Smack Boxing -- Review

Category: boxing, games, sports
Price: $2.99
App Store Link: [Full] / [Free Lite Version]

Review: Like it
Recommendation: Fun Punch Out like boxing game that makes decent use of device. Give the lite version a try, but if you're a fan of the classic Nintendo Punch Out, you'll probably enjoy Smack Boxing.
Replay Value: Medium

Smack Boxing is one of the better boxing titles available on the App Store. It uses a silly but fun cartoonish approach similar to Nintendo's Punch Out, so if you're looking for realistic Pro Boxing, this might not be the game for you. That said, through smart use of touch, swipe, and tilt controls, Smack Boxing gives a pretty comprehensive boxing experience.

The app offers a 2d, third person boxing experience with fairly simple gameplay. Players see the back of their character and the front of their opponent. Players can move left and right (i.e. dodge) across the ring by tilting the device. Smack Boxing uses touch and swipe controls for its three attack moves: tap to throw a basic jab, swipe sideways to throw a hook, or swipe up to throw an uppercut. Left or right punches are determined respectively by the side of the screen players use to make the gesture. This simple set up allows for very natural feeling controls. The use of a "stamina bar" determines when players get "tired" and can't swing as fast. The use of a health bar determines when a player is knocked out. Players can win by scoring a 10-count knock out or TKO (triple knock out).

Players progress through the game buy unlocking different tiers (beat a majority of the boxers from the current tier to unlock the next) and different difficulty levels (easy, medium, hard, and insane). Each of the three tiers consists of two or three funny, cartoonish characters, including a fat Santa look-a-like, a pirate, and a zombie.

Overall, the game is very enjoyable. If the developers provide continual updates, the offers a lot of promise. Fans of the original Punch Out should enjoy this game.

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Gameplay Video

What we'd like to see in future updates: Shake device after knockout to stand back up; more opponents and tiers; multiplayer support; visual character customization; stat character customization (the opponents have stats... why not make a stat progression system for the players?).

~M@