Summary
- Earlier this month, it was claimed that the higher-than-expected backlash over stereotypical characters in Punch-Out (2009) had effectively killed the series.
- However, a new report involving several anonymous Punch-Out developers has claimed that this isn’t actually the case.
- Instead, these devs believe that the lack of a new gameplay hook is why we haven’t had a new Punch-Out game, suggesting that series could make comeback some day.
Punch-Out fans were delivered a massive uppercut last week, as it was claimed that another game in the series is unlikely, effectively meaning the franchise was all but dead. Notable games journalist Imran Kahn had claimed that someone from “a studio close to Punch-Out” told him that due to Nintendo receiving “significantly more backlash” than expected over character stereotypes, the series was effectively done.
It’s true that Punch-Out is guilty of having very stereotypical characters, and developer Next Level Games apparently spent a while trying to convince Nintendo that some of them weren’t overly offensive. However, a new report from Time Extension that involves several anonymous developers from the studio has claimed that the game’s stereotypical characters had no effect on the long hiatus of the series.
Punch-Out Devs Claim Series Isn’t Actually Dead
So You’re Saying There’s A Chance?
According to Time Extension, none of the anonymous developers they interviewed could recall any kind of backlash over the game’s characters, with one claiming that they don’t believe that’s the reason behind the lack of another Punch-Out game. In fact, the potentially real reason makes far more sense when you remember what kind of developer Nintendo actually is.
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Rather than backlash over stereotypes or dodgy cultural representation, one developer at Next Level Games close to development believes it’s because there haven’t been any fresh or innovative ideas to justify another Punch-Out game, claiming that Nintendo would need to be presented with a “new gameplay hook” for one to be made.
“There needs to be a new gameplay hook to make another. The Wii controls, combined with how old the game was, made it a perfect fit to make Wii Punch-Out!!”
That makes perfect sense when you think about Nintendo, a company that tries to stick gimmicks in its games wherever it can, even in its hardware. Another Punch-Out game with the Nintendo Switch’s motion controls would be extremely similar to that of Punch-Out (2009).
It sounds as though another one will only be considered if someone can come up with a fresh idea or gameplay mechanic, which is why we haven’t had a new one for well over a decade. It’s not the greatest news for Punch-Out fans to hear, but at least this means the series isn’t completely dead, and that should be cause enough to celebrate.
