I finally beat some dudes. Took me about 20 fights in Career mode though before I did. This game has a HUGE learning curve, you won't just walk through this game. When you swing at the opponents, you have to end the stylus stroke ON their body or face to actually connect. I've found that it's best to start with a couple jabs to break up the opponents swings, then go into the various combos. The key is to build up your combo meter and then you will get dots and arrows to follow on the screen to deal some nasty damage in what they call a super-combo mode. The opponent will just stand there when the super combo mode happens, but if you screw up the super combo maneuvers, he'll be all over you. You practically need E.S.P. to dodge some of these boxer's punches though. Some of them are pretty quick.
Final verdict? This is a VERY good game. Very challenging. The boxers in it are all based on REAL boxers......at least the names are some I recognize as actual boxers.
I didn't care for the very urban sounding opening music, but when you pick career mode, it plays the Eye of the Tiger tune, with full voice and everything. You WILL get tired of hearing it very quickly though. You can turn it off.
This is the first game in a long time where I had both
and
feelings as I played it, simply because it's so hard. I guess that just makes winning all the more satisfying. Still, through it all, all day yesterday I was
until my battery died at like 4AM. I think that is a mark of a truly good game. I haven't done that since the first Puzzle Quest.
I've been wanting a Punch-Out for the DS since the DS was first launched. While this still isn't exactly Punch-Out, it does satisfy my craving for some good boxing action on the DS.
I can only see one thing missing in this game. Clinching.....you know, when the boxers are tired and kinda huddle against each other? Yeah, there's none of that in this game. But you know, I'm not into hugging sweaty guys anyway, so I don't miss it.
I hafta say, this is my current favorite game on the DS.
Now I have to play some Hagime No Ippo to see how that is......I do have it patched for English on my DS, just never got around to playing it.