Little Mac is back for Punch-Out for the Wii. It plays very similarly to the NES Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out, minus the insanely difficult Tyson. I say this because while the controls can be used via waggling the Wiimote andNunchuck (a la Wii Sports Boxing), the game does not feel right unless you’re using the classic controls…that is, you turn the Wiimote on its side and use the 1 and 2 button as you would use the A and B button on a NES controller. This gives you a sense of nostalgia as you enter to ring to tangle with the classics like Glass Joe and King Hippo, as well as some new comers.
Thus, the game is pretty similar to the original as far as gameplay. Not only do the controls remain the same, but so do the basic strategies…that is, only attacking your opponent via counter attack. This means that rather than button mash, you have to be patient, memorize your opponents attacks and patterns, and then strike only after dodging one of their attacks. One of the few new things is the “star system”. Occassionally, an opponent will stand there and taunt you. If you can land a successful attack, you will get a star. Getting three stars will turn Little Mac into a Mr.Hyde-esque monster who will land vicious attacks. The problem is that if you get hit while building up stars, you will lose all those stars,so you have to be quick and defensive.
The main mode is career mode, where you work your way up the championship ladder taking on different boxers. Each match is three rounds long, and you can win via knockout or TKO. Cheesy little videos introduce your opponent prior to each match.
The exhibition mode is there if you want to quickly face off against a particular character. This is helpful as in this mode, you will not take damage, so you can use all the time you want to practice on a particular opponent until you are confident you know his moves and think you can take him out.
There is a versus mode for you and a friend, and this is kind of lame. Why? Simply because of the basics of Punch-Out, which is to be defensive and only counter attack. The point of the game is to wait for you opponent to attack and reveal a weakness which you can then punch the crud out of. When two players are doing this, and both know this, its going to be a pretty boring match as both players wait for the other to attack. The only thesable option is for both of you to button mash, but then there is no skill involved, and the game quickly loses its joy. One thing that could have saved it was to allow you to play as the different boxers, but no. Instead, you and your buddy can only play as Little Mac 1 and Little Mac 2. Pretty lame.
So all this being said, this game is most definitely not worth a purchase. It looks beautiful, and the gameplay and controls are a blast from the ’80s, but it just does not warrant buying the game. There is little replay value with there only being 12 boxers to go through before the end. I would definitely give it a rent if you want to refeel those great moments when you were a kid playing the original on the NES, otherwise I would advise against it.
