Why haven’t we gotten a new Punch-Out!! game as of late? It was a trailblazing saga on the NES and SNES; and Next Level Games managed to take it to new heights on the Wii with an instant classic. But then,poof! Nintendo apparently left the boxing ring and haven’t returned since.

That said, Purple Tree Studio has decided to give the formula a try with the hyperactive Thunder Ray, an inspired hand-animated clone that features enough boxing action to fill two boxing games. It’s a little light on options, but when it comes to creative opponents and satisfying gameplay to send them into the middle of next year, it definitely hits hard.

The Best Fighter In the Universe

In the game, Thunder Ray is considered one of the world’s best boxing competitors. So, of course, some jerks from outer space decide to take the option to kidnap him and pit him against some of the galaxy’s toughest opponents. As Ray, it’s your job to watch out for counter attacks and bring them down for the count.

Rather than the two punch buttons that Punch-Out!! had, Thunder Ray works with four, with devoted functions for head and body punches. While some may be thrown off by this, it still works relatively well as you dodge incoming attacks and land your own. And, of course, you can charge up super attacks to send out your adversary in style, just as they deserve. Just be careful – they hit harder than you might expect.

While the game is lacking in options (like, say, a survival mode or head-to-head), there are three difficulty settings. So you can start off small in Rookie setting, and then work your way up to championship caliber. This makes some of the fights worth replaying, especially as you master the techniques and really hit back hard.

It’s not a perfect fighting system, as the timing can be off in some places. But overall, it delivers enjoyable beat-em-up action that any Punch-Out!! fan would be proud of. And the intergalactic opponents definitely throw a curve ball into the mix, compared to those boring ol’ humans.

Bloody But Beautiful 

Thunder Ray also benefits from an art style that’s far apart from anything the Punch-Out!! games have offered. It has gorgeous hand-drawn art that pays off with each incoming attack, and the super finishes are fantastic to watch, like something out of an anime film. I would’ve liked a little more backstory to make the thing look complete, but, as it stands, this is a beautiful – and bloody – boxing affair.

The whole package is also backed up by good audio, including some fun background music and neat little sound effects to give a little more character to each of your opponents. Some more goofy voicing would’ve gone a long way, but you’ll find enough to enjoy here if you’re in the mood to pop on your headphones.

It’s a Hit

While there could’ve been more added to Thunder Ray to give it extra depth (again, a two-player mode wouldn’t have been the worst thing), it’s still a neat little alternative to Nintendo’s boxing franchise. The gameplay is great if not entirely sharp; and the presentation is a knockout. Not to mention the creativity of the opponents is really on full display here. You’ll definitely get your $15 worth here, especially if you’re in the mood to pull off your own Rocky moments. Now get in the ring, kid!

GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS

(Thanks to Purple Tree Studio for the review code!)