is a series of boxing video games from

Sega is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises for arcade game, arcades and video game cons ...

. The original

arcade video game An arcade video game is an arcade game that takes player input from its controls, processes it through electrical or computerized components, and displays output to an electronic monitor or similar display. All arcade video games are coin-oper ...

was released in 1976. The game uses black-and-white graphics and critics have since identified it as the first video game to feature hand-to-hand fighting.Spencer, Spanner
The Tao of Beat-'em-ups
''EuroGamer'', Feb 6 2008, Accessed Feb 23, 2009Ashcraft, Brian, (2008) ''Arcade Mania! The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers'', (Kodansha International), p. 94 It was a commercial success in Japan, where it was the third highest-grossing arcade video game of 1976. However, it is now considered a lost video game. Sega released a

remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same s ...

to arcades in 1987, changing the side perspective of the original game to a third-person viewpoint from behind the

boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: *Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing * Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

. Both games feature unique controls that

simulate A simulation is an imitative representation of a process or system that could exist in the real world. In this broad sense, simulation can often be used interchangeably with model. Sometimes a clear distinction between the two terms is made, in ...

throwing actual punches. The 1987 remake was Japan's fifth highest-grossing arcade video game of 1988 and received positive reviews from critics.

Gameplay

The 1976 original featured gameplay viewed from a side-view perspective. It employed two

boxing glove Boxing gloves are cushioned gloves that fighters wear on their hands during boxing matches and practices. Unlike "fist-load weapons" (such as the ancient cestus (boxing), cestus) which were designed as a lethal weapon, modern boxing gloves are n ...

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 A monochrome or monochromatic image, object or palette is composed of one color (or values of one color). Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale (typically digital) or black-and-white (typically analog). In physics, mon ...

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 Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

to move their boxer from side to side.

Reception

The original 1976 game was a commercial success in Japan. On the first annual '' Game Machine'' arcade chart, ''Heavyweight Champ'' was the third highest-grossing arcade video game of 1976 in Japan, just below

Taito is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, Toy, toys, arcade cabinets, and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the importing vodka, Vending machine, vending machines, and Juk ...

's ''Ball Park'' and '' Speed Race DX''. The 1987 remake was also a commercial success. In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed the 1987 version on their November 15 issue as being the fourth most-successful upright arcade unit of the month. It went on to become Japan's fifth highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1988. The 1987 remake was also critically well-received. ''

Advanced Computer Entertainment ''ACE'' (''Advanced Computer Entertainment'') is a discontinued multi-format computer and video game magazine, first published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing and later acquired by EMAP. History ACE launched in October 1987, roughly ...

'' and ''

Commodore User ''Commodore User'', (also referred to as ''CU'') later renamed to ''CU Amiga'', is a British magazine initially published by Paradox Group before being acquired by EMAP. Timeline ''Commodore User'' was launched in October 1983 with an initial pr ...

'' praised the game's unique controls but raised concerns that they might decrease the lifespan of the cabinets.Heavyweight Champ"
''Advanced Computer Entertainment''. March 1988. p. 26.
''Commodore User''. December 1987. p. 144 ''Commodore User'' also had positive impressions of the game's graphics and gave the game a 9 out of 10 overall.Kelly, Nick.

Commodore User. January 1988.

Legacy

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.Heavyweight Championship Boxing
Mean Machines. Issue 7. pp 58-59.Heavyweight Champ.
Raze. Issue 9. p. 54.Heavyweight Championship Boxing
CVG's Complete Guide to Sega. pp. 95-96. ''Heavyweight Champ'''s 1976 version was the first video game to ever depict a Black person. 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.Title Fight
Killer List of Video Games. Retrieved January 3, 2013.

Notes

References

External links

*
''Heavyweight Champ'' (1976) at arcade-history
* {{cite AV media , people= Jonathan Dunn-Rankin , date=1977 , title=Sega Center offers state of the art video games in 1977 , type=television , location=

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