I Have A Hunch That Punch A Bunch Might Be A Boxing Game

I’ll give Punch A Bunch a go, sure, why not? Maybe it’ll be much more satisfying than the Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury fight or fill the void between now and when that bell end fights Nate Diaz? Either way, it’s heading to my vast Switch library, so here are some words.

The last time No Gravity Games featured on this site was around the time of Pandemic Shooter. If you’re unfamiliar with the publisher, I encourage you to seek out the sublime Okinawa Rush and Golden Force. Anyways, their latest is a sports title (duh – boxing reference above) developed by Pontypants.

There’s no underdog story here, no legacy to fulfil – just step in the ring and batter your opponent until they’re on the canvas. But Punch A Bunch is way more than that, and if you’re expecting a button masher, you’ll hit the deck faster than a lubed-up sailor. Erm…

Punch A Bunch Review (Switch)

Anything else I say about the boxer’s background will be filler as it’s a simple case of giving your fighter a name, hitting the training bag, then going through a knockout challenge (not just literally), taking out other challengers one-by-one, unlocking a host of cosmetic items to dress your dude with.

Punch A Bunch is a successor to Super Punch-Out!! only better. That comment will no doubt break the internet as it’s a classic and loved by many. Not me. I preferred VanillaBeast: Retro Knock-Out! In my opinion, this indie is much more accessible, but you still have to learn the mechanics. Though if you can’t be arsed, there is a simplified control system.

The controls are simple by design but tricky to master without taking a pummeling. As this is a boxing game, you have a very effective block option, body and head punches, and charged ones. There’s even a dash to help circle an opponent. But what works best is using the right analogue stick to dodge attacks and to effectively ‘wind-up’ a power punch by pulling back and striking at the right time.

You’re The Best, Around

Learning the control system is only the tip (heh), as the opponents are as tough as old boots. If you look at the simplistic graphics and, arguably, minimalist moveset, you might think that each fight is the same as the last, but it ain’t. Some fighters will be defensive, and others will crack you the moment you drop your guard with laser precision. The worse must be characters like the monk who can regenerate their health.

That was a showstopper for me on a couple of occasions. You’d lay into the guy and bring his health down to half, only for him to speed away to the other side of the ring and fully regenerate before you can reach them. This wasn’t fun at all, and after getting irritated and allowing myself to be beaten, I soon realised that once you get knocked out, you have to start from the beginning again. At least you get to keep the clothes you won.

There are three main stages to Punch A Bunch, and they’re bloody hard, but for fellow customisation whores, the wealth of gear you can unlock makes it much more replayable. A versus mode also exists, further cementing this one on the playlist against anyone who wants a decent fight. Again, there’s no real spamming of the buttons unless you want to be on your arse.

Verdict

Punch A Bunch is a bunch of fun. It does get samey, but the gameplay mechanics make it enjoyable as you can’t spam everything, plus there are loads of items to unlock. Think of the UFC way of playing, a.k.a. stamina and blocking, and you have an idea of how this plays out. Just don’t expect the same level of realism.