The Legacy of Punch-Out and Its Potential Return
Donkey Kong Bananza has been a massive success for Nintendo, but now it seems like the perfect time for another iconic Nintendo series to make a comeback, like Punch-Out. After 26 years, DK returns in his first full 3D installment since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64, with Donkey Kong Bananza, and it’s been getting stellar reviews across the board. While I love Donkey Kong, my favorite Nintendo series has always been Punch-Out. The games are incredibly fun to play, and mastering them feels truly rewarding. Plus, the newest entry in the series was actually the best one yet, and I would love to see its developer continue with a sequel.
Why Punch-Out Is Such a Phenomenal Series
One of the core reasons why the Punch-Out games (excluding the Arcade titles) prove to be such greatness on a different level is the skill ceiling. Punch-Out is incredibly easy to learn. You can dodge left and right, duck, throw left and right body and headshots, throw star punches, and that’s pretty much it. There are other mechanics, like the KO meter and heart system, but the gameplay is as simple as that. Despite its simplicity, there’s a very high skill ceiling, and mastering Punch-Out feels amazing. There are usually wildly hard one or two-frame knockdown/knockout opportunities, and landing those makes you feel like a million bucks. KOing the final boss of Super Punch-Out in ten seconds, for example, requires precise timing and reaction skills, but landing it is satisfying like no other game out there.
Punch-Out Deserves a Comeback on Switch 2
It’s saddening to see that Punch-Out has been largely abandoned by Nintendo when the last game was so good. Punch-Out Wii was essentially a full-blown remake of the NES original, and one of the best video game remakes ever. It improved the game in all facets, even mechanically, with the more risky star system. With the new technology of the Switch 2, it would be interesting to see what direction Next Level would take for Punch-Out.
Punch-Out Wii was developed by Next Level Games, a developer most famous for Luigi’s Mansion 2 and 3, which are some of the better video game spin-offs of the Mario franchise. Even to this day, I think that Punch-Out Wii is their best game ever, and I would love to see a sequel on the Switch 2. With the new technology of the Switch 2, it would be interesting to see what direction Next Level will take for Punch-Out.
Why Punch-Out Might Not Return
Despite Punch-Out being a great series, it is, sadly, marred by the series’ notorious use of racial stereotypes in its boxers. Throughout the entire series, from the first arcade game in 1984 to the newest entry from 2009, you’ll find tons of racial stereotypes. It can be a bit jarring today, and even when Punch-Out Wii came out in 2009, the game received backlash for it.
It’s understandable why Nintendo would want to stay away from Punch-Out, but people don’t love the series because of the stereotypes associated with it. At least for hardcore Punch-Out fans, they love the titles because of the gameplay, landing one-frame knockdowns. That’s what makes Punch-Out so fun, and Nintendo could easily remove stereotypes from the next installment, but keep the gameplay intact. That would be the best path forward in creating a new Punch-Out title.