Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! is a boxing game developed by Nintendo Research & Development 3 (R&D3) division and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System.   The game is an adaption of the 1983 arcade game “Punch-Out!!” and it’s 1984 successor “Super Punch-Out!!”.

Both the original arcade game and the revised Nintendo Entertainment System game were designed by Nintendo R&D3 general manager, Genyo Takeda.  The game incorporates characters from both arcade games as opponents but with modifications to their boxing styles.  The artificial intelligence (AI) of each boxer was modified to follow a set pattern that required players to figure out through trial and error.  Players would have to memorize each opponent’s attack and defensive styles to figure out how to defeat them.  The new gameplay mechanic was incorporated to make the game feel less like an arcade game where the opposing boxers’ moves were randomized to ensure for shorter gameplay.

Knowing that the Nintendo Entertainment System was not capable of emulating the arcade game like for like the development team needed to alter the game’s playable boxer.  Instead of implementing a wire-framed boxer or a transparent boxer in order for the player to be able to fully see the opposing boxer, they decided to make the playable boxer tiny.  This change ultimately led to the character being named Little Mac, a 17-year-old boxer weighing approximately 107 pounds.

Players take on the role of Little Mac, a 17-year-old boxer from the Bronx who is ranked number three in the minor circuit.  Players must work their way up through the rankings in order to qualify for a championship match again the World Heavyweight Champion, Mike Tyson.  On the path to the championship match players will have to work their way through the minor, major and world circuits by winning 14 bouts against various opponents.

The development of the Nintendo Entertainment System adaption of the arcade series began before obtaining an endorsement from Mike Tyson, in fact a fully completed Famicom version of Punch-Out!! was released in Japan as part of a competition without the inclusion of Mike Tyson.  Nintendo released a gold Famicom copy of Punch-Out!! as a prize for participating in the Famicom Disk System’s Famicom Golf: U.S. Course tournament held in September 1987.  Nintendo produced 10,000 units of the Gold version of Punch-Out!! for the Famicom for distribution to contestants.  Nintendo gave out 5,000 copies as high score prizes while the remaining 5,000 were given away through a lottery.