Evander Holyfield’s Boxing is one of my favorite Sega Genesis games. This is one of the games I played with my friends back in the 1990s. My friend Joey rented it, if my memory is correct, and I think my friend Eric also rented it.
It left an impression on me that I picked it up in the late 1990s when I started collecting games. This is an excellent boxing game, and it is one of my favorite Genesis games. This system has some of the best retro sports games, and this is a great example.
I’ve wanted to revisit this game for a while. It was one of the first games I made a YouTube video about, and I wanted to focus on this game rather than compare it to another. It’s one of the games that I enjoy coming back to. It is a longer game, and I really enjoy it.
TLDR: Evander Holyfield’s Heavyweight Boxing is one of my favorite Genesis games.
Narrative
There isn’t a story mode in this game. What you do get is a career mode, and you can use it to make a story. This is what my friends and I did back in the day. It was a lot of fun, even if we were limited to two careers.
Gameplay
I like the controls in this game. It is easy to do everything, and I like the game modes. The career mode, in particular, is a lot of fun. You can play this with two players, which is nice.
There are three game modes. It is a big step up from what I saw in Buster Douglas’ game. Here is the list:
- Career Mode – You create a boxer and try to become the heavyweight champion
- Exhibition – A single fight
- The Greatest
The career mode is where I spent most of my time. You start ranked 30th, and you fight your way to the top. You get money for each fight you win, and can spend it on training routines to make your character stronger. It is really cool to see something like this.
Your boxer has four stats. They can be upgraded between fights:
- Power
- Stamina
- Speed
- Defense
The gameplay is excellent. You can shift stances from standing to crouched over. This changes the punches you can throw, and it is easy to move from one stance to the other. It is also easy to punch with either hand and defend.
The game tracks damage to your face and body. This is a huge improvement over the other boxing games that I’ve played. It feels like it is a more realistic attempt to make a boxing game than many of the others released on the home console. A decent comparison for the gameplay is Ring King.
The one thing that I can say about this is that my hands hurt like hell when I play this. It is probably due to my getting older, but my hands were getting very sore while playing this. The controls are very responsive, and I like them, but my wrist was killing me.
Visuals
Evander Holyfield’s Boxing is a visually impressive game. It tries to give the player the impression of being 3D. The sprites are large and detailed, and it gives you a little map so you know where you are in the ring. The crowd also looks very good.
I love how this game looks! When you start a career, you create a boxer. There are a decent number of potions for you to customize. You can change:
- Hair
- Head
- Skin Color
- Trunks
It was really cool to see something like this. While it isn’t as elaborate as you will see today, it was good for the time. The boxers all have the same body type, but I didn’t think this was that big of a deal.
As you get further in the game, the crowd gets bigger, and there will be taunt screens where Holyfield comments on how well you’re doing. These aren’t anything special, but there is a nice digitized picture of Holyfield. You’ll also see this screen if you lose too many times.
The crowd is nice. It starts off being a little empty and fills up as you get further in the game. It is a subtle way to show you the progress you’re making. It is also fairly lively, which is cool to see.
Overall, this is an excellent looking game. The graphics aren’t a problem here. Some of the ideas are very cool, and I love the animations on the punches and knockdowns.
Reviews at the Time
Reviews for this game are all over the place. Even in 1992, reviewers either really liked the game or found it boring. Like many Sega games, finding reviews from the early 1990s can be a little difficult. I found two that were in English that I’ll be looking at.
Sega Force gave the game an 89/100. They called it a “grand boxing game.” The reviewer liked the presentation, graphics, and how easy it was to play. There is something in their review scores called “Sonics,” and I’m guessing it is supposed to be the sound. Anyway, that was the only thing the publication didn’t like.
Mean Machines gave the game a 52/100. The reviewer praised the graphics, but didn’t like the gameplay. They said that “the movement of the boxers is slow and awkward,” and called the gameplay “a matter of routine.”
Both of these publications have something called “Lastability” as one of their categories. This would turn into replayability. Going back to look at these older publications is a lot of fun. You can see how reviewing games has changed and differs in other parts of the world.
8/10. This is a very good boxing game. It shows off what the Genesis can do, and it delivers on the gameplay. I also have many fond memories of playing it as a kid.
Pros
- Easy to play
- Career mode
- Create-a-boxer mode
Cons
- Repetitive
- High difficulty spike at the last three boxers
Conclusion
I’ve come back to play this game a few times over the years. Every time I do, I remember why I enjoy it. It looks great, and I really like the gameplay. I like this game more than Punchout, but that is because I have more memories of playing this game.
I don’t think there is a direct sequel to this game, but there is another boxing game from this developer. At some point, I’ll check that game out. Going through these older games has been interesting, especially since I didn’t pay attention to the magazines at the time.
Looking at those old reviews is always interesting. It is a good reminder that everyone has an opinion, and it’s okay to disagree about something. At the end of the day, it is just an opinion. If you had fun with something, then that is all that really matters.
If you liked this post, please check out my other posts about Genesis games, such as Buster Douglas Knockout Boxing or Joe Montana Football.