Graphics

The look of this game is certainly different. Leaning towards an almost Super Mario Galaxy-like appearance, it makes the characters almost look like they're glowing and gives everything a more animated look than, say, Smackdown vs. Raw. And for this game, it works very well. This being the Wii, Next Level wasn't going to be able to get away with making characters bleed, but the bruises and other visible damage indicators that they did throw in are nice touches. Characters like Aran Ryan and Donkey Kong are very animated, while things like Mr. Sandman winking are nice touches showing the amount of work put into this game's visual design. In fact, there isn't much bad you can say about this aspect of the game that doesn't apply to every Wii game out there; it's just great.

9

Sound

The audio of this game is also handled nicely, although not with as much care as the visual. Three or four different songs are played throughout the game - ranging from catchy to forgettable - along with a few shorter songs for "recovering from being knocked down" and such. These tunes are remixed countless times, with each fighter getting music that fits their nationality. It's a nice touch and again shows how much work Next Level Games put into these characters, but a bit more variety never hurt anyone. And speaking of character, the voices in this game get a near perfect ten. It's admirable to hear that each character speaks in his native tongue, and it all sounds very natural; you can hear the fright in Glass Joe's voice. Leaving Mac silent was nothing new, but it was a good choice. Oh, and the verdict on Donkey Kong? His music isn't bad, and his voice isn't bad.

8

Play Control

I've played this game with the Wiimote/Nunchuk combo and the Wiimote on its side, and they both felt quite good. They are certainly different experiences: the "old-school" control method is much easier to get into and is good for a more relaxed experience (although with Punch-Out!!, relaxed is the equivalent of wanting to throw your Wii out the window). On the opposite side of the spectrum, I would actually work up a sweat when fighting with both hands. Some pointer integration on the menus would have been nice, but the controls work where it counts, and that's all that really matters to me.

9

Originality

Alright, I might not be able to score this category fairly. While I have played Smackdown vs. Raw, this is the first boxing/wrestling game I have actually owned, let alone my first Punch-Out!! game. And considering that, it was quite a unique experience. It could almost be considered a puzzle game disguised with several hundred layers of polish. As I've mentioned several times already, the characters were all very unique, with Donkey Kong being handled well, and it was a game experience that I can't say I've experienced in any large capacity before. But, as I said, I don't have a full view of the picture here; this game is unique compared to DK Jungle Climber or Diddy Kong Racing, but might not be unique compared to Super Punch-Out!!.

9

Final Word

Next Level Games should be proud. The Punch-Out!! series was dormant for 15 years, and then they come out of left field with a new game. And it was great. I can not stress enough how much I love the characters they crafted, and it controls as well as anybody could hope. Some people might say online leader boards or better multiplayer would have been nice, and I agree that you can never have too many extra features. But the "absence" of these things had no effect on my overall enjoyment of this game. It's difficult, but a good difficult; it's the kind that makes you want to keep trying until you've beaten every character twice. Next Level deserves a pat on the back; they took up the challenge of bringing back a beloved series, and came through with flying colors.

10

Final Score: 9/10