Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (1987 Video Game) User Reviews

After 11 years, I played it in 2001 - it still had the same effect - awesome!

[essrickardo · 8/10 · 8 January 2002]

I played this game so many times that after 11 years, I still remember the moves and secrets - I surprised myself. This is the lasting effect of a wonderful game.

This is a classic video game and I hope that the newer video game systems have made an archive CD/cartridge that contains this game.

I'm sure that it brings back memories (good or bad) for the former Champ. Mike - brilliant game!

The Best Boxing Game Ever

[maryann_blair · 9/10 · 31 May 2013]

This game is so fun awesome and entertaining. The graphics are really awesome and quite interesting. I am going to tell you all the characters you vs in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out. GLASS JOE, VON KAISER, PISTON HONDA, DON FLAMENCO, KING HIPPO, GREAT TIGER, BALD BULL, SODA POPINSKI, SANDMAN, SUPER MACHO MAN, and last but not least the boxing champion MIKE TYSON. The person you play against them is LITTLE MAC and his trainer is DOC LOUIS. The referee is the most video game played character MARIO. This is the best punch-out in my book of best video games. I have a list called ALL MY VIDEO GAMES you could check that out. HOWEVER this is so fun bye.

The only boxing videeo game I have ever played

[moivieFan · 7/10 · 17 December 2019]

I am pretty sure I had mike Tyson's punch out and not punch Out.

I remember as a child renting this video game every time I got a chance to. I could not wait to play it. Later I bought the game.

I would always get to king hippo and then lose. A friend and I had to call the Nintendo hotline to learn how to beat king hippo. I remember one time I was able to beat mike Tyson. I don't know how I did it. I am not the worlds best video game player by any means. And Mike Tyson was tough to beat.

This is the only boxing video game I have ever played. I liked the music and the sounds of the game. My favorite boxer was Mike Tyson.

Ahead of it time

[seth_kenney · 10/10 · 27 June 2003]

This game is just incredible. Its ahead of its time. Why? Because I'm 25 and still enjoy playing this game if I can find a working original NES. I don't think I can ever grow tired of this game. This might be the best NES ever made. That and Ninja Gaiden. Techmo Bowl was fun, too, but those games have been outdone in the later years. This is one game that will never lose its luster. Play it till your fingers bleed...because if Tyson knocks you down a second time, they just might bleed from the rapid 'B' button execution to get up. Remember that? I still have blisters from 1988 doing that.

Mike Tyson's Punch Out: A game that still isn't surpassed?

[latsblaster · 20 June 2003]

How did they make it? All the opponents all expressions and everything ... This game is superb. I suppose you know about it's qualities, here comes the weak ones ...

* Doc doesn't always have the best things to tell you: (Mac: I can't win Doc) "Yes you can Mac" (I'm tired Doc) "Hang in there, Mac!"

* Why do all your opponents have something like 28 - 2 in matches ... better if the weakest in minor had like (except Glass Joe ...) 10-15 or something and the one in major 12-12 and the ones in the world 17-7 or something.

* Why doesn't your opponents have a more trashed look between the rounds when Mac almost seem to die before the third round even if he has just been down once? And why are they always so cocky, even if you have punished them in the latest round ... ?

* There should not have been so few boxers in the minor serie and so many in the world! And to have some of the opponents twice was not necessary, they could have others instead, why not any from Africa, South America or Arabia?

* Don't you think Don Flamenco in the world serie is a bit too easy to win against?

* Why can't you beat the first match against Piston Honda (minor) by split decision?

Maybe my all time favorite video game ... Maybe.

Rating: 9 of 10.

Fun guaranteed! Tyson was very difficult to beat.

[insomniac_rod · 10/10 · 20 May 2009]

One of the most entertaining, clever, and difficult video games ever created! Mike Tyson's punch out was a genre definer and a fan favorite that has survived the pass of the years.

I remember spending hours trying to beat Tyson himself! But the game is not about Tyson's ego; it deals with training very hard in order to beat colorful, interesting, mean characters such as my favorite Mister Macho Man.

The controls were very fine and easy to dominate. The music was amazing! I can't remember any other game with such fit music.

The ambient sounds were very good and make you feel you were in uh, an arena. And even the Mario Bros referee added a true personality to the game.

Those were the days when video games were more difficult and entertaining. Remember, technology doesn't means quality.

Better than Pro Wrestling

[sloth47 · 10/10 · 24 July 2001]

OK, so you have Kid Dynamite from the 80s as the ultimate Bout. What is better is the cast you have to go through to get there:

Glass Joe Von Kaiser Piston Honda (twice) Don Flamenco (twice) King Hippo Great Tiger Bald Bull (twice) Soda Popinski Mr. Sandman Super Macho Man Kid Dynamite

All of these are capable contenders with some super tough moves. They all have their own little tricks to try to knock Little Mac over. Of course, in the arcade, Mac was a green graph and in this game you (Mac) have on green shorts and a black wife-beater.

Mac should always listen to his manager, the colorful Doc Brown, who always has good advice such as "join the nintendo fun club today, mac".

Also, be sure to utilize star punches at key times, like when an enemy is stunned or just rises from the canvas. Try not to throw too many punches or you will get fatigued and lose heart power. Also, always counter punch after dodging.

The code to go straight to Tyson is: 007-373-5963 Use this only after a thorough training episode that encompasses all other enemies. If you can not beat everyone else very easily, you will have no chance against N. Tyson. Good luck and remember to join the Nintendo fun club ASAP!!!

My Favorite Video Game Of All-Time

[zkonedog · 10/10 · 12 March 2017]

(Quick Note: The only difference between "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!" and "Punch-Out!" is that after Iron Mike signed a contract to be in the game, the gap-toothed puncher was convicted of rape and sentenced to hard time. Not wanting that kind of bad press directed at them, Nintendo re-released the game with Tyson being replaced by the crew-cut Mr. Dream, who shares the EXACT same punches and mannerisms as Tyson).

Since I was given my first Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991, I have been a devoted brand- loyalist my entire life, playing such systems as the Super Nintendo, Nintendo '64, Gamecube, and the Wii. Through that lineage, I was able to see video games "grow up", in a manner of speaking, what with the introduction of 3-D game play with Mario '64, the explosion of the Madden Football series, and the new motion-sensor interface of the Wii. Yet, through all those great games and innovative ideas, it is still a simple boxing game that charms me every time.

I think that the biggest appeal of "Punch-Out!" is its quirkiness. You play as Little Mac, a scrawny little fighter who must take on other pugilists both man and animal alike! There's Don Flamenco and his corny dances, Magic Tiger with his spinning knockout punch, and Bald Bull with his "Bull Charge". Plus, fighters like Piston Honda (obviously the Asian representative), Soda Popinski (a knock-off from the arcade game's Vodka Drunkenski, which Nintendo tamed down a bit), and Mr. Sandman are also quite colorful and interesting. With a cast of characters like that (including more that I'm not even mentioning here), how could the game not be engaging, as players wait breathlessly to see which oddball will come out of the woodwork next!

Of course, the challenge of the game is also what keeps players coming back for more. At first, you will hardly be able to defeat "Glass Joe", a wimpy fighter who is little more than a punching bag. However, as you begin to learn the basic controls, you will be able to advance to the next fighter, who always has something else up his sleeve. Each fighter also has their own individual "tells" (Piston Honda's eyebrows, various sound cues, etc.), which (once studied) can give you an edge in defeating them. If you have not played this game, I cannot put into words the joyful feeling of, having toiled to defeat a particular fighter time and time again, you finally put him on the mat for good!

About the only criticism I have of "Punch-Out!" is that, right at the very end, the difficulty level rises into the stratosphere. From Glass Joe to Super Macho Man and all fighters in between, they can be beaten by any decent gamer who puts in some time and effort. For Tyson/Dream, however, your reflexes need to be honed to nearly those of a cat in order to defeat him. However, that "weakness" also makes the game enjoyable after being defeated for the umpteenth time, as no matter how good you think you are, Tyson/Dream will give you the video game challenge of a lifetime.

So, I would highly recommend this game to ANY video game enthusiast out there (not just boxing fans). In today's world of complicated games that often have side-quests that can seemingly last forever, it is refreshing to find a game that is so simple and straightforward, yet challenging and engaging. Plus, if you are nostalgic for the NES whatsoever, this game will slip back into your gaming identity much like a boxing glove slips onto Little Mac's determined hands.

Fun and great boxing game and it's tough and impossible to beat Mike!

[blanbrn · 9/10 · 20 June 2019]

"Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!" was a blast and fun tough boxing video game that entertained with it's music and graphics it really was a knockout as you the fighter had to learn tricks and skills and how to finger the A and B buttons to beat certain fighters! Plus it was unreal to beat Tyson as I could never do it! You are Little Mac and you must work your way up thru the ranks by fighting fighters from all over the world before you get a crack at Mike! Don't worry if you lose you can fight again! The foes are real characters as up first is the tomato can Glass Joe, then to name a few you had "Piston Honda", the fat "King Hippo"(remember to punch in the belly to knockout!) and tough fights were always found with the magic of Great Tiger, the brute and strength of Mr. Sandman, Soda Pokinski, and Bald Bull all were fun and good challenges before "Iron Mike". In fact they were secrets and codes remember 007-373-5963 you could type and go straight off to face Mike only to get slaughtered! I could never beat Tyson as your hand speed on the buttons had to be super quick! Great and super game for the classic NES system as this was one of it's first released in 1987 a classic game for the video game hall of fame!

Packing a Punch

[hellraiser7 · 10/10 · 2 December 2021]

This is one of my favorite games for the NES but also favorite fighting/video games of all time. It's easy to see why this game is such a hit, from the popularity of the boxing sport in the 80's most notably the sports star Mike Tyson and others. The popularity of the "Rocky" film franchise which wasn't just big in the 70's but also 80's. Along with the original arcade game, this game though isn't a direct port but an original game for the system, and that's a good thing because it means the game is good in its own way.

Really like the character animation of the opponents, each of them is colorful and comical their all pretty much 80 cartoon/anime or Dick Tracy villains as each of them sort of have this unique over the top colorful nature to them. Really like the facial expression to them as each of them just spell out villain and each are saying they want a piece of you.

Let alone the giant size of them, your literally David against Goliath, only in this game you must take down several of them. However, don't let the size intimidate you because as an old saying goes, the bigger they are the harder they fall.

And it's really cool seeing the facial expressions as you are just dishing out the damage, it really looks and feels like your punches are making an impact, even when they go down which is funny as there is this cartoonish noise but also just the expression on their face which says, "I'm whipped". It really gives you a feeling of gratification and satisfaction doing it, knowing you were the one to overcome an opponent that seems to outmatch you, but it was your own skill that brought them down.

The combat system is solid it's true it's slightly basic but that's all you really need in a boxing game which is part of why this game works; however, there is one cool feature to give it some uniqueness.

Your sort of in one place throughout the game but you still must stick and move. You can deliver punches from the body blow to the jab, your also armed with your knockout punches which are your major weapon, they'll drain lots of energy from your opponent or even simply knock them down for the count.

But there is a catch to them as you have limited amount of them, you can refill them when you hit your opponent at the right area and time which is when a star appears above their head. However, this doesn't happen often so as a saying goes don't waste your punches.

Also you need to watch your stamina as you deliver lots of blows you also will drain yourself of stamina and once it's completely drained you go into an overheated fatigued state, which enables you from delivering anymore punches until you cool down. This is of course where the dodge and block functions come in handy, not just will it give you evasion defense against the blows, but it give you time to recharge your batteries.

What really makes this fighting game unique that is based on timing and visual cues, which is cool as that something I don't see much of in fighting games anymore and it makes sense because that is what you do when engaged in combat with an opponent in a tournament.

You must constantly pay attention to your opponent's movements as well as facial and body cues, as each of them have their set of moves. But in this set they dish out there are always gaps in their attacks and windows of opportunity to attack, and from the facial and body it's them tell as to the time their about to strike which helps put you a step ahead of your opponent as it gives you mere seconds to prepare for a defense and offense.

This NES and fighting game vintage classic packs a punch.

Rating: 4 stars.

Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!

[Movie Nuttball · 19 January 2005]

The Punch-Out!! series is one of the most unique boxing video games! The characters, the action, and the sure thrill of excitement makes this game a fun non-stop playing time! Below is a brief look how I think the game is!

Game Play: The game play is very good. There is really basic controls here and is easy to perform. Novice gamers should have a good time here!

Graphics: The graphics are wonderful especially for the Nintendo System! The backgrounds are really beautiful!

Difficulty: The game is easy but as it goes on you find out that it will become more difficult!

Music: The music is great! Just fantastic catchy tunes through out the game! In My opinion its some of the best music ever in a video game!

Sound: The sound is great. Nuff said!

Overall: I have always loved Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! If you like excellent boxing and fighting adventure games then I strongly recommend you play this game!

To purchase this video game and other Punch-Out! games check out Amazon.com!

As far as old Nintendo games go, this one is unsurpassed.

[Auteur-2 · 25 September 1999]

If you long for a more simplistic time in video games, then this is the title for you.The one thing that blows me away about this game is that your opponents actually have faces, and they make humorous expressions when you punch them.Modern day 64 bit games can't even manage that.In my opinion this game is timeless, it'll surely live on in my heart.

I miss this game

[girardi_is_god · 3 November 2003]

I was eight when this game came out, and I was obsessed with it at 10 years old. My friends and I would spend entire days playing this game. I beat Tyson only once, and it was the single greatest moment of my young life at the time. I remember you had to wait until he moved his hands to hit you, and strike quickly to hit him. I also know if he hit you, you hit the canvas. I can remember pounding on the A button, yelling "GET UP" after old Mike knocked me down. One thing I never got was how Glass Joe ever moved up in the rankings. You fight him first, then you see him again later at the higher levels. Maybe this is the game makers example of corruption in boxing.

I loved this game, and i wish I still had it.

Tough without Game Genie!!

[devil_may_cry_ldk_dante_sparda · 4 May 2003]

This game is a big part of my childhood and the NES days. I was too young to pass it fairly so I cheated by using Game Genie and passed it. Even then, the last opponent Mike Tyson, was hard as hell. If you still have this game, hold on to it!