Developer(s) Sega Distributor(s) Sega Genre(s) Sports
Fighting | Publisher(s) Sega Platform(s) Arcade | |
Release October 1976 (original),
September 1987 (remake) | ||
Heavyweight Champ is a series of boxing video games released by Sega. The original game was released in 1976. The game featured black-and-white graphics and critics have since identified it as the first video game to feature hand-to-hand fighting. Sega released a remake to arcades in 1987, changing the side perspective of the original game to a third-person viewpoint from behind the boxer. Both games feature unique controls that simulate throwing actual punches. The game is considered a lost video game
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Sega would later reuse the Heavyweight Champ name for both the 8-bit versions of James Buster Douglas Knockout Boxing released outside of North America.
Gameplay
The 1976 original featured gameplay viewed from a side-view perspective. It employed two boxing glove controllers, one for each player, which moved up and down for high and low punches, with an inward movement for striking. It used large monochrome sprite visuals for the graphics.
The 1987 game changed the perspective to behind the player's boxer. In addition, the player is given two punch controllers, one for each hand. Only a single-player mode was made available, in which the player faces a series of opponents in one-round, three-minute bouts. Players can swivel the cabinet to move their boxer from side to side.
Reception
The 1987 remake was well received. Advanced Computer Entertainment and Commodore User praised the game's unique controls but raised concerns that they might decrease the lifespan of the cabinets. Commodore User also had positive impressions of the game's graphics and gave the game a 9 out of 10 overall.
Related games
Sega reused the Heavyweight Champ name when they released the Sega Master System version of James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing outside of North America. The game features a side perspective and is otherwise unrelated to the arcade games. It was not received well.
The 1991 Sega arcade game Title Fight also featured controls for left and right punches and a similar behind-the-boxer perspective as the 1987 game, along with two-player gameplay through use of a dual-monitor cabinet.