Quite possibly the only boxing game series I have ever enjoyed and will likely ever play has the classic SNES title whittled down onto the small screen. Anyway enough from me and on with the game! 

Available for download this week we have...   

Punch Out!! has garnered many fans over the years and while the game started out in the arcades and on the NES it was this version on the SNES titled 'Super Punch-Out!!' (the double exclamation is there with good reason of course) which elevated the series to new levels of greatness and set it firmly in the spotlight.

This variant includes all of the moves which were previously possible to pull off in earlier games  including dodging, ducking & diving etc and the ability to deliver brutal body blows to your opponent. What's new though is the unique charging system whereby landing a series of successful hits without receiving any damage yourself will allow you to perform more powerful punches and even uppercuts which will leave your rival significantly worse for wear.

You can also of course opt to just jab quickly and attempt to whittle down your targets health meter that way, as the choice is yours as to which way you play but how the game plays remains as unchanged and reliable as ever. The formula that's employed is strangely satisfying; there are no separate rounds just single bouts and you end up working your way through the sixteen different opponents ranging from Bald Bull and Bob Charlie to Macho Man and Masked Muscle to name but a few of the crazed characters you need to work your way through to win the WVBA (World Video Boxing Association) Championship.

 K-O!!

Each of your rivals will adopt their own set technique and it's a constant challenge to master each one by countering their attack patterns and securing victory. Visually the game still looks great today due to it's original style featuring well rendered characters and an excellent standard of animation; couple this with some quality audio work which includes four different variations while boxing plus a short intro tune for each character and you have a pretty well rounded experience.

Still a simple joy to play today Super Punch-Out!! is one of those original and classic Nintendo games that while not as easily recognised as one of the 'bigger' flagship titles is still just as fun to play in its own understated way; not to mention that it's easily the best game in the series, bettering even the more recent Wii version which did reasonably well but this entry in the series still remains the undisputed King of the Ring. Indeed after playing this game on the small screen I can't help but think that Punch Out!! is a series which could well do with a portable update in 3D as it's something which could translate well to the 3DS or even the NX depending on how it eventually pans out; whatever happens in the future it would be nice to think that this is a series which isn't quite out for the count just yet and the cult following which the games have already had for years should prove that it can go another round. 

That's it for another installment of VC Weekly which will return again soon. So until then, enjoy the rest of the week and Game On!