My Played Video Games Review: Boxing Legends of the Ring for the Super Nintendo

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Boxing Legends of the Ring is a 1993 boxing video game available on the Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo/Super Famicom gaming consoles. In the game, boxers are depicted using 2D sprites, and you view the action from over the shoulder of one of the fighters. The game takes its name from the well-known boxing magazine, The Ring, with which it has a licensing agreement.

This a good boxing game that often goes under the radar for many gamers. Despite its quality, it might not have received as much recognition as some other sports titles. Many retro-gamers think that, after Super Punch-Out, this is the second best boxing game on 16-bit consoles.

A special version was released in Mexico and the American Southwest called Chavez II; the game exchanged the English language words for Spanish and removed some vocals. (Image source)

The Story

Play as eight legendary middleweight boxers like Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, and more. Use their unique styles and powerful punches to fight in this boxing game. You can also create your own boxer and train them to become a legend. There are different modes to play, including Exhibition and Career modes, where you can improve your skills. You can even have epic battles with up to eight players in Battle of the Legends mode.

Box, manual and cartridge of the game. (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

The game's visuals are quite impressive for its time. The fighters look good, and I appreciate the detail of their health meters being images of their faces that change as they get more beat up. However, the animation, especially of the referee, can be a bit stiff.

The sound is decent but not exceptional. The "oof" sound every time a punch lands can get repetitive. There's no in-fight music, only menu music. It is good enough but doesn't stand out as exceptional.

Gameplay video sample of Boxing Legends of the Ring. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time.

The Gameplay

You play as a created fighter and progress through the ranks in the game's career mode. The legendary boxers you face are arranged in different orders each time you play, so the difficulty varies. If you complete the career mode, you can participate in the "Battle of the Legends," an intense 8-man elimination tournament where all fighters perform at their best.

The game controls are generally good. Although the occasional choppiness in the animation can make blocking a bit challenging, it's not a major issue. You have a wide variety of punches at your disposal, allowing you to execute some effective combos. The ability to move around the ring is a nice addition, especially considering that it was relatively new in boxing games at the time. If you're not doing well in a match, you can try to stall by running to the other end of the ring to buy some time. Additionally, you can clinch to slow down the action, but this may not please the crowd. Overall, the gameplay controls are quite solid.

The game's difficulty is relatively high. While the early fights are not overly challenging, as you progress deeper into the game, the matches become longer and tougher. In fact, it's possible to have a full 12-round bout in this game. Computer-controlled opponents become more resistant as you advance, and winning the "Battle of the Legends" tournament is quite challenging. Overall, this is not an easy game by any means.

The game offers good replay value, especially with the "Battle of the Legends" mode, which provides a significant challenge. I found the game to be well-designed and enjoyable. While additional customization options for your created fighter's appearance would have been a nice addition, it's important to remember that this is a SNES game, so it's still quite enjoyable.

My Verdict

Boxing Legends of the Ring is indeed a solid game, and it's a bit underrated. If you're a fan of boxing or fighting games, it's definitely worth a try. I found it enjoyable, and it's one of the better 16-bit sports games out there. While it might not be the most well-known boxing game, it's certainly one of the best in its genre.

Play it on the precious Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a darn good emulator. Play it with friends.

Let's keep on gaming in the free world!