is a series of
boxing video games released by
Sega. The original
arcade game was released in 1976. The game featured black-and-white graphics and critics have since identified it as the first
video game to feature hand-to-hand fighting.
[Spencer, Spanner]
The Tao of Beat-'em-ups
''EuroGamer,'' Feb 6 2008, Accessed Feb 23, 2009[Ashcraft, Brian, (2008) ''Arcade Mania! The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers'', (Kodansha International), p. 94] It was a commercial success in Japan, where it was the third highest-grossing
arcade video game of 1976.
However, it is now considered a lost video game.
Sega released a
remake to arcades in 1987, changing the side perspective of the original game to a third-person viewpoint from behind the
boxer. Both games feature unique
controls that
simulate
A simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Simulations require the use of Conceptual model, models; the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors of the selected system or proc ...
throwing actual punches.
The 1987 remake was also successful, becoming Japan's fifth highest-grossing dedicated
arcade game of 1988 and receiving positive reviews from critics.
Gameplay
The 1976 original featured gameplay viewed from a side-view perspective. It employed two
boxing glove controllers, one for each player, which moved up and down for high and low punches, with an inward movement for striking.
It used large
monochrome
A monochrome or monochromatic image, object or palette is composed of one color (or values of one color). Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale (typically digital) or black-and-white (typically analog). In physics, monochrom ...
sprite visuals for the graphics.
The 1987 game changed the perspective to behind the player's boxer. In addition, the player is given two punch controllers, one for each hand. Only a single-player mode was made available, in which the player faces a series of opponents in one-round, three-minute bouts. Players can swivel the
cabinet to move their boxer from side to side.
Reception
The original 1976 game was a commercial success in Japan. On the first annual ''
Game Machine'' arcade chart, ''Heavyweight Champ'' was the third highest-grossing
arcade video game of 1976 in Japan, just below
Taito
is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, toys, arcade cabinets and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the importing vodka, vending machines and jukeboxes into Japan. I ...
's
''Ball Park'' (''Tornado Baseball'') and ''
Speed Race DX''.
The 1987 remake was also a commercial success. In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed the 1987 version on their November 15, 1987 issue as being the fourth most-successful upright arcade unit of the month. It went on to become Japan's fifth highest-grossing dedicated
arcade game of 1988.
The 1987 remake was also critically well-received. ''
Advanced Computer Entertainment
''ACE'' (Advanced Computer Entertainment) was a multi-format computer and video game magazine first published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing and later acquired by EMAP.
History
ACE launched in October 1987, roughly the same time as ...
'' and ''
Commodore User
''Commodore User'', known to the readers as the abbreviated ''CU'', was one of the oldest British Commodore magazines. With a publishing history spanning over 15 years, it mixed content with technical and video game features. Incorporating ''Vic ...
'' praised the game's unique controls but raised concerns that they might decrease the lifespan of the cabinets.
[Heavyweight Champ]
. ''Advanced Computer Entertainment''. March 1988. p. 26.
''Commodore User''. December 1987. p. 144 ''Commodore User'' also had positive impressions of the game's graphics and gave the game a 9 out of 10 overall.
[Kelly, Nick.]
Commodore User. January 1988.
Related games
Sega reused the ''Heavyweight Champ'' name when they released the Sega Master System version of ''James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing'' outside of North America. The game features a side perspective and is otherwise unrelated to the arcade games. It was not received well.
[Heavyweight Championship Boxing]
Mean Machines. Issue 7. pp 58-59.[Heavyweight Champ.]
Raze. Issue 9. p. 54.[Heavyweight Championship Boxing]
CVG's Complete Guide to Sega. pp. 95-96.
The 1991 Sega arcade game ''Title Fight'' also featured controls for left and right punches and a similar behind-the-boxer perspective as the 1987 game, along with two-player gameplay through use of a dual-monitor cabinet.
[Title Fight]
Killer List of Video Games. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
See also
*
List of Sega arcade games
The following is a list of arcade games developed and published by Sega, many on their arcade system boards. In addition to making its own games, Sega has licensed out its arcade systems to third party publishers. This list comprises all of the g ...
Notes
References
External links
*
Heavyweight Champ (1976) at arcade-history*{{cite AV media , people=
Jonathan Dunn-Rankin
Jonathan Dunn-Rankin (November 30, 1930 – December 12, 2014) was an American actor, television journalist and gay activist.
Early life
Jonathan Dunn-Rankin was born on November 30, 1930, in New Jersey. He graduated from Rollins College after s ...
, date=1977 , title=Sega Center offers state of the art video games in 1977 , type=television , location=
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...
, publisher=
CBS 8 San Diego
KFMB-TV (channel 8) is a television station in San Diego, California, United States, affiliated with CBS, The CW, and MyNetworkTV. Owned by Tegna Inc., it has studios on Engineer Road in the Kearny Mesa section of San Diego, and its transmitte ...
, url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwfeOu0QsGk , access-date=9 April 2022
1976 video games
1987 video games
Arcade video games
Arcade-only video games
Boxing video games
Lost video games
Sega arcade games
Video games developed in Japan
Video games featuring black protagonists