is a series of
boxing
Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermine ...
video games created by
Genyo Takeda
is a retired Japanese game designer and executive who worked for the video game company Nintendo. Takeda was formerly the general manager of Nintendo's Integrated Research & Development division, and was the co-representative director and "Tech ...
and Makoto Wada, and published by
Nintendo. The main protagonist and
player character of the series is
Little Mac
is a fictional boxer and the main protagonist in Nintendo's '' Punch-Out!!'' series of video games. He first appeared in the Nintendo Entertainment System game '' Punch-Out!!''. He is the smallest and youngest of all the boxers in the games, ...
, a short boxer from
the Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...
who climbs the ranks of the fictional World Video Boxing Association (WVBA) by challenging various opponents.
Development
Many of the characters in the 1984 title ''Super Punch-Out!!'' are similar to each other by design because they are variants of the same programming; the code recycling and the lack of character differentiation outside of crude nationalistic stereotypes is a result of the game's limited development time and storage resources. For example, Soda Popinski's obnoxious laughter is also used for Mr. Sandman, Bald Bull, and Super Macho Man, and in other Nintendo games,
[ such as the Game Over screen of the game Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.
]
Protagonists
Little Mac
is a 17-year-old boxer from the Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...
, New York and the main protagonist
A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...
of the series. While he is quite small compared to his opponents, he makes up for it with his determination and skill. He was introduced in ''Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
originally titled is a 1987 boxing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Part of the '' Punch-Out!!'' series, it is an adaptation of the arcade video games '' Punch-Out!!'' (1984) and ''Sup ...
'', replacing the nameless green haired boxer of average height from the Arcade game. In the NES and Wii versions of ''Punch-Out!!'', he is depicted as having short black hair with a black tank top and green shorts. In the SNES version of ''Super Punch-Out!!'', he has blond hair with blue shorts.
Doc Louis
is a former heavyweight boxing champion and Little Mac's trainer, who stands in Mac's corner during fights. Between rounds, Doc provides Mac with advice, encouragement, or sometimes a humorous anecdote. He is the creator of the "Star Punch", the most powerful move in Mac's arsenal. He has a fondness for chocolate. In ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for Wii, he is voiced by Riley Inge. Doc Louis appears as the sole challenger in the Club Nintendo exclusive ''Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!
''Punch-Out!!'' is a 2009 boxing video game developed by Next Level Games for the Wii. It is the fifth and most recent mainline game in Nintendo's ''Punch-Out!!'' series, following the SNES version of '' Super Punch-Out!!'', and is a reboot o ...
''.
Opponents introduced in ''
Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' (1984)
Glass Joe
is a French boxer born in Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
. His first appearance was in the arcade game ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' in 1984, and three years later appeared in NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...
video game of the same name. His most recent appearance was in the Wii installment of ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
''. He was originally designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and was revised by Makoto Wada for the NES game. He is voiced by Christian Bernard in the Wii game.
He is the player's first opponent in every game in which he appears, and is famous for his weakness and cowardice. Glass Joe has a record of 1-99. These elements are considered by critics to be stereotypes of French people
Stereotypes of French people include real or imagined characteristics of the French people used by people who see the French people as a single and homogeneous group. French stereotypes are common beliefs among those expressing anti-French se ...
. These characteristics were emphasized by the developer of the Wii game which included cutscenes which depict Glass Joe in French settings. Glass Joe is considered one of the most well-known characters in the ''Punch-Out!!'' series and a Nintendo icon.
Piston Hurricane
is a boxer from Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. , Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
who originally appeared as the second opponent in the first ''Punch-Out!!'' arcade. In the NES and Wii games, Piston Hurricane is replaced by the Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
boxer Piston Honda, who fights in a similar manner. Piston Hurricane reappeared in the SNES version of ''Super Punch-Out!!''.
Bald Bull
is a Turkish boxer born in Istanbul
)
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code = 34000 to 34990
, area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side)
, registration_plate = 34
, blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD
, blank_i ...
, created by Shigeru Miyamoto for the arcade game "Punch-Out!!". His next appearances were in the 1985 arcade game ''Arm Wrestling
Arm wrestling (also spelled armwrestling) is a sport with two opponents who face each other with their bent elbows placed on a table and hands firmly gripped, who then attempt to force the opponent's hand down to the table top ("pin" them). The s ...
'' as "Mask X", in the 1987 video game Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
for NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...
as Champion of the Major Circuit, in the 1994 video game Super Punch-Out!! and in the 2009 video game ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for Wii. He also made two appearances in the WarioWare
is a video game series, a Spin-off (media), spin-off of the ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise. It comprises various video games created by Nintendo, starring the character Wario. The series began with ''Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3'', th ...
series, the first was in " WarioWare: Smooth Moves" with Von Kaiser and the second was in " WarioWare D.I.Y.".
Bald Bull has had generally positive reception. A statue of Bald Bull constructed with Lego blocks was offered as a door prize at the Child's Play charity, along with Mega Man and Sonic the Hedgehog statues. ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). Th ...
editor Jon Robinson, in an interview with the Senior Product Specialist of the Wii game, Nate Williams, commented that he was "always a big Bald Bull fan." Writer Jesse Schedeen described him as a "true veteran of the Punch-Out franchise!!", GamePro editors Patrick Shaw and Dave Rudden chose him as one of the four boxers that they most want to return, due to his high number of appearances in the series.
GameDaily
GameDaily (GD) was a video game journalism website based in the United States.
It was launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads. The site changed its business model from a flat fee ...
listed Bald Bull as the fifth best bald character in video games. Giant Bomb
''Giant Bomb'' is an American video game website and wiki that includes personality-driven gaming videos, commentary, news, and reviews, created by former ''GameSpot'' editors Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis. The website was voted by '' Time' ...
listed him as the fourth character on the "10 Nintendo Characters That Should Be In Smash Before Waluigi" list, on the other hand, Game Informer
''Game Informer'' (''GI'', most often stylized ''gameinformer'' from the 2010s onward) is an American monthly video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and associated consoles. It debuted in August 1991 w ...
editor Joe Juba chose him as the ninth character on the "Top 10 Bald Dudes" list. Editor Kevin Wong chose him at # 1 on the "Every Punch-Out!! Opponent, Ranked" list, commenting that "he is the undisputed king of Punch-Out!!" due to his Bull Charge.
UGO.com
UGO Entertainment, Inc. was a website that provided coverage of online media in entertainment, targeting males aged 18–34. The company was based in New York, New York, United States.
History
The company started in 1997 as Unified Gamers Online ...
editors Russell Frushtick and C. Radtke stated "there have been damn good boxing games from EA recently, but nothing comes close to the thrill of knocking out Bald Bull for the first time." Bald Bull is cited as being a difficult opponent in ''Punch-Out!!''. GamesRadar editor Brett Elston suggested that the difficulty of Bald Bull was high enough to make people "swear you’re going to break the controller in half, smash the disc and throw the Wii into the deepest volcano on Earth."
In the game for NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...
, he has a special attack called "Bull Charge" in which he moves backward, then moves forward and knocks out the player in one hit. However, this attack can be countered, instantly knocking him out instead. In the first fight against Bald Bull, the flash fired by a man in the audience indicates the exact moment Little Mac can counter Bald Bull's attack. This Easter Egg
Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are eggs that are decorated for the Christian feast of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. As such, Easter eggs are common during the season of Eastertide (Easter season). The oldest tr ...
was revealed in 2009 by Makoto Wada in an interview with the former president of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata
was a Japanese businessman, video game programmer, video game designer, and producer. He was the fourth president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Nintendo from 2002 until his death in 2015. He was a major contributor in broadening the app ...
. Regarding this, Destructoid
''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017, and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022.
History
...
editor Matthew Razak cursed Makoto Wada and jokingly demanded that he owes him "two new controllers and a ton of band-aids."
The same effect happens in the second fight against Bald Bull and Piston Honda, however this occurs when a bearded man in the crowd crouches. This version of the trick was discovered in 2016.
Kid Quick
is an American boxer from Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, New York, whose only appearance was in the arcade version of Punch-Out!!. In Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
for the Wii, a new character known as "Disco Kid" was included, who is referred to as "Kid Quick" in the game files.
Pizza Pasta
is an Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
boxer born in Napoli
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
city, and his only appearance is in the arcade version of ''Punch-Out!'', in which he is the fifth opponent of the game. Kevin Wong found the ridiculousness of the character's name to be the most memorable thing about him, calling it "just incredible; a shining testament to just not giving a shit."
Mr. Sandman
is a 31-year-old black boxer from Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
, United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. His first appearance was in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the arcades, in which Shigeru Miyamoto designed most of the characters, including him. Later appeared in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...
and '' Super Punch-Out!!'' for SNES
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in E ...
, in this latter is one of the three boxers returning from the NES ''Punch-Out!!'' together with Bald Bull and Super Macho Man. His most recent appearance was in the Wii ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'', where he was voiced by Riley Inge, who also voiced Doc Louis in the game. His fighting style is similar to that of Bald Bull, in addition to using jabs, hooks and uppercuts, he has a special attack in which he delivers three consecutive uppercuts that can knock Little Mac down.
GamesRadar editor Brett Elston commented that Mr. Sandman lacked ethnic stereotypes unlike the new character Disco Kid. While most of the opponents contain one or more ethnic or regional stereotypes, Mr. Sandman does not possess any. Since appearing in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the arcades, Mr. Sandman has received generally positive reception. GamePro Germany commented that he appeared to be based on boxer Joe Frazier, who also comes from Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
. On a list of "Punch-Out's Toughest Opponents!!" written by Renan Fontes of TheGamer website, he appears in both the sixth and first place on that list.
Opponents introduced in ''Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984)
Bear Hugger
is a Canadian boxer from Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm is a city in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District of the Southern Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia that has a population of 17,706 (2016). Salmon Arm was incorporated as a municipal district on May 15, 1905. The ...
. He first appeared in '' Super Punch-Out!!'' for the arcades, and later appeared in '' Super Punch-Out!!'' for the Super NES
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in ...
. His most recent appearance is in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the Wii, where he was voiced by Richard Newman. Eurogamer
''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson.
Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EG ...
described Bear Hugger's attack style as using " sheer force to send opponents to the mat". In their walkthrough, IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
noted that he was fast considering his large size.
Bear Hugger has received mostly positive reception. He has been described as a series favorite by IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
editor Levi Buchanan, and by ''Official Nintendo Magazine
''Official Nintendo Magazine'', or ''ONM'', was a British video game magazine that ran from 2006 to 2014 that covered the Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, and Wii U video game consoles released by Nintendo.
Originally published by EMAP as '' ...
'' editor Tom East. In their list of the seven best second quests, '' GamePro'' listed the Title Defense mode of ''Punch-Out!!'' for the Wii, stating that losing to the Glass Joe dressed in a helmet or "squirrel-assisted" Bear Hugger would demonstrate the difficulty and creative talent of the developer Next Level Games
Next Level Games, Inc. is a Canadian video game developer owned by Nintendo based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in August 2002, Next Level Games specializes in creating console video games. Their first project was '' NHL Hitz Pro'', wh ...
. '' The Escapist'' editor Greg Tito wrote that he giggled every time Bear Hugger shouted the word "hoser
''Hoser'' or ''hose-head'' is a slang term originating in Canada that is used to reference or imitate Canadians.
The term "hoser", long used by certain groups of Canadians, is a comedic label given to someone that gained popularity and notoriety ...
."
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
described him as a "400-pound Canadian who loves maple syrup and little woodland rodents." Game Informer
''Game Informer'' (''GI'', most often stylized ''gameinformer'' from the 2010s onward) is an American monthly video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and associated consoles. It debuted in August 1991 w ...
editor Matthew Kato commented on the fact that Bear Hugger trained with real bears. GamesRadar editor Brett Elston in his article on Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
stereotypes stated that Bear Hugger embodied several stereotypical Canadian traits, including being husky, loving the outdoors, ice hockey, and drinking maple syrup. Canadian GamesRadar editor Tyler Wilde jokingly stated that the stereotypes were "absolute malarky", stating that they only consume maple syrup on special occasions, and even then, only from "goose-shaped goblets carved from pine wood".
IGN editor Craig Harris listed him as one of the game's "over-the-top" caricatures. Kotaku editor Michael McWhertor stated that Bear Hugger was "extremely Canadian." ''The Globe and Mail
''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...
'' editor Chad Sapieha, writing about the roster of fighters in ''Punch-Out!!'' that "would send chills down the spine of any potential pugilist," mentioned Bear Hugger as one of these boxers, calling him a "Lumberjack by trade who drinks syrup". In the version of ''Punch-Out!!'' released on British home computers in the 1980s as ''Frank Bruno's Boxing
is a 1984 arcade boxing game by Nintendo. As the sequel to the original ''Punch-Out!!'', it retains largely the same boxing gameplay format and digitized speech, while adding several new features and characters. Along with punching, blocking ...
'', Bear Hugger is renamed to be 'Canadian Crusher' with reference to his Bear Clap move.
Dragon Chan
Dragon Chan is a Chinese boxer from Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...
, and he can deliver a flying kick that the player must duck in order to avoid being instantly knocked down. He can also attack with a triple kick, which must be dodged to the correct side. In the arcade game ''Super Punch-Out!!'', he is the boxing champion of Hong Kong, while he appears as the second opponent of the Major Circuit in the SNES
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in E ...
video game of the same name. In "Frank Bruno's Boxing
is a 1984 arcade boxing game by Nintendo. As the sequel to the original ''Punch-Out!!'', it retains largely the same boxing gameplay format and digitized speech, while adding several new features and characters. Along with punching, blocking ...
", Dragon Chan is known as Fling Long Chop and uses the side karate kick.
Soda Popinski
is a 35-year-old Soviet-Russian boxer born in Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
. He first appeared in the 1984 arcade game '' Super Punch-Out!!'', where he was known as Vodka Drunkenski. His home country was originally listed as the USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
in ''Punch-Out!!'' video games from the 1980s, but this was changed to Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
in his most recent appearance, the 2009 game ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the Wii, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.[
The character is depicted as a tough Russian man hardened by cold winters and the failings of communism, which is reinforced by his unwieldly drunken antics and his constant drinking from green glass bottles.][ He has a tall and muscular frame, and red-colored briefs referencing ]communist symbolism
Communist symbolism represents a variety of themes, including revolution, the proletariat, peasantry, agriculture, or international solidarity.
Communist states, parties and movements use these symbols to advance and create solidarity within ...
.[ The character was permanently renamed Soda Popinski for 1987's NES home console game '']Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
originally titled is a 1987 boxing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Part of the '' Punch-Out!!'' series, it is an adaptation of the arcade video games '' Punch-Out!!'' (1984) and ''Sup ...
'' due to Nintendo of America
is a Japanese multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles.
Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produced handmade playing card ...
's stringent censorship policies for the U.S. market, and the bottles he drinks from in-between fights are specifically defined as soda
Soda or SODA may refer to:
Chemistry
* Some chemical compounds containing sodium
** Sodium carbonate, washing soda or soda ash
** Sodium bicarbonate, baking soda
** Sodium hydroxide, caustic soda
** Sodium oxide, an alkali metal oxide
* Sod ...
.[ However, his mid-fight quotes and dialogue are still indicators of his intoxicated behavior. During matches, he attempts to drink from a bottle in order to recover from being knocked down, or sometimes in the middle of the fight to regain health. If the player prevents him from accessing his beverage, he becomes enraged.][
Since his 1984 debut in ''Super Punch-Out!!'', Soda Popinski has been a component of discussion about representation and stereotypes in video games.] He has appeared in multiple "top" character lists, often with divergent opinions on the appropriateness or effectiveness of his portrayal as a character. 1UP.com
''1Up.com'' was an American entertainment website that focused on video games. Launched in 2003, ''1Up.com'' provided its own original features, news stories, game reviews, and video interviews, and also featured comprehensive PC-focused conten ...
and ''Complex
Complex commonly refers to:
* Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe
** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
'' in particular called the character a racist stereotype of a drunken Russian. ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' called him a "shamelessly politically incorrect character". and his name change one of Nintendo's "most dramatic" alterations. Reflecting on the name change, '' GamePro'' magazine opined that Soda Popinski demonstrated that the notion of political correctness was far less important during the 1980s. GamesRadar editor Brett Elston said that the name "Vodka Drunkenski" seemed intentional because at the time the game was released Russians were portrayed as "anti-American villains". Sumantra Lahiri from '' The Escapist'' observed that his soda bottles resemble vodka bottles, and that the origins of Popinski's name change, among other insensitive tropes in the NES game, would certainly offend a modern audience.
In the character's entry for the 2017 publication ''100 Greatest Video Game Characters'', Rahima Schwenkbeck compared Soda Popinski to the ''Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as ''SF'' or スト (''Suto''), is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Capcom. The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by six ...
'' character Zangief
, based on Russian Зангиев, often called the , is a fictional character in Capcom's ''Street Fighter'' series. Considered to be the first controllable fighting game character whose moveset is centered on grappling, he made his first appeara ...
, calling the former "pure stereotype" while the latter is favorably referred to as a "solid character". Schwenkbeck analyzed the Russian tropes being shaped by international relations, in tandem with individual pressures upon Nintendo's developers breaking into the American market. Noting the pervasiveness of the trope in international popular culture, Schwenkbeck pointed out that this is not a phenomenon unique to American media, citing the historically turbulent Japan–Russia relations
Japan–Russia relations (russian: Российско-японские отношения, ''Rossiysko-yaponskiye otnosheniya''; ja, 日露関係, ''Nichiro kankei'') or
Japanese–Russian relations are the bilateral international relations bet ...
, and the predominantly negative image of Russia among Japanese society based on the findings of a Pew Research Center survey in 2015. Schwenkbeck observed that Popinski's continued depiction as a caricature of a vodka-loving Russian, regardless of changing political climates and expectations of improved character development with the advancement of technology, reflects a larger narrative about long-standing negative stereotypes of Russians prevalent in both American and Japanese culture.[
Soda Popinski has been referenced in popular culture, such as an article by a MTV journalist discussing ]rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
Papoose
Papoose (from the Algonquian ''papoose'', meaning "child") is an American English word whose present meaning is "a Native American child" (regardless of tribe) or, even more generally, any child, usually used as a term of endearment, often in t ...
. A version of the character appears in an unlicensed ''Punch-Out!!'' PC game titled ''Frank Bruno's Boxing'', where he is named "Andra Puncharedov". The character is the namesake of Soda Popinski's bar, located in Nob Hill, San Francisco
Nob Hill is a neighborhood of San Francisco, California, United States that is known for its numerous luxury hotels and historic mansions. Nob Hill has historically served as a center of San Francisco's upper class. Nob Hill is among the highe ...
, California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
[ since 2012. The bar's name is an allusion to a "USSR-era ]Siberia
Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive region, geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a ...
n hunting lodge" which references the character's in-universe depiction, and it serves the Vodka Drunkenski which is a "double shot of Russian vodka
Vodka ( pl, wódka , russian: водка , sv, vodka ) is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage. Different varieties originated in Poland, Russia, and Sweden. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impuriti ...
served neat" was named after his original name.
Great Tiger
is a 29-year-old India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
n boxer born in Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' fin ...
. He first appeared in '' Super Punch-Out!!'' for Video arcade, arcade, and later appeared in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the NES. He did not appear in a video game again until 22 years later in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the Wii, where was voiced by Sumit Seru. In the NES game, his special attack involves teleporting around the ring, with he does repeatedly. However, at the end of his attack he is unable to move for several seconds due to dizziness, which allows for Little Mac to knock him down with one punch to the head. Great Tiger wears a turban on his head accompanied by a jewel that flashes when he is about to perform an attack. He also uses a flying carpet, and in the NES version, the skin of a Bengal tiger is seen hanging on the post in his corner of the ring. These have all been referred to as stereotypes of Indian people.
Since appearing in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...
, Great Tiger has received mostly positive reception. Both ''Official Nintendo Magazine
''Official Nintendo Magazine'', or ''ONM'', was a British video game magazine that ran from 2006 to 2014 that covered the Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, and Wii U video game consoles released by Nintendo.
Originally published by EMAP as '' ...
'' and GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
described him as a favourite of the series. '' GamePro'' listed him as one of the characters who most deserve to return in the Wii ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'', stating that "may not be the most PC character from the original NES classic, but his crazy techniques will fit in well with the outlandish style Next Level Games has been known to apply." Great Tiger has been described as a stereotype of Indian people. Freelance writer Sumantra Lahiri, in discussing the stereotypes of ''Punch-Out!!'', stated that it gives players an "encyclopedic knowledge of ignorant American sentiments," mentioning the Indian stereotype that they skin tigers alive and wear turbans.
In his article on the stereotypes of ''Punch-Out!!'', GamesRadar editor Brett Elston stated that Great Tiger embodies several Indian stereotypes, including the ability to fly on magic carpets, living in Taj Mahal-like structures, and that they wear turbans that grant them magical powers. He described him as an "over-caffeinated List of Disney's Aladdin characters, Jafar", adding that he "plays up in the mystical side of Indian culture so much we’re surprised they didn’t work in a snake charmer joke in there somewhere." Editor Scott Jones stated that in 2009, "fighting a man from India who flies around on a magic carpet and who telegraphs his punches via a glowing jewel in his turban doesn't feel terribly dramatic."
Bit Mob editor Brian Shirk commented that while "Great Tiger looked more human than King Hippo, he still doesn't seem quite human judging by the animal sounds he makes and his teleportation abilities." Davey Nieves of Comics Beat commented that "Decent people in India or Pakistan have been seeing much more offensive stereotypes in the media for years." Reason for which he stated that "looking at Great Tiger with his tiger skin robe dangling behind him like he's opening a nightclub is probably not the worst they've ever seen on a screen." Kakuchopurei included it in his list of the "best Indian characters videogames" citing that "he is a memorable Indian character (thanks to the aforementioned stereotypes)".
Super Macho Man
is a 27-year-old American boxer from Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood, California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
. He first appeared in '' Super Punch-Out!!'' for the arcades, where he was the final boss of the game. He later took this role again in the Gold version of ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
''. However, in ''Punch-Out!! (NES), Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!'' he appeared as the penultimate game boss. Macho Man also appeared in '' Super Punch-Out!!'' for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, SNES, and ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the Wii, where he was voiced by Mike Inglehart. An Entertainment Software Rating Board, ESRB description of ''Punch-Out!!'' for the Wii mentioned a boxer who flexed his pectoral muscles and glutes, leading editor Stephen Totilo to question whether this was Super Macho Man or not.
Since appearing in '' Super Punch-Out!!'' for the arcades, Super Macho Man has received generally positive reception. He is considered a memorable character of the franchise. Super Macho Man appeared on the cover of an issue of GameFan magazine, GamesRadar editor Chris Antista I include it in the list of the most embarrassing gaming magazine covers. He was described as a "stereotypical and pompous bodybuilder" in Giant Bomb
''Giant Bomb'' is an American video game website and wiki that includes personality-driven gaming videos, commentary, news, and reviews, created by former ''GameSpot'' editors Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis. The website was voted by '' Time' ...
, IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
editor Jesse Schedeen named Super Macho Man one of the series' top fighters, describing him as a "thinly veiled parody mash-up of Superstar Billy Graham, "Superstar" Billy Graham and Randy Savage, another famous fighter who goes by the nickname "Macho Man".
GamesRadar editor Brett Elston states that Super Macho Man embodies the stereotypes of American celebrities of being "too tanned, narcissistic, materialistic, and obsessed with fame, money, and looks." He added that Super Macho Man was not just a parody of celebrities, but "Hollywood and American's fascination with celebrities." In the video game for Punch-Out!! (NES), NES he has two versions of his signature move called Super Spin Punch. One in which he performs a spin after a few seconds to be still and another in which he performs several multiple spins that could instantly knock the player down.
Super Macho Man has achieved internet meme status with the line "Release the Bogus!".
Opponents introduced in ''Punch-Out!! (NES), Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!'' (1987)
Besides including characters from the original ''Punch Out!!'' games, like Glass Joe, the Nintendo Entertainment System game ''Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
originally titled is a 1987 boxing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Part of the '' Punch-Out!!'' series, it is an adaptation of the arcade video games '' Punch-Out!!'' (1984) and ''Sup ...
'' introduced four new boxers, as well as pulling in real-life boxer Mike Tyson as the final boss of the game.
Von Kaiser
(Von, From the Emperor) nicknamed "The German Steel Machine" is a 42 year-old German boxer born in Berlin. He is an instructor of this same sport in an unknown military academy. Von Kaiser made his first appearance in ''Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
originally titled is a 1987 boxing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Part of the '' Punch-Out!!'' series, it is an adaptation of the arcade video games '' Punch-Out!!'' (1984) and ''Sup ...
'' for the NES in 1987. Years later, he returned in the installment of ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for Wii released in 2009, now voiced by Horst Laxon. In all Punch-Out!! games in which he appears, he is the second opponent Little Mac faces on the Minor Circuit, having a record of 23 wins and 13 losses. In addition, he appeared with Bald Bull in a micro game of WarioWare: Smooth Moves, in which Referee Mario has to count to ten to win the micro game.
The New York Post I call him a "memorable character" alongside Bald Bull and Soda Popinski, Brian Lisi of New York Daily News magazine stated that «Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner made Von Kaiser's entry one of the most memorable in the entire game, far surpassing his staying power in the ring.» When it was revealed that Von Kaiser would be in Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
for Wii, the Wii, he was rated a "quirky favorite" alongside King Hippo and Doc Louis by the GameZone website.
Posting and Toasting commented that although he is not the worst fighter of Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! he claimed that he "is the most forgettable." He further commented that "his look at him, his fighting style and his slapping talk" is "completely unforgettable." The website Paste (magazine), Paste chose it at the top of their list of "10 video games that let you punch a Nazi." Uproxx rates him as one of the best villains of the series, Cubed3 in their review of the Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
for Wii I describe him as a "tough and efficient German." BlockFort listed him at # 7 on their list of "Top 10 Best German Video Game Characters" describing him as a "no-nonsense strongman who looks like a typical German soldier from World War I."
Piston Honda
is a 28-year-old Japanese boxer born in Tokyo. He first appeared in ''Punch-Out!! (NES)'', where he is the Minor Circuit Champion. In ''Punch-Out!!'' for the Wii, his name is changed to to avoid legal problems. He is voiced by Japanese voice actor Kenji Takahashi.
Don Flamenco
is a 23-year-old Spanish people, Spanish boxer born in Madrid. His first appearance was in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...
. He did not make another appearance until ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the Wii, where he was voiced by Juan Amador Pulido.
Since appearing in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the NES, Don Flamenco has received mostly positive reception. He was described by IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
editor Levi Buchanan to be one of the favourites of ''Punch-Out!!'' with Soda Popinski, Bear Hugger and King Hippo. GameSpy editor Ryan Scott suggested that Don Flamenco existed to "cut the players down to size" after easier opponents such as Glass Joe and Piston Honda. In discussing the stereotypes of ''Punch-Out!!'', GamesRadar editor Brett Elston stated that Don Flamenco was a stereotype of Spanish people, citing stereotypes utilized in the character such as being expert bullfighters, always having a rose in his hand, and an obsession with good looks, comparing Don Flamenco to Spanish fighting game character Vega (Street Fighter), Vega from the ''Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as ''SF'' or スト (''Suto''), is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Capcom. The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by six ...
'' series. Fellow GamesRadar editor Mikel Reparaz held a similar sentiment.
The Escapist editor Sumantra Lahiri commented that while Don Flamenco was less pathetic than French boxer Glass Joe, he «radiates an effeminate "pretty boy" persona by making constant references to his perfect hair and starting off each fight with a feisty Latin dance.» He adds that this is a stereotype of Spanish people by much of the world who view Spain's culture. Eurogamer France considered Flamenco's "macho poses" as a "crude caricature." Brian Lisi of New York Daily Times described him as "a fiery Spaniard with a passion for punches and looks." BlockFort included him in position 6 on their list of the "10 best Spanish video game characters" citing various Spanish stereotypes used in the character.
King Hippo
is an obese boxer who hails from the fictional Hippo Island. In the Wii version's title defense, he uses a manhole cover to protect his torso. King Hippo appeared blue in cartoon Captain N: The Game Master, where he is played by Garry Chalk.
Mike Tyson (Mr. Dream)
is the final opponent of the original release of ''Punch-Out!!'' for the NES, titled ''Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!'', whom Little Mac faces in a bout called "The Dream Fight", in which his boxing record is 31-0 with 27 KOs. After Tyson's contract with Nintendo expired, he was replaced with , a boxer from Dreamland and with a total record of 99-0 with 99 KOs. Writer Kevin Wong described him as a "completely broken video game character who can knock you out with a single uppercut," adding that "that's just fun and meaningful when you're fighting Iron Mike himself. With Mr. Dream, it's just pathetic." Writer Jesse Schedeen criticized the character, saying that "he has never given us the same sense of joy and accomplishment."
Opponents introduced in '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1994)
Gabby Jay
is a 56-year-old French boxer from Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
, whose record is 99 losses and 1 win against Glass Joe. Bit Mob editor Andrew Fitch criticized Gabby Jay, calling him a "wannabe" of Glass Joe. Allgame editor Skyler Miller agreed with this sentiment, commenting that while humorous, he is not quite as "out there". In his article "One and Done: Nine Videogame Characters Who Were Never Heard From Again", editor John Teti listed Gabby Jay, stating that it was "not easy to replace a legend, but that was the bum hand dealt to Gabby Jay". He added that Gabby Jay not appearing in the Wii ''Punch-Out!!'' in favor of Glass Joe was something that ''Star Trek'' fans would deem "the Katherine Pulaski, Dr. Pulaski treatment". Uproxx writer Nathan Birch described him as a "truly consummate coward."
Bob Charlie
is a 26-year-old boxer from Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica, whose only appearance was in the SNES version of ''Super Punch-Out!!''. His look and name are both references to the reggae legend Bob Marley. Kevin Wong criticized the character saying that "not only does he suck as a fighter, but he dances during his match while his manager yells 'shuck and jive' at him."
Masked Muscle
is a 29-year-old former Luchador masked man from Mexico City, whose only appearance was in Super Punch-Out!!. His main attack is to spit in Little Mac's eyes to temporarily blind him. Writer Kevin Wong described it as "a missed opportunity," commenting that "the developers could have done something really cool with a professional wrestling character, but instead opted for a lazy joke."
Aran Ryan
is an Irish people, Irish boxer born in Dublin. His first appearance was in '' Super Punch-Out!!'' for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, and most recently appeared in the Wii video game ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'', where he was voiced by Stephen Webster. While he was more sedate in ''Super Punch-Out!!'', cheating occasionally, the Wii version depicts him as a loud, boisterous cheater. The developer Bryce Holliday describes him as the game's "resident hooligan". In discussing Ryan's fighting style, GamePro editor Will Herring described it as being momentum-based.
Since appearing in ''Punch-Out!!'', Aran Ryan has received mixed reception. In their review, GameTrailers bemoaned his inclusion over ''Super Punch-Out!!'' character Dragon Chan. In his review, editor Scott Jones criticized Ryan's inclusion in the Wii ''Punch-Out!!'', calling him "one of the most banal characters in the game." He questioned why Nintendo included him and called him "forgettable." ''Complex
Complex commonly refers to:
* Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe
** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
'' ranked him as the "sixth-douchiest video game character."
In their article of racial stereotypes in ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'', GamesRadar editor Brett Elston commented that his uncontrollable rage, his disposition to cheating, his love for fighting, and his penchant for adorning his clothing with four-leaf clovers was a strong stereotype of the Irish people. They added other qualities of Irish stereotypes, which includes red hair and excitability. GamesRadar editor Michael Grimm listed him as one of the six most offensive Irish stereotypes describing him as a "babbling madman". Eurogamer
''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson.
Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EG ...
editor Oli Welsh cited Ryan as a "idiotically violent Irishman."
Heike Kagero
is a 19-year-old Japanese boxer born in Osaka. His only appearance in the SNES version of ''Super Punch-Out!!''. In addition to his punches, he uses his long silver hair as a weapon by employing a hair whip maneuver which can knock down the player if hit with it.
Mad Clown
is a 27-year-old Italian clown from Milan who decided to take up boxing. He made his only appearance in the SNES version of ''Super Punch-Out!!''. Mad Clown began his life as a famous opera singer, however he suffered from a nervous breakdown. Later he dedicated himself to being a clown, and after failing at that as well, he decided to dedicate himself to boxing.
Narcis Prince
is a 20-year-old British boxer from London that appeared for the first and last time in the SNES
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in E ...
video game ''Super Punch-Out!!''. Kevin Wong commented on this by saying that "the privileged handsome boy from across the pond definitely has the most elegant boxing style of all the fighters in Super Punch-Out!!."
Hoy Quarlow
is an 78-year-old Chinese boxer born on Beijing, whose first and last appearance was in ''Super Punch-Out!!'' for SNES. Hoy Quarlow is the only boxer who carries a weapon in his hands, in this case a stick, he also has a "sick arsenal of special moves". Also, he only weighs 100 pounds.
Rick Bruiser
is a boxer and brother of Nick Bruiser. Rick has 41 wins on his record and 1 loss from his brother. Both Rick and Nick can use the "Arm Breaker", a special move in which they both nudge that temporarily takes Little Mac's left or right arm out of action.
Nick Bruiser
is the final opponent of the game, and holds a record of 42 wins and 0 losses. According to a Nintendo Power magazine, he lost once against Glass Joe (hence Glass Joe's only win), but the SNES game denies this.
Opponents introduced in Punch-Out!! (Wii), ''Punch-Out!!'' (2009)
Disco Kid
is a 20-year-old American boxer from Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, New York. who was voiced by Donny Lucas. Disco Kid is one of only two new characters to appear in the Wii video game ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'', which consists of mostly characters from ''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
'' for the Nintendo Entertainment System. He was one of the first characters revealed in the Wii ''Punch-Out!!''. He is characterized as flamboyant with a high-pitched voice and an affinity for Clubbing (subculture), clubbing.
Disco Kid has received generally positive reception. Numerous critics said that Disco Kid fit in well with the characters returning from previous games, including Craig Harris, Oli Welsh, Ricardo Madeira, and DJPubba. GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
's Tom Mc Shea believed that he lacked the charm of the returning characters but had a flashy style. The Escapist (magazine), ''The Escapist'''s John Funk said that more could have been done to make him feel "disco", such as the addition of "sequins on his shorts." 1UP.com
''1Up.com'' was an American entertainment website that focused on video games. Launched in 2003, ''1Up.com'' provided its own original features, news stories, game reviews, and video interviews, and also featured comprehensive PC-focused conten ...
's David Ellis and an editor for ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). Th ...
.com compared Disco Kid to ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' character Carlton Banks; Ellis added that he was a "flamboyant dancer who uses awkward timing as a distraction" and a greater challenge than other early game characters due to his unique pattern. '' GamePro''s Will Herring wrote that his design was "masterfully modeled and animated". GameDaily
GameDaily (GD) was a video game journalism website based in the United States.
It was launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads. The site changed its business model from a flat fee ...
's Chris Buffa described him as a "dancing fool" and a humorous character with a distinctive personality.
Disco Kid has been described as flamboyant, and as a stereotype of black Americans by critics such as Kotaku's Michael McWhertor. An editor for GameTrailers suggested that Nintendo was aiming for a certain segment of people with Disco Kid. GamesRadar's Brett Elston described Disco Kid as a stereotype due to his appreciation of cars, bass, and Clubbing (subculture), clubbing. He believed that these stereotypes were comparatively mild compared to other ''Punch-Out!!'' characters, with the exception of Mr. Sandman (Punch-Out!!), Mr. Sandman. One of the members of Retronauts stated that Disco Kid was stereotype new to ''Punch-Out!!'', and that it was "unnerving."
Opponents' appearances
Cameo characters
''Punch-Out!!'' has several cameos of Nintendo characters. The original ''Punch-Out!!'' shows several Nintendo characters in the audience, including Donkey Kong Jr. and Mario, and Mario appears as a referee in the NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...
''Punch-Out!!
is a video game series of boxing created by Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, and his partner Makoto Wada. The first game was '' Punch-Out!!'' made in 1984 as an arcade unit, which was followed by a sequel '' Super Punch-Out!!'' (1984) ...
''. In ''Punch-Out!!'' for the Wii, Donkey Kong (character), Donkey Kong appears as an opponent, and otherwise his shadow is generally seen behind the opponent and to the left in the audience.
Merchandise
Topps and Nintendo of America made a series of trading cards featuring characters from the Mario (franchise), ''Mario'', The Legend of Zelda (series), ''The Legend of Zelda'', Double Dragon (series), ''Double Dragon'', and the NES ''Punch-Out!!'' series. The ''Punch-Out!!'' cards depict Little Mac's various opponents. The cards have scratch-off spots on them, which determine loss or win. As in real boxing, but not in this video game series, a "cow blow" is slang for the highly illegal blow to the kidneys and causes the scratch-off card to be an instant loss.
Notes
References
{{Lists of Nintendo characters
Lists of Nintendo characters, Punch-Out
Punch-Out!! characters,