New Punch-Out!! Game for Wii Packs a Nostalgic Wallop

Today the world of video game boxing returns to its roots with the launch of the new Punch-Out!! game for Nintendo's Wii console. The game brings immersive motion controls to an iconic franchise that has been around since the days of the NES. Players are invited to step into the ring as underdog Little Mac as they go toe-to-toe with an array of memorable characters, including familiar faces like Glass Joe, King Hippo and Don Flamenco.

The motion-sensitive Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers turn the swings players make in real life into on-screen punches. Both novice and veteran gamers can pick up Punch-Out!! and punch their way to the top. The optional Wii Balance Board accessory (sold separately with Wii Fit) can be added to provide an extra challenge for advanced players who want to literally bob and weave through their fights. For those who insist on old-school Punch-Out!! purity, the game also can be played with classic NES-style controls by turning the Wii Remote controller sideways.

Even players who have battled through the original games hundreds of times will find new challenges with Punch-Out!! for Wii. For instance, once Little Mac (with the help of trainer Doc Louis) has pummeled his way through all the contenders, they return to offer him new challenges in Title Defense Mode. Only this time, their traditional weaknesses have been eliminated and players must find new ways to achieve victory. In this mode, the once-harmless Glass Joe now wears headgear, and King Hippo's vulnerable belly is protected behind a manhole cover. The new twists ensure fans enjoy a completely new play experience.

For the first time in the Punch-Out!! series, a head-to-head multiplayer mode lets players compete against one another. Both players take on the role of Little Mac and match wits as they trade uppercuts, jabs and body blows. With a series of well-placed punches, Little Mac transforms into the gargantuan Giga Mac, who can land more powerful blows and is more difficult to take down.

"Punch-Out!! is back, keeping all the charm of the original while delivering a knockout punch with new twists to experience and enjoy," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "As part of one of Nintendo's most storied franchises, this new Punch-Out!! game will surprise and delight fans with even more ways to enjoy its timeless game play."

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.

For more information about Punch-Out!!, visit www.PunchOut.com.