Next Level Games, responsible for the Mario Football games, have a lot of responsibility for this game. In Mario Strikers no one would care if you messed up. But this is Punch Out. The best boxing game ever and one of the best games on the NES. If Next Level got this wrong their heads would be on the pikes of many adults who loved Punch Out when they were kids. Luckily they've done it perfectly.

For anyone who doesn't know what Punch Out is, first off shame on you, and now I'll tell you. Punch Out isn't a traditional boxing game. You can't move around the ring all the time and you need to know when the opponent punchs so you can dodge and then a counter attack. It's immensly satisfying when you've found the weaknesses of an opponent that's been giving you some bother.

I've played a lot of the NES and SNES games before this came out on the VC so I was well prepared. The thing is there is only one new boxer, Disco Kid. The rest have been ripped straight out of the NES version. So I thought this was a mere reimagining. They also seemed to be much easier.

Of course all the boxers have kept their old tricks so I can finish most of them in one go. Glass Joe is still patheticly weak, King Hippo still seems invincible until you hit him in the mouth and you can still take Bald Bull down in his charge by timing your punch just right. I breezed through the game at two hours and I'm ready to write this review until something big happened.

It was called World B. Like all good champions Little Mac has to defend his belt. But all the fighters have changed their tactics and they're harder. Let's take Glass Joe. Infamous for being pathetic because of his Glass Jaw. So a cutscene before the fight shows him going to the doctor and the doctor giving Glass Joe a headguard to defend himself from head punches. He's also got better, he delays and feints so you dodge when you shouldn't and then punches you when you're back in your regular place. So I lost to Glass Joe. Glass Joe. I tried to commit suicide as I couldn't bare the embarrasment.

So when I finally done with World B 8 hours I'm gone. So has Punch Out got any more in it's locker? Yes, there's an exhibition mode.

This isn't your usual run of the mill exhibtion mode where you can just pick your opponent and be done with it. You have lots of challenges to do. Glass Joe may be really easy in regular boxing but when you can't duck, block or dodge it's much harder. I defy only ninjas will be able to complete all the challenges. I still am.

There's also a multiplayer mode as well which is a great laugh. When you rack up a combo you can turn into Giga Mac or Giga Scott (Returning from the SNES version of Punch Out) and really destroy your opponent. It's not as memorable as the other modes though.

The graphics are superb. The cel shading really makes the boxer's expressions stand out and fits the nutty atmosphere of the game. The soundtrack is merely an update of the classic soundtrack so you won't be dissapointed. Oh and there's a nice surprise for Punch Out fans at the end.

Punch Out is perfect for everyone. Newer players will love multiplayer and the easiness of the opening rounds and experianced Punch Out fans will love the incredibly challenging World B and Exhibition challenges. Essential.