Punch-Out!! (Arcade) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Nintendo's 1984 boxing arcade game, Punch-Out!!
Played through on the default difficulty setting.
Well before it ever made its appearance on home systems, Punch-Out!! had two arcade exclusive titles - Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!!
Some fun random trivia about it: it was the first game that Koji Kondo (you know, the guy that wrote the music for Mario and Zelda?) ever wrote music for, and the characters were all designed by Shigeru Miyamoto himself.
And you may have noticed the the referee is not Mario, but Mario is still present. You'll see him if you search the crowd carefully enough, as well as Donkey Kong and DK Jr.
So Punch-Out!! was an amazing achievement when the Japanese version first launched in 1983. It featured speech synthesis for the ring introductions and move announcements, sprite-scaling so that your opponents could move both toward and away from the "camera," and a dual-monitor display so that the HUD didn't obscure any of the action. For 1983, that was all pretty amazingly state of the art, and while it didn't look as fancy as the brand new Laserdisc games, it provided more than enough gameplay to make the compromise worthwhile.
I'd recommend watching this video fullscreen on your phone. It will fill that screen far better than it will a horizontal 16:9 computer monitor or TV screen.
It plays a lot like the NES Punch-Out!!, but there are a few key differences. The joystick being pressed up and down toggles the height of Little Mac's fists - this is a biggie if you're accustomed to the NES controls - and there's no fatigue gauge. The power punches work like they did in Super Punch-Out!! on the SNES in that once you fill the gauge you get unlimited use of them until you get hit, and the general flow of the action is similar. Dodge, block, jab, repeat. It is significantly harder though - the controls aren't nearly as smooth and responsive as in the NES game, the yellow-eye "tells" for anticipating attacks are easy to miss, and your window of opportunity to counterattack is far smaller. It's a stupidly fun game, but despite the heavy downgrade the NES version saw in graphics and sound, it plays much better than its arcade counterpart.
I end up getting to the Mr. Sandman fight in the second loop of the game before I eat the mat and tap out - each loop makes the game harder, and it gets vicious pretty quickly.
So while I prefer the NES, SNES, and Wii games over their forefathers, the arcade Punch-Out!! is a classic that really ought to be tried out. If you have a Switch, I highly recommend spending the $8 on it - you'll get a lot of play out of it.
And lmao at Kid Quick. Could they have possibly made him any uglier?
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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[@Pure_Rock]

Absolutely loved this game in the 80's. I was quite good at it and can remember crowds of people around me watching in a busy mall! Excellent video.

[@King_Hippo_69]

Damn you're old

[@DisMemeChannel]

I love this game even tho I didn’t play it in the 80’s because my dad bought a arcade machine of punch out

[@NintendoComplete]

The original Punch-Out!! arcade game was an incredible technical feat in 1983, and though its gameplay isn't quite as refined as you'll get in the NES game, it's impossibly good for a game that's now 35 years old.

[@jenniferharding9636]

I have NES and Switch. I can play Punch Out on NES and I can play Super Punch Out. But not arcade punch out.

[@jenniferharding9636]

Nobody is serious when it comes to arcade Punch Out!

[@amazingmarioforever8706]

The first time I played this I thought it was going to be over after you defend your title against Mr Sandman. But apparently it goes on forever until you fail. I guess I understand because this is an arcade game it does not really end like the newer punch-outs. 😐❓❓❓🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@weldon9254]

Now 40 years old.

[@dkwoodsy2082]

Wow the memories that invokes. ‘83-‘84 there was a small arcade hidden in the lower level of the Sears dept store about 20 mins from us. My buddy and I spent HOURS hanging at the mall and most was in that little arcade. I was never that good, but my buddy had top score on that machine all summer. I didn’t mind just watching. It was amazing technology at the time. “Bod-dee blow!!” Glass Joe, Kid Quick, all our old friends… Great times. Then head up to Sbarros for a couple slices and check out the chicks!

[@CrystaJoy]

This brings back memories at the arcade. Body blow...body blow....

[@gerryconwayvoice]

I would pay CASH to have this arcade game in my home.

[@MADDLION247]

YES INDEED!!!!!

[@MC-bs6fq]

I have this machine in my basement, if you’re serious let me know

[@jasenwm]

You can get one online about 5 k totally restored

[@derekwesley4335]

I've got an original one on its way to my house!

[@gerryconwayvoice]

@@derekwesley4335 That is FANTASTIC!!!! Invite me over, PLEASE!

[@whatyousaywhatihear9858]

This brings back so many memories.

[@louiskeiflin5858]

Try "arm wrestling" from the arcade! It was also made by Nintendo after punch out!

[@pet.s1mulator_x596]

I remember one of the masked fighters was bald bull

[@thatoks6498]

This is the Greatest Boxing Game Ever!....Thank God I can play it on the switch!👍👍

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

Yup. I've been looking at getting a Switch just so I can buy the Arcade Classics and play the original Punchout. I love Mike Tyson's and the SNES Punchout, but have never played the original arcade titles.

[@thatoks6498]

@@joshuariddensdale2126 That's whats up👍👍

[@kevingadson9315]

​@@joshuariddensdale2126 have this and super punch out on my 10,000 game pandora system

[@jenniferk.harding547]

I always thought the announcer was saying "He's down for the devil!"

[@SMAXZO]

Ref is just blazing through the 10 count..

[@howieg2019]

late 80s they had this at a corner store, if i had a quarter i was rushing to that store, waiting to get a turn on this👍👍👊

[@silverflight01]

BODY BLOW BODY BLOW BODY BLOW BODY BLOW

[@shadowtheedgehog6512]

pizza pasta for smash bros

[@joshuawayneyork]

I came here just to say this.

[@constancestroman7608]

I pretty much mastered arcade punch out I can play until I'm just bored or I make a mistake the farthest I ever got was like the 12 bald bull

[@kazallroberts]

To be real with you, Piston Hurricane is looks really good in the blue and black than red and black.

[@RichardM1366]

Pizza Pasta looks like Dracula!

[@guy_who_is_not_here]

The look of mac didnt make me sleep

[@kazallroberts]

Full roster in this game #5: Glass Joe #4: Piston Hurricane #3: Bald Bull #2: Kid Quick #1: Pizza Pasta Champion: Mr. Sandman

[@Nintentoni]

I don't get why glass Joe is #9 and Piston Hurricane is #7 etc in game. Your ranking is better

[@kazallroberts]

@@Nintentoni Yup

[@beardohickritiquetm8096]

Thanks for uploading. It's not a playthrough if you don't finish the game.

[@MrCaerbannog]

This is one of those old arcade games which loops endlessly. Unless there's a kill screen at some point, then beating Mr. Sandman is the nearest you can get to finishing the game.

[@AskDr.Stupid]

The way it announces every single punch though 🤦

[@jbobdavis1984]

I don't think gamers know how impressive this. 9:24

[@ramilleallen1101]

weren't you supposed to win at the end?

[@rangernight2269]

Why the body is yellow?

[@VickybabySJ]

Because he is now the champion? lol

[@DJNX4995]

Come on!

[@kathyj5316]

Why is Donkey Kong in the audience

[@VickybabySJ]

Because Nintendo. Also, Mario, Luigi and Donkey Kong Jr. can be spotted there

[@danplaysyt5893]

Your only options for the quality in this video. 360p60 and 480p60

[@NintendoComplete]

There is a 720p60 version. I'm watching it right now.

[@danplaysyt5893]

@@NintendoComplete ok. I was just explaining which ones are available on other devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab E for example.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@danplaysyt5893 Oh, okay. I'm guessing that your screen doesn't support the resolution the required for 720p in portrait mode, even if it does in landscape mode.

[@SONICBOOM1889]

The crowd cheering in this game and and sounds are broken.

[@bostonstrongfan2436]

That 90s games for ya

[@clonexx]

@@bostonstrongfan2436 1983

[@billsterling5790]

make a full screen video and id watch.......................

[@burdenernie6050]

The crowd noise sounds like a spaceship starting to take off.

[@freakyfornash]

Yeah, even if it's due to an emulation flaw in this particular playthrough though.

[@JustFaithSilly]

Sounds so weird without having AirPods or headphones

[@antoniosayago7515]

0:08 Glass Joe 🇫🇷 0:53 Piston Hurricane 🇨🇺 1:32 Bald Bull 🇹🇷 2:34 Kid Quick 🇺🇸 3:32 Pizza Pasta 🇮🇹 5:00 Mr. Sandman 🇺🇸

[@paradox9599]

🇫🇷 ~ Verre Joe ~ 🇫🇷 🇨🇺 ~ Huracán de Pistón ~ 🇨🇺 🇹🇷 ~ Kel Boğa ~ 🇹🇷 🇺🇸 ~ Kid Quick ~ 🇺🇸 🇮🇹 ~ Pizza E Pasta ~ 🇮🇹 🇺🇸 💫 ~ Mr. Sandman ~ 💫 🇺🇸

[@GionaPis-yr3pv]

​@@paradox9599 🇬🇧: his name in Italian Is actually "impasto per pizza" 🇮🇹: il suo nome in realtà è "impasto per pizza"

[@johnpaulcastillo8403]

​​@@GionaPis-yr3pv So what would italian for mad clown.

[@GionaPis-yr3pv]

@@johnpaulcastillo8403 would be: "pagliaccio pazzo" 🤣

[@alwillk]

Where is vodka drunkenski?

[@BigDan5309]

Donkey Kong being in the audience was awesome

[@gerryconwayvoice]

I loved that, too.... He's in there twice, on the right and the left

[@4862cjc]

@@gerryconwayvoiceSo is Donkey Kong Jr! Look in between the top rope and the middle rope, on the left-hand side of the screen!

[@176questions]

The Mario Brothers are also there

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

I've heard of this version, but never actually seen it, and it's definitely a lot less well-known than its console successors! Even Li'l Mac's predecessor looks like he's seen better days, but I can at least see where *Wii Punch-Out!!* got the green wireframe idea from. And I see a couple characters that didn't make it into any of the sequels. Graphically, it looks more like *Super Punch-Out!!* Yeah, this looks pretty amazing for 1983.

[@ΟΑυγολεμονος]

Looks pretty good for 1983 definitely. But not like super punch out. That game was much cleaner, better sounds, sprites etc

[@Don-rl1sm]

Y o u n g n o o b r e t a r d confirned

[@rcblazer]

That look on Mr. Sandman's face when he wins. XD

[@gerryconwayvoice]

Every opponent had the same look, and the same audio played when you lost.

[@wittyag]

He's a firin' his layzar.

[@AlexF-qx7co]

I remember making it to the 2nd Bald Bull. 2nd time was harder because they didn't give you the "Yellow eyes" to let you know when they were going to throw a punch. Hard to believe this was over 35 years ago.

[@kurtisrinker1202]

I like the part when they said 'body blow'.

[@jenniferharding9636]

"He's down for the devil!"

[@MichaelB-od3xh]

I remember as a kid I was first always struggling against Bald Bull and it felt so good to finally beat him. Then Kid Quick would always destroy me. It was so frustrating until one day someone told me to only hit him with right hooks. After that I beat him every time.

[@thebestmusicmix9418]

Your use of timing is impeccable. I used to play this game for hours on one quarter in the arcades back in the 80s. Have it now on my Ultimate Legends BUT never use the body blow as much as I should .

[@zenpruneda722]

Nobody going to talk about how Mario and donkey Kong showed up to see a fight?

[@VickybabySJ]

Luigi and Donkey Kong Jr. are there too!

[@parastarpicturesentertainment]

0:15 Ladies and gentlemen, glass joe...

[@Games4Playersfrry]

For a 1984 game this is at a very advanced level!

[@DECEPTIONINDICATED]

Kid Quick always kicked my ass!! When I was a kid, I saw this other kid get the highest score you can get in the game against the blue gloved sandman....It's weird how some memories stick with you all these years. I miss the 80's!

[@garydobis6395]

lmao pizza pasta.

[@vgaoct91]

I wonder how retroactively recognized this game is?

[@everything.editzz]

4:03 donkey kong in the crowd

[@rpgamersgamecorner7181]

The game is pretty impressive for the year it was published, but I find a bit annoying the voice that says "LEFT! RIGHT!" when you punch

[@MarkCabaniss]

Thank Hylia it’s on the Switch eShop! It, and _Donkey Kong Arcade_! 😊

[@Fred-s6q]

Pizza Pasta?, seriously???

[@mrpele8110]

Such amazing memories

[@MatthiaGryffine]

One day I will find a KZbinr who plays the Arcade Punch Out and takes on EVERY! SINGLE! OPPONENT!

[@MADDLION247]

I shall tell the Truth...... This should be in the Google Play Store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😂👍

[@lilnoggin7601]

I was literally thinking about that before I read your comment!

[@55tmilam]

As a kid of 12 on vacation at myrtle beach in 1983 I discovered this game! I was mesmerized and thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen! I have pondered buying one of these arcade games but they are pricey! Watching this video takes me back to those days many years ago!

[@matthewfrancis699]

Similar story here. Was 4, maybe 5 and came across Punch Out at the Contemporary Hotel arcade in Disney World. Mesmerized. Still am😂

[@big-wade]

you can emulate it for free on your computer!

[@devonakimmer9402]

Happy anniversary to this game🎉

[@gorilli09]

This should have been on the Nintendo DS.

[@tartuffethesprywonderdog5883]

Very impressive looking for 1984. Still looks good, imo.

[@MikeCrain]

I like how the ring bell was like they went on Pawn Stars trying to buy one and Rick Harrison said the best he could do was a toddler's tricycle horn.

[@bronysimpson3250]

Punch Out!!'s the BEST

[@shibabble8]

The arcade game makes me appreciate Mike Tyson's Punch Out just a bit more than I already do (Alot). The returning characters have very faithful sprite work, the colors aren't 1-to-1 but the devs did good with the smaller memory.

[@isaaclee3793]

Kid Quick = A Young Derpy Chris Rock

[@NintendoComplete]

With some seriously jacked up teeth. He needs veneers. Or a grill. Something.

[@burdenernie6050]

Chris Rock in New Jack City

[@georgecortes3416]

Fun Fact: Kid Quick was originally gonna be in Punch-Out for the Wii, but was scrapped in favor of a new character in Disco Kid. Judging from his name and age, my guess was he'd be a track & field star that decided to try boxing. But unlike Disco Kid who was able to combine his dance talent with boxing in the form of boxercise, Kid Quick wouldn't have a believable way of merging his talents to improve his boxing skills (stuff like the hammer throw and shotput could increase his arm strength, but that's about it). And plus, the whole "fastest boxer" schitck would be taken by Piston Honda in his Title Defense Match, rendering Kid Quick redundant in that regard.

[@merkvah]

Here Is Some Punch Out Voice Actors In The Wii Version Glass Joe Christian Bernard Piston Hurricane Jose Antonio Maicias Bald Bull Erse Yagne Kid Quick Donny Lucas Pizza Pasta Pino Ammendola Mr Sandman Riley Inge Bear Hugger Richard Newmana Dragon Chan Jack Bardoe Vodka Drunkensk Ihor Mota Great Tiger Sumit Seru Super Macho Man Mike Inglehart

[@mattyrock2467]

I must have spent hundreds of dollars on this game to finally beat mr sandman. Pizza pasta was the toughest opponet followed by ball bull. I did not think mr sand man was all that tough

[@pop2uno]

What's with "the place is burning down!" background noise?

[@SONICBOOM1889]

pop2uno The game’s broken.

[@Handel_Opaz]

He might be playing with an online emulator, I remember one of those having all fucked up sounds. I don't own a Switch so I play this game with Mame on my laptop, runs smoothly with no burning noises.

[@freakyfornash]

Just an emulation flaw with this game on whatever version of Mame he's playing on. The versions of it on my modded 2TB original Xbox console have a similar, but not nearly as bad of one like this though.

[@nobodycares9579]

0:18 Mario on the left.

[@grongy6122]

Damn, that background with people...

[@NintendoComplete]

Did you see Mario and DK on the crowd?

[@donkeykongisytpooping3002]

NintendoComplete And Donkey Kong Jr

[@VickybabySJ]

@@donkeykongisytpooping3002 And Luigi

[@themidcentrist]

I was thinking about getting this for my Switch, but it doesn't look like it is nearly as fun as the NES/SNES versions. I'm glad I watched this before dropping $7.99

[@illusionist1872]

Ladies and gentlemen: *_pizza pasta_*

[@CARLCGP]

Milagro no sacan un nuevo Punch out!!!... Que Incluya a los personajes del Arcade y la snes...🤌

[@holtridge7337]

Before my time.

[@the_slime_cat]

All opponents Glass Joe (Ranked #9) Piston Hurricane (Ranked #7) Bald Bull (Ranked #5) Kid Quick (Ranked #3) Pizza Pasta (Ranked #2) Mr. Sandman (Champion of the World)

[@AndrewNewZealand]

♫"Mr Sandman..bring me a dream"♫ WHACK!!!!

[@karlwalker1771]

Brillant video mate! TYSON FURY FIGHT LOL

[@jessicareeves4060]

They're Boys.♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂

[@maryprince9469]

This video is FAKE. I had this game in my basement for 20 years and it doesn’t play like this.

[@erikrichardgregory]

Total BS health restoration to Mr. Sandman there in the rematch. ALX wuz robbed!

[@thesmilingman7576]

This may be one of the few times I prefer the console version over the original arcade version

[@georgecortes3416]

I believe this was the only time we ever saw Kid Quick and Pizza Pasta! And while Kid Quick would be replaced by the new Disco Kid in the Wii title, I wonder how Pizza Pasta would work; maybe be an Italian-American pizza shop owner who took up boxing on the side?

[@freakyfornash]

The fight against Aran Ryan in Super Punch-Out for the Super N.E.S. was based off the Pizza Pasta strategy in this game.

[@Jhihmoac]

I always liked the original arcade version before Nintendo decided to repackage and rebrand the game for the NES by tagging Tyson's name in front of the title...

[@CarbyGuuGuu]

The Famicom version of Punch-Out!! came before the Mike Tyson edition, though.

[@michaelstroman5092]

You have a very unique way of playing u are not a bad player u fight low alot i think u should concentrate on fighting higher the farthest i have ever gotten was the tenth bald bull i can make it much farther i just made a mistake

[@MrHam6]

Does anybody see doc louis? hes in the crowd, next to donkey kong

[@83julio15]

I came for my childhood memories And futurama 8 bits bender vs fry

[@stormstargd247]

I see this game has Title Defense too

[@Evil_Teddy]

How they facially portraied kid quick is 🤌

[@Runawayfivefan]

Just noticed theres donkey kong in the background

[@davidawesomeness4466]

What’s up with the monkey noise Mac makes when he wins?

[@rwiseart2269]

Does this not put any emphasis onto the timing and patterns or is just me?

[@pamoon_]

Kid Quick walked so Disco Kid can boxercise

[@Darthadios]

Pizza Pasta is the best name ever for a boxer. =)

[@henriquedearruda8902]

Definitely the inspiration of Wii Sports Boxing

[@capnhands]

I thought "Body blow" was "Baby go" when I was little.

[@Thatoneguywithdownsindrome]

Old title defense mode ? I never see it before.

[@shanenolan085]

1:35 gave me problems at the arcade, recently 😂🥊

[@wildmanchrisvevo7007]

What is is the announcer says after each successful fight? "Great fighting! Your HOOKERTONNING Boxing" I know the word is not hookertonning, but WHAT IS IT?

[@Adrian.R850]

I think he says: Great fighting, your upcoming boxer...

[@thebestmusicmix9418]

Great fighting! You're an up and coming boxer!

[@TheSizzleDash]

My dad has been saying body blow for years and has been usually misremembering it from Street Fighter (probably 2, doesn’t matter.) and then today he said “Bodyblow! Bodyblow!” Then I realized, wait, doesn’t Punch Out!! Have that? So, I checked some gameplay of it whilst telling him “Dude it’s from punch out”. And then behold, he remembered! A years old memory solved from when he was young, something I consider a great feat since he’s now 50.

[@Thelodis]

I first played this game on MAME in 2007, and I thought that the health bars "filling up" at 0:17 when they're already full was an emulation glitch, but apparently it's supposed to be like that. What's the point of that little black box moving along the health bars? It should either be empty first and then fill up, or stay full and skip the animation.

[@reptilrrudy2389]

List of opponents: 1. Glass Joe 🇫🇷 2. Piston Hurricane 🇨🇺 3. Bald Bull 🇹🇷 4. Kid Quick 🇺🇸 5. Pizza Pasta 🇮🇹 6. Mr. Sandman 🇺🇸

[@mandrake842]

Quem viu esse vídeo em 2024 deixa o Like!

[@OurstoryPhilippinestoUSA]

I got up to the 68th guy before. Piston Hurricane once you beat it twice around is by far the hardest one to beat it’s all patterns but it is very challenging but once you master it you can go pretty far 68 was my record flipped the scored all the way past whatever the high score could be

[@christansdad]

When Pizza Pasta puts you in the clinch, just hold the joystick to the right the entire time. Once Pizza Pasta releases the clinch you will move to the right and dodge his uppercut. You don't have to wait and try and time it (which you were never able to do in your video).

[@meta.5studios]

Greetings! Y'mind if I use some of your footage for a documentary of mine? I'll give you all the credits, of course!

[@starter47990]

He looked like the incredible Hulk from the back

[@onjacktaIback]

pizza pasta kakakkakakakakkakakakkakaka

[@J-Ren.Ninobla]

*ＢＯＤＹ　ＢＬＯＷ！*