16 Bits

Super Famicom Box Art

Super Punch-Out!! was released in Japan in 1998, four years after its Western release.

Arcade Version

The arcade version of Super Punch-Out!! used two screens, one displaying statistics and the other the gameplay. The player character appears as a green wireframe figure.

A Tale of Two Bobs

Boxer Bob Charlie resembles reggae musician Bob Marley in both appearance and name. Who wishes they were a fly on the wall during that meeting?

Bears just Want to hAve Fun

In the Wii version of Punch-Out!!, Bear Hugger is shown training with a real bear, proving once and for all that hugging bears is the easiest way to befriend them.

Here Comes a Hurricane!

Piston Hurricane is often confused with Piston Honda. Piston Hurricane appeared in the original Punch-Out!! arcade game, but was replaced by Honda in the NES version. On top of their first names, they also share similar fighting styles and “Rush” signature moves.

Glass Joe’s School of Freak Accidents

Although Nick Bruiser’s in-game record shows no losses, Nintendo Power claimed he did in fact lose to none other than Glass Joe in a “freak accident.”

Mac Tonight

In early screenshots and trailers, Little Mac was shown with his Punch-Out!! design but was later changed to have blonde hair. He would revert back to the original look for all future appearances.

Sweet Sixteen

Not counting the Contender and Title Defense variants of boxers in Punch-Out!! for the Wii, Super Punch-Out!! holds the record for most unique opponents at 16.

Zoda

Nintendo IRD developed Super Punch-Out!! simultaneously with Zoda’s Revenge: Star Tropics II, which was the penultimate first-party Nintendo game released for the NES.

It’s-a-me, Martinet!

Mario voice actor Charles Martinet is credited with voicing Super Punch-Out!!’s announcer, referee, and boxers. Mario himself appears as the referee in the NES version of Punch-Out!!

Switching it Up

Some boxers change their tactics under certain conditions, such as being knocked down or after a set amount of time has passed, adding even more variety to the gameplay.

Cornermen

Each opponent has a cornerman who shouts instructions at their boxer. Most often these hint that Little Mac’s adversary is about to use their signature attack. Sadly, Little Mac’s own cornerman, Doc Louis, decided to sit out this game.

Arm Wrestling

Nintendo IRD developed an arcade-only spin-off called Arm Wrestling. Released in 1985, the game featured five over-the-top opponents, including Punch-Out!!’s Bald Bull, masquerading as “Mask X”.

Little Mac Punches In!

Little Mac joined the Super Smash Bros. universe as a playable character in the series’ fourth release. He was revealed during a Nintendo Direct stream commemorating the 30th anniversary of Punch-Out!!

Smash Mac

To coincide with his Super Smash Bros. debut, Little Mac was given an amiibo. His appearance in both Smash Bros. and the amiibo figure is modeled after his design from the Wii version of Punch-Out!!

Sound Test

When starting the game, hold L+R on the second controller during the Nintendo logo to access Super Punch-Out!!’s sound test.