Punch-Out back in business

Twenty years after it was released, “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out” sits in video game lore as one of the most revered and challenging games of the console era.

On the original Nintendo Entertainment System, players went though a roster of the most stereotyped video game characters ever to get a chance at the coveted heavyweight championship. Through pattern recognition and timing, players took the spunky underdog Little Mac to a dream match up against (at the time) the most feared man on the planet.

Getting to Mike Tyson was tough enough- beating him was a whole other issue. With a blink of an eye and a swift uppercut, Tyson’s “dynamite punch” was a one-hit wonder, knocking you out immediately. For those who could survive were briefly rewarded until Tyson opened up with jabs and continued the onslaught.

If you could beat the world heavyweight champion, it was like hitting Goliath in between the eyes with a stone: you were a neighborhood legend.

To this day, beating Mike Tyson in the original “Punch-Out” remains a highlight of my life. When I graduate from SCSU this summer, it may fall under the “achievements” category on my resume.

Nintendo decided to relive that slide of childhood Americana by releasing “Punch-Out” on the Wii.

And although the title character of the original decided to, in his own words “fade into Bolivian,” the updated game still packs the same wallop.

Those looking for nostalgia will be satisfied the moment they fire up career mode, taking on the downtrodden Frenchmen from the first game, Glass Joe. And he’s just as easy to topple with uppercuts, hooks and the patented “star punch.”

The controls are very simple; you uppercut, jab and dodge your way to the top of the fighting circuit. If you’re looking for an accurate depiction of boxing, go pick up “Fight Night.” “Punch-Out” is more like a “Rocky” simulator with an easy learning curve and arcade feel.

Fans of the first game will find their diligence in the original rewarded, as fighters like King Hippo, Piston Hondo and Soda Popinski make a return in the update. Players of “Super Punch-Out” on the Super Nintendo will be greeted with two familiar faces: the manic Irish Aran Ryan and the burly Canadian Bear Hugger. The only new character in this version is Disco Kid, who is a pushover in the beginning junior circuit.

Doc Louis returns as Little Mac’s trainer, teaching him the ropes and having Mac (in full pink jumpsuit glory) chase him on a bicycle while the Statue of Liberty sits in the background.

For game play, players have a couple options. There’s classic style, where you turn the Wii controller on its side, mimicking the classic two-button Nintendo controllers. Or you can utilize the hands-on approach of the Wii, using the controller and the Nunchuk to throw punches. If you’re even more adventurous, gamers can use the Wii balance board in order to duck, dodge or block your opponent’s onslaught.

A recommendation: use the classic controller style. While not to the Wii style, “Punch-Out” requires speedy defense, which is difficult with the Nunchuk or balance board.

For inexperienced players, there is an exhibition/practice mode where players can play their opponent without taking damage. If your timing is off against an opponent, the extra practice is invaluable.

The Wii version also contains a multiplayer feature, where two players can play as Little Macs fighting against each other. When a player builds up enough momentum, they turn into Giga Mac, a caveman-like brute looking for the knockout punch.

Although it’s a novel idea, multiplayer is not a refined feature in the game; stick to the single player features.

Even if you mastered all the patterns of the fighters from previous installments of the series, even the most seasoned vets will be thrown off once you have to defend the title. Nintendo keeps the game fresh by giving each fighter an added wrinkle to make the fight challenging. Examples include Glass Joe wearing headgear, making uppercuts useless and King Hippo using a manhole cover to protect his vulnerable stomach.

There’s no Mike Tyson, but the game is challenging enough without the return of the former heavyweight champion of the world.

The eight-bit NES is long obsolete and the only relevance Tyson has is a cameo in “The Hangover,” but “Punch-Out” remains one of the most frustrating, yet addicting games around.