Feature: Thirty Years Ago, Little Mac Became a Champion in Punch-Out!!

Ha, nice observation! MT Punch-Out!! was simply astounding for its time. It took a great arcade game and brought it into living rooms amd added the world's greatest/most notorious fighter. One of my absolute favorites on any console.

Oh, favorite opponent...Soda Popinski... so big, but so beatable.

Super Macho Man's face took such a beating that it morphed into Jar Jar Binks.

Who wouldn't love to punch him in the face?

I'd like to see a new Punch-Out!! game on Switch.

Punch-Out!! for the Wii was actually pretty good, so just something like that but with a few extra bits and bobs would be perfect.

@impurekind That would be nice. But I'd be pleased to see Little Mac as a DLC character for ARMS if they don't make a Punch Out for the Switch, though

I had James Buster Douglas' Knockout Boxing (aka Final Blow) for the Megadrive,Looked amazing in screenshots but it wasn't very good,proper button masher.. Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing was where it was at for 16 bit boxing,loved that game.

I got beaten to a pulp by King Hippo so many times before the Punch Out Nintendo Power shipped and showed me how to beat him. This is probably one of my most played games all time, and I eventually got really good at it, pulling off perfect runs at will. I can't clear Soda Popinski today (he's also my favorite character), so my skills have eroded quite a bit. One of the greatest games ever featuring huge sprites, addictive gameplay and top notch music, and an instance where the home version was vastly superior to the arcade game in my opinion; though they were very different.

@OorWullie - The Beast. Always imagined he was Blanka w short hair dyed blue.

@bimmy-lee Nice one,I'm glad someone remembers it.it.It was one of my most played games on the Megadrive.

@OorWullie - I think it's a classic, and I still give it a go every once in a while. It has fairly deep mechanics and create-a-player options for its time. I fulfilled several lengthy careers before I came across the Beast cheat. I played quite a bit of the Buster Douglas game as well, but this one was far superior in my opinion.

Hah! Nice try Nintendolife! Like I'd fall for an April Fool's joke this apparent! There is no game series called Punch Out, but kudos to whoever doctored those screenshots.

Personally instead of making up news stories like this, you should delve deeper into this Operation Mario stuff.

@Varnen if they do dlc for ARMS. The 3 characters I like to see are Little Mac, Luffy, and JoJo.

@bimmy-lee I played it on an emulator on Wii a few years back for the first time in 15+ years and it's held up pretty well.Muhammad Ali Heavyweight Boxing was alright too.Its 3D ring was impressive for the time but I also played that again a few years back and time's not been too kind to it.

Think I'm going to set my Wii up and start a new career on the Real Deal.Might play some Speedball 2 while I'm at it

I would like to see new Cartoonish Boxing games again like Animal Boxing NDS with cute Chibi Boxer or Kickboxer just like my avatar.
Imagine Animal Boxing NDS + My Sims + Street Fighter III Super Art (Choose 1 from 3 Super Art) + Empowering parameter like KOF 98 (Emphasis on Power / Speed / Stamina / Defense / Kick) + Full Dynamic camera angle & movement + Hillarious fighting way ala Pocket Fighter =

@OorWullie - Have fun! I also spent some time with the Ali game, but I remember it being a bit frustrating. Speedball 2 looks great. Never heard of it before today, so I appreciate that. Loose carts are reasonable on eBay, so maybe I'll give it a go.

@Samuel-Flutter lol dumb as a box of rocks.jump on the Wii u and download the punch out series all 3 are there lol.nes,snes and wii

@bimmy-lee I can't recommend Speedball 2 highly enough,it's one of my all time favourites.Lucky you still having a Megadrive to play on.Mines was stolen back in the late 90's along with my Mega CD and 32X.If you do get it,you're in for a treat.It's as good today as it was back then.

@Slim1999 Someone's not very good at detecting sarcasm.

That someone is probably me since hopefully this is a joke.

@OorWullie - Thieves are a petty scourge. To steal someone's gaming system and games robs them of so much more than just the physical items. So gross. Sorry that happened to you. Speedball 2 looks familiar, but I think I played something else slightly similar. It looks like Robocop pinball football with hands. I love futuristic sports games from the past.

@bimmy-lee Yep,a lot of memories were lost with that.You're maybe thinking of Mutant League Hockey by EA.I've never played that actually,always wanted to as I loved EA Hockey and NHL 94.There was a Mutant League Football too.I can't think of anything else from that era similar to Speedball 2.The career mode only lasts 2 seasons but like Real Deal Boxing it was pretty deep for it's time.You can upgrade player stats and make transfers and build an unstoppable team.The various ways you can score points makes for some really intense matches.Robocop pinball football with hands is a good way to describe it haha.

@OorWullie - Maybe I played it. Regardless, you've sold me on it. I'll try and snag a cart. My grandmother got me NHL 94 for Christmas one year and I was bummed because there were about 20 games I wanted, and that wasn't one of them. It became one of my most played games on the Genesis. Haha, we've managed to go way off topic, but I've enjoyed reminiscing with you.

I love Punch-Out!! It must be time for the next one per decade release, especially after they've increased Little Mac's profile by putting him in Smash. Long live Little Mac!

No, to be the man, you have to beat Ric Flair, not Macho Man.

Shouldve made a new Punch Out instead of ARMS.

@NTELLIGENTMAN - That comment is stylin & profilin.

@OorWullie
Speedball 2 is ace, I used to have it on megadrive/Genesis, great 2 player game. It has since resurfaced as Speedball 2 Evolution, I have it downloaded on my Vita, it plays just as you remember it. The graphics look sharper and now the league lasts 10 seasons, it's also got new teams and new players for transfer. The multiplyer gives less points now keeping the score tighter, you still play using one button, it's the same game with a face lift, oh yeah you still play as Brutal Deluxe or edit the name if u like

@Priceless_Spork
Klashball is Speedball 1, I don't know why but when it released on nes they changed the name. Speedball 2 took the game to another level

Li'l Mac Rules! Love the original

@bimmy-lee
Yes I had the same exact problem!!
I was so happy when I finally beat him my mom just looked at me puzzled and perplexed lol

The original Punch Out was always my favorite. It just stands out as on of the great NES games of all time. Super Punch Out is awesome as well, but the nostalgic pull of the original makes it #1 for me.

@bimmy-lee

Very unlikely your skills have eroded. More likely your setup has too much lag. I easily beat Mike T with a CRT. I can't beat Sandman on the 3DS.

The legitimacy of the title claim was later protested by the former champion stating that Little Mac struck with his palms instead of his fists, later analysts examined the video footage and determined that the current champion did use his fists resulting in Super Macho Man's claims to be thrown out.

Still one of my favorite Nintendo franchises would be cool if he showed up in ARMS as a DLC or something.

I loved Punchout on the NES. The only other boxing game that I played after that was Black and Bruised on the GaneCube, which was awesome too BTW.

@NintySnesMan Sounds superb,I'd love to give that a go.I take it there's more than 2 divisions too?

@Priceless_Spork I didn't know that.I always assumed it was a Megadrive exclusive.I wonder why they removed some of the options?I was never a big fan of Punch Out either until I played Super Punch Out on Wii VC.Really enjoyed that but I'm pretty rubbish at it.I think my favourite boxing game though has to be Fight Night Round 2 on the Gamecube,loved that game.

@bimmy-lee Ah I misread the Robocop pinball part.I thought you were describing how Speedball 2 looked.That description fits it well though.Good chatting with you.

@Priceless_Spork - Cyberball doesn't look familiar, but that info about the Wide World of Sports game is fascinating. I looked it up, and it looks great. I always watched that show on Saturday's when I was a kid. I liked all the variety and seeing sports from around the world. The boxing was always the highlight for me though. I watched all the fights between Hagler, Hearns, Duran and Sugar Ray on that show.

@arrmixer - Yeah, and he's probably one of the easiest/quickest fights in the game once you know what to do.

@cleveland124 - I have a CRT setup for old consoles, but I haven't played it on cart for a while. I've had it on Wii & U most recently. In my Punch Out prime, when I was training hard and jogging miles thru the city in a pink track suit, Sandman and Macho Man were my two toughest fights.

@OorWullie - I was talking about Speedball 2. I saw a video on YT for the updated version that @NintySnesMan mentioned. I think it was playing on a 360.

@OorWullie
Nah, there is only 2 divisions but the game is harder to beat and stay on top. Actually it will probably take 5 seasons to reach the top, depending on your skill level or your tactics in the gym or transfer window, especially with each season getting harder. For those that were really good at it on Genesis or Amiga it won't take long before your destroying the human teams, that's right, the aliens are coming and these teams are tougher, they also come with their own alien stadium's. The game also now boasts a intergalactic cup and a champions league. Overall purists will get something out of this afterall it's speedball but the gameplay is not as fast or manic from what you remember but it doesn't spoil it, just that purists don't want anything to change. I would score the original 10/10 but this version even with all the new additional content and face lift, it would be 8/10. Loosing that manic speed play wasn't the the greatest idea, but it's good to see that they left all the old teams in there that you will remember, like steel fury and kick-Ass team Super Nashwan, only they have been relegated, tough tackling Alien's are the new kids on the block

The original with Mike Tyson was awesome. Tyson was tough at first but once you memorized his moves he wasn't that bad. I actually found myself having more trouble with Mr. Sandman from time to time. So many memories with this game...just awesome.

One of my all time fav series. Still play Super Punch Out on my new 3ds xl. Would love a switch punch out. Perfect game to play with friends.

@Tasuki I'd forgotten about that.I can remember seeing it in magazines but never got to play it as it didn't arrive till well into the Megadrives life.I think I had moved onto buying only Mega CD games by that point.To quote Wikipedia

"It is a follow-up to Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing, and is virtually identical in many ways, apart from a number of significant improvements."

There was quite a few improvements,faster gameplay,longer career mode,better graphics and animation and 8 challenge fights against the "Greatest Heavyweights" Going to have to finally play this,23 years later.Cheers

@NintySnesMan Sounds fantastic.Shame they altered the speed though,it's meant to be fast,t's in the name.I'd imagine the slower speed would make it harder to stage late comebacks.Can't believe Super Nashwan have been relegated haha.They were ruthless.The new alien teams sounds perfect and added cups even better.There is very few games that could be announced as coming to Switch that would make me happier than a new Speedball with online.

Bring the orig MT version to Switch VC (whenever it is avail). MT needs the money and will gladly make a deal.

@Tasuki - I didn't know about that game back in the day for some reason. I would definitely pick it up now though if I came across the cart.

Did anybody ever notice how a lot of the boxers had another boxer that was kind of similar. Theyd have the same body build, and stance. For example glass joe and don flamingo were similar. Von kaiser and the great tiger. Piston Honda and Mike tyson. Soda popinski and super macho man. Bald Bull and Mr. sandman. I think King Hippo is the only one that was unique.

@Captain_Gonru I can attest to thumb blisters with Real Deal Boxing.Another game I mentioned Speedball 2 is also a blister creator but is well worth any pain suffered. I've never played General Chaos,I know the game though,I can even picture the box art.That's the great thing about the 16 bit era,there was so many great games constantly arriving that there is sure to be dozens of games you never got to play.I'll be sure to give General Chaos a go one day.

Super Macho Man is definitely a challenging opponent...but I can't stop myself from laughing over the "bouncing man-boob" animation. Its just so funny, like Soda Popinski being pink.