Heavyweight Champ
| Heavyweight Champ | |
|---|---|
 Arcade flyer for the 1987 game | |
| Developer(s) | Sega |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Release | October 1976 (original),[1] September 1987 (remake)[2] |
| Genre(s) | Sports Fighting |
Heavyweight Champ is a series of boxing video games released by Sega. The original game was released in 1976. The game featured black-and-white graphics and critics have since identified it as the first video game to feature hand-to-hand fighting.[3][4][5] Sega released a remake to arcades in 1987, changing the side perspective of the original game to a third-person viewpoint from behind the boxer. Both games feature unique controls that simulate throwing actual punches.[3]
Sega would later reuse the Heavyweight Champ name for both the 8-bit versions of James Buster Douglas Knockout Boxing released outside of North America.
Gameplay
The 1976 original featured gameplay viewed from a side-view perspective. It employed two boxing glove controllers, one for each player, which moved up and down for high and low punches, with an inward movement for striking.[3] It used large monochrome sprite visuals for the graphics.[6]
The 1987 game changed the perspective to behind the player's boxer. In addition, the player is given two punch controllers, one for each hand. Only a single-player mode was made available, in which the player faces a series of opponents in one-round, three-minute bouts. Players can swivel the cabinet to move their boxer from side to side.[7]
Reception
The 1987 remake was well received. Advanced Computer Entertainment and Commodore User praised the game's unique controls but raised concerns that they might decrease the lifespan of the cabinets.[8][9] Commodore User also had positive impressions of the game's graphics and gave the game a 9 out of 10 overall. [10]
Related games
Sega reused the Heavyweight Champ name when they released the Sega Master System version of James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing outside of North America. The game features a side perspective and is otherwise unrelated to the arcade games. It was not received well.[11][12][13]
The 1991 Sega arcade game Title Fight also featured controls for left and right punches and a similar behind-the-boxer perspective as the 1987 game, along with two-player gameplay through use of a dual-monitor cabinet.[14]
References
- ^ http://www.gamefaqs.com/arcade/567840-heavyweight-champ/data
- ^ http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=heavyweight-champ&page=detail&id=1110
- ^ a b c Spencer, Spanner, The Tao of Beat-'em-ups, EuroGamer, Feb 6 2008, Accessed Feb 23, 2009
- ^ Ashcraft, Brian, (2008) Arcade Mania! The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers, (Kodansha International), p. 94
- ^ Nadia Oxford, 20 Years of Street Fighter, 1UP.com, 12/11/2007
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=wZnpAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA10
- ^ "Heavyweight Champ (1987)". International Arcade Museum. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
- ^ "Heavyweight Champ". Advanced Computer Entertainment. March 1988. p. 26.
- ^ "Heavyweight Champ. Commodore User. December 1987. p. 144
- ^ Kelly, Nick. "Heavyweight Champ. Commodore User. January 1988.
- ^ Heavyweight Championship Boxing. Mean Machines. Issue 7. pp 58-59.
- ^ Heavyweight Champ. Raze. Issue 9. p. 54.
- ^ Heavyweight Championship Boxing. CVG's Complete Guide to Sega. pp. 95-96.
- ^ Title Fight. Killer List of Video Games. Retrieved January 3, 2013.