバック!. 4gamer.net. 2009-07-15. 2015-02-14.
- ^ "Success Joe". Computer and Video Games. No. 111 (February 1991). 16 January 1991. p. 94.
- ^ a b c "Iwata Asks: Punch-Out!! - The Proposition is to Use Two Televisions". Nintendo. 2009-08-07. Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
- ISBN 978-1-4766-4176-8.
- ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 234. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 April 1984. p. 29.
- ^ Sharpe, Roger C. (December 1984). "1984—Every Which Way But Up". Play Meter. Vol. 10, no. 23. pp. 39, 49–51.
- ^ "The Replay Years: Video Systems". RePlay. Vol. 11, no. 2. November 1985. pp. 128, 130.
- ^ "RePlay: The Players' Choice". RePlay. July 1984.
- ^ "Hit Games & High Scores: Arcade Games". Computer Games. Vol. 3, no. 4. United States: Carnegie Publications. December 1984. p. 12.
- ^ "National Play Meter". Play Meter. August 15, 1984.
- ^ "National Play Meter". Play Meter. Vol. 10, no. 21. 15 November 1984. pp. 28–9.
- ^ "Top 20 Performing Video Games of 1984". Play Meter. Vol. 10, no. 20. 1 November 1984. p. 47.
- ^ "The Top Coin-Operated Videogames of All Time – The International Arcade Museum". www.arcade-museum.com.
- ^ "Top 100 Video Games". Flux (4). Harris Publications: 27. April 1995.
- ^ "Top 100 Games of All Time" (PDF). GamesMaster (44): 75. July 1996.
- ^ Kohler, Chris (September 13, 2017). "Nintendo Will Release Its Classic Arcade Games On Switch". Kotaku. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
External links
- Punch-Out!! at the Killer List of Videogames
- Hardcore Gaming 101 Article on the Punch-Out!!! series
- Punch-Out!! at NinDB
- Punch-Out!! (arcade game) at Curlie