Punch out!
This imaginatively titled follow-up to the original boxing sim Star Rank Boxing is actually a pretty decent game that adds enough its predecessor to make it worth playing for hardened sports fans. While boxing might not seem that great a choice for a fighting game, lacking as it does the slick moves of martial arts, it's a sport which transfers surprisingly well to the small screen, requiring as it does a more thoughtful and considerate player. Starting out, you get the option to create your own fighter, selecting from a variety of characteristics in order to get your fighter to the top of the Heavyweight, Middleweight or Welterweight divisions. Before you hit the ring, you need to get training, and only have a limited amount of time to prepare by practicing with different types of punching bag as well as running and sparring. Once you think you're ready, you can take on your first real opponent and the game takes a side-on view, with limited horizontal movement available. The rules aren't exactly complex and it's a simple matter now of battering your opponent into submission before the ten rounds are up. However, as this is boxing, a certain element of strategy is required and you're got to watch out for your stamina while getting in as many punches as possible. The game does need a patient hand and if you go in all guns blazing, you're likely to get knocked out quickly. This slower pace might not suit fans of fighting games like Street Fighter 2, but if you're looking for a simpler retro experience, this should do the job.
