Proof that Nintendo can still give us one heck of a hardcore game when they feel like it
Now, before we go any further, there's two misconceptions we need to clear up: the first is that this game is nothing more than a simple remake of the NES game, and the second is that this game will only appeal to old-school gamers who remember playing the original back in the 80's. I can thankfully say that each of those assumptions would be wrong. The game is filled to the brim with new content and new challenges, and as a person who discovered Punch-Out NES on the Wii's Virtual Console about a year ago, I can say that in the year 2009 the gameplay is still totally relevant.
This game is not a realistic boxing sim. The sooner you understand that, the sooner you will enjoy the game. You play as Little Mac (who, I must add, is one of Nintendo's coolest protagonists ever), a 17 year kid from the Bronx who wants to make it big in the WVBA. It's a very simple little story, and the gameplay is just as simple. There's only six controller imputs (left/right dodge, left/right body punch, left/right face punch, block, dodge, and star punch). That's not to say that the game is easy. Not. At. All. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that this is the most difficult game on the console. The first couple fighters you'll face are really easy, but the game quickly picks up the difficulty. But no matter how controller-breakingly difficult the game gets, it always feels fair. Punch-Out is almost a puzzle game. All the opponents have pre-set motions, so the more you fight them, the better you'll get. The sense of discovery you get when you finally figure out how to dodge Great Tiger's magic rush, or Super Macho Man's hurricane punch, is unmatched. Exhibition mode is a welcome addition, as it allows you to practice against fighters you can't defeat. Once you beat the fighter in Career mode, you'll be able to re-fight them in Exhibition mode, with the oppurtunity to gain some achievments. Between the meaty exhibition mode, and three crazy-challenging Career modes, you'll be busy with this game for months.
Unlike most Wii games with multiple control options, the motion controls are actually the superior way to play. They are amazingly responsive, and add to the immersiveness of the game. Beating Soda Popinsky is satisfying, but beating him using actual punches is...well it feels pretty darn good. The NES controls are nice if you need a rest, but for Mario Kart Wii players who prefer using the WiiWheel, check out the superb motion controls.
I realize the length of this review is getting rediculous, but I can't finish this without mentioning the absolutely top-notch presentation and sound. The graphics are stunning, the character animations are some of the best in videogame history, and the voice acting is simply hillarious. Punch-Out is known for it's great sense of humor and over-the-top (and slightly racist) characters, and I guarantee you will be laughing your head off as you get beat to the canvass.
The game's only mistake is the lack of online leader boards, which is quite frankly a bit dissapointing. But other than that, there's no excuse for you to not play this game. Unless you hate fun, and/or have no sense of humor, I can't really see a way for you to be dissapointed. The Single Player is nothing short of brilliant, and the multiplayer is a quite a bit more fun than critics are letting on. The bottom line is buy this game--and sit down, shut up, and enjoy.