Absolutely phenomenal game. Iron Mike notwithstanding, just about everything that made the NES title great is back, polished and better than ever. Every character and fight is a winner one way or another, even before Title Defense and Mac's Last Stand more than double the game's content. A hard game where every challenge is within the player's reach, if they can only think it through and master the timing. Later fights in particular are scary, but never impossible. Shout-outs in particular to TD Popinski for having one of the coolest gimmicks of any Punch-Out fight and TD Sandman for telling an entire story through gameplay mechanics alone.

I know the game can be played with the same controls as on NES, but for the life of me, I cannot fathom ever playing the game in any way other than Wiimote + Nunchuk. Turns the game into even more of a challenge where your physical endurance is tested as much as everything else. It's a tough workout on higher levels, but that just adds to the whole experience - makes every hard-fought battle feel even more earned. No joke, I was inspired to take up boxing (for exercise) following my first run of this game years ago; it is THAT good.