Wade Hixton's Counter Punch

The play control is tight, with good response, and natural button choices (buttons on the left punch with your left arm, etc). And, oh yeah, it's kind of like Punch-Out! There are 3 save game slots to keep your record and money. But this is still a $20 game and they had to cut corners somewhere. Well, actually I don't know if they HAD to, but they did.

This game is very short and can be beaten with relative ease, in the first setting, with the exception of the final boss, Don. That guy is quite hard. The other thing is that while the control is tight, it is also pretty shallow. You have six basic punches, but very little distinguishing one from the other. Anything a left punch will do, a right punch will do as well. The super moves you can buy are not very impressive, but they help improve the depth a bit. Maybe some people out there would stay interested in this game for dozens upon dozens of hours. I am not one of these people.

It's a good game, buy it if it sounds good to you. But it's only a real deal at $20. You can think of it as a really flashy skin put on old Punch-Out! gameplay. Or you can think of it as an incredibly shallow fighting game, that is also very pretty. Chances are you'll start out the former and end up the latter. But, I still say someone in the mood for handheld arcade boxing will enjoy this.


One of the Best Handheld Games Ever Made   March 27, 2004
Richard (Monterey, CA United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is the game Punch-Out fans have been waiting for. It has all the quick-reflex fun and quirky personality of the old Nintendo classic, updated with fantastic hand-drawn animation and light RPG elements that extend the gameplay. The character design is wonderful, the writing is funny, the gameplay is perfect. Even the music is good. At 19.99, this is the bargain of the year. I can't over-emphasize how great this game looks. You've never seen anything like it on a handheld console screen.

By the way, this is the first video game I've ever ordered from Amazon. I ordered it because a certain enormous Video Game store chain (same initials as Eloping Baboons) has decided not to carry it. That company's buyer is, apparently, an idiot. Thank you, Amazon, for making such a great game available!


This game ain't got s*** on Punchout   March 22, 2004
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Counter Punch is a Punchout style game with great animations and graphics. Game play is smooth like Sweetness the local pimp in the game and jokes are hilarious!!! Overall this game is a lot fun, challenging and worth every penny spent ($19.99!) a bargain! PLUS you can buy the referee hats and bribe too, incidentally realistic [bribes!] now quit reading and go purchase this game!