All this talk about the Nintendo Wii has me hearkening back to the prime of my gaming console life. It was the good 'ol 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System and one of my favourite games was Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!. That second exclamation point is key.
First you took on Glass Joe who was so bad, you wonder how the hell he ever got a bout in the first place. Nobody lost to Glass Joe. Glass Joe was followed by Von Kaiser and Piston Honda in the Minor Circuit.
The Major Circuit meant taking on Don Flamenco, King Hippo, Great Tiger and Bald Bull. Who will ever forget discovering each boxer's weakness. King Hippo, for example, had only one weakness. If you punch him in the belly, you'll knock him out, and once he's down, he ain't getting back up.
The World Circuit meant a re-match with the much improved Piston Honda followed by Soda Popinski, the return of Bald Bull, another bout with Don Flamenco, Mr. Sandman and Super Macho Man. If you got through these cats, you got to face Mike Tyson.
Mike Tyson was tough to beat, but with plenty of practice, you figured him out. Beating him felt great. I miss the NES.
