Super Punchout is the sequel to the popular NES boxing game Mike Tyson's
Punchout, minus the ear-biting, child eater. Both feature animated 2d
opponents that use cartoony techniques and weapons that would be outlawed in
real life. Wooden staffs, headbutts, and teleportations make both games much
more exciting then a regular boxing match.
Graphics [9.5/10]:
The character animations are incredible and a huge leap over the original.
It feels like you were thrown right into a cartoon/anime. The crowd in the
background is great for SNES and the flashing light effects kick ass. Your
player even becomes transparent so he doesn't block your view. The only
thing missing from the original was the Rocky-style cutscenes where your
manager has you running down New York City. Back in the NES days those
scenes seemed spectacular and would have been even better on SNES.
Music and Sound [8/10]:
Compared to some other SNES games like Super Metroid, the voices in Super
Punchout sound great. The referee's number counting and your character's
victory soundbites are as clear as an 80s cartoon show. The little theme
songs of each boxer are ok, but nothing special. Also, the music during the
action could have been more intense.
Game Play [10/10]:
This is where the game shines. Agility is your only hope in this game and
lucky for you the speed and reflexes are perfect. The dodging strings are a
lot more complex then the original; instead of just sidestepping, you
sometimes have to duck, block your face, and block your body. The new rapid
super punches and power meter are much better then the star system. There
are no more repeating bosses this time, one of the cheap effects used in a
lot of NES games.
Challenge and Replay [7/10]:
Super Punchout has one of the best learning curves out of any game I've ever
played. There aren't any sudden increases in difficulty and the whole thing
is smooth and gradual. The only problem is that it became a little too easy.
There wasn't any super powerful boss like Mike Tyson here and you'll
probably beat the whole game within an hour, if not a half hour. The time
trial modes don't make you want to play the game again. A splitscreen
multiplayer mode would have more then tripled the replay value, maybe we'll
see an even more impressive sequel in the future.
Overall/Conclusion [8.5/10]:
Super Punchout's graphics and controls are perfect, but its shortness and
lack of difficulty make it more of a rental then a purchase. If you're
looking for a fun, short little game to fill some time, this is the top
choice. You would have to have a lot of friends that love SNES and competing
for high scores for this to last more then a week.
