Little Mac is Back!!

Well, this is a very belated review, but Imma do it anyway!  I actually picked up "Punch Out!!" for Wii on it's release date and played it pretty heavily.  However, as you can tell, I have never gotten around to reviewing it.  The reason for this is because I have not played through the entire game all the way through, so keep that in mind as you read this short review.  Punch Out!! is a boxing game that is played nothing like a boxing game.  The camera is fixed just behind Little Macs head, looking directly at your opponent.  Little Mac cannot withstand many hits, as he is the smallest boxer in the game.  A couple good whacks from your opponent knocks you out, just like in the original games on the NES and SNES.  Because of this, the game play involves learning how to predict an opponents movements via predetermined animations that lead up to you getting smacked.  For example, an opponent may twitch his eyebrow before delivering a punch.  After you read these "tells" you must block, duck, or dodge the attack, and follow up with a series of attacks of your own.  Time your counter just right, and you earn a star which allows you to preform a star punch, Little Mac's strongest move.  The game progresses by beating boxers and moving on to the next one.  

Punch Out!! transitioned into 3-D beautifully and the art is as much fun as it could possible be.  The quirky art style works wonderfully with the quirky characters.  This splendid presentation is perhaps Punch Outs strongest point.  Aside from that, the game is brutally hard, thus I never finished it!  (^_^)  After beating the main "campaign" you enter "defend your title" mode, in which you must participate in a re-match with every opponent.  This second time around though, they are insanely tough, and I never could beat the final contender.  Either way, if you like a challenge, than give this game a go, cuz it is one tough cookie.  Think Ninja Gaiden or Trauma Center.  The downside to this difficulty, however, is where Punch Outs biggest flaw is found.  The gameplay is not all  that fun, and winning feels very un-rewarded, making it difficult to convince yourself to sit down and play a game you know is going to rape you.

Lastly, I would like to mention the size of the game.  There are so many extras, secrets, and easter eggs in this game it's unbelievable.  I must give credit to the game in that aspect, as I simply love bonus content and uncovering little secrets and such.

I know this review seems sorta rushed and gimped, but still, I did not finish defend your title mode, so I feel a little funny about writing one in the first place...

Regardless, Punch Out!! for the Nintendo's Wii earns a:

6.5/10