Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Greatest Heavyweights delivers a robust and responsive boxing experience that builds upon the foundation laid by Evander Holyfield’s “Real Deal Boxing.” The core action unfolds in a pseudo-3D side view where fighters move around the ring as the backdrop scrolls and ropes sway. Above this, a 2.5D overhead camera provides additional spatial awareness, allowing you to gauge ring positioning and plan your attacks or evasive maneuvers. This dual-view system strikes a satisfying balance between traditional side-on boxing visuals and strategic overhead planning.

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The game offers three distinct modes—Exhibition, Tournament, and Career—to cater to a wide range of players. In Exhibition mode, you can jump straight into a single match, either solo against the CPU or head-to-head with a friend. Tournament mode pits you as one of the eight legendary champions in an eight-man bracket, challenging the remaining seven icons in succession. The standout, however, is Career mode: you create a fighter from the ground up, starting at #30 in the rankings and punching your way to the top, eventually facing each of the eight heavyweight greats as the ultimate test of your skills.

Combat mechanics are both accessible and deep. You have jabs, hooks, and uppers at your disposal, each targetable at the head or torso. Damage is tracked with intuitive head and torso meters that gray out as you take hits; once fully gray, they blink to warn you of an impending TKO if you’re struck again in that region. A three-knockdown rule per round adds another layer of strategy—do you go all-out for the knockout or conserve energy and guard up? Meanwhile, taunting and crowd interaction matters: avoid engaging too long and the spectators will jeer, pressuring you to keep the action flowing.

Graphics

Visually, Greatest Heavyweights is a noticeable upgrade over its predecessor. Character sprites are more detailed, with smoother animations for punches, blocks, and knockdowns. The inclusion of a 2.5D camera view at the top of the screen not only aids gameplay but also adds visual depth, making the ring feel more alive. Backgrounds scroll fluidly, and rope physics react convincingly when fighters lean or get trapped in the corners.

Each heavyweight’s likeness is faithfully represented, from Muhammad Ali’s graceful footwork to Rocky Marciano’s imposing frame. The damage meters are cleverly integrated into the HUD as grayscale head and torso icons that darken with every strike. This visual cue keeps you aware of your fighter’s condition without cluttering the screen. During breaks, the round girl walks around the ring carrying her sign, and the brief animation of fighters recovering puts you right into the broadcast atmosphere.

The replay feature is a welcome touch, letting you relive big knockouts or clutch moments from multiple camera angles. Michael Buffer’s iconic voice announcing “Let’s get ready to rumble!” elevates the spectacle further, making every matchup feel like a primetime event. Though the game runs at a brisk clip—faster than Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal—it never sacrifices animation detail, maintaining clear, fluid motion through all three punch varieties and defensive maneuvers.

Story

While boxing games don’t typically boast elaborate narratives, Greatest Heavyweights weaves a compelling progression tale in its Career mode. You start as an underdog at #30 in the rankings, crafting your own fighter’s appearance and balancing skin tone (including playful options like green or blue), hair style, and trunks color. From the outset, you feel invested in your custom boxer’s journey up the ladder.

Between bouts, you engage in various training exercises that simulate real-world boxing regimens, improving your power, speed, and stamina stats. These training sessions provide a sense of tangible growth; landing a crucial uppercut in a title match feels that much more rewarding when you’ve spent time honing that very skill. The narrative tension builds as you face fictional contenders en route to the top, each victory reinforcing your place among the greats.

The climax of Career mode arrives when you finally earn a shot at the #1 ranking and are slated to face the roster of immortal heavyweights—Holyfield, Ali, Frazier, and the rest. Each bout serves as a narrative milestone, culminating in a true “greatest of all time” gauntlet. For fans of boxing lore, stepping into the ring against these legends feels like a dream realized, transforming the mode into a satisfying narrative arc rather than just a series of matches.

Overall Experience

Greatest Heavyweights stands out as more than a mere arcade boxing title; it’s a celebration of heavyweight history wrapped in engaging mechanics and polished presentation. Whether you’re a newcomer drawn in by the legends on the marquee or a seasoned fighter looking for deep career progression, the game offers something for everyone. The variety of modes ensures both quick pick-up-and-play sessions and long-term investment.

Multiplayer bouts with a friend elevate the excitement, as you trade blows and taunts in real time. The responsive controls and crisp animations make every punch feel impactful, and the overhead camera view prevents cheap ring-outs or unfair corner trapping. The inclusion of Michael Buffer’s commentary and a replay system adds a layer of broadcast authenticity that keeps you coming back for more highlight-worthy moments.

Ultimately, Greatest Heavyweights captures the spirit of championship boxing through its accurate fighter likenesses, tight gameplay systems, and a rewarding career path that reads like a sporting epic. While it may not rewrite the rules of the genre, it refines them to near perfection, making it an essential title for boxing aficionados and retro sports gamers alike. Step into the ring and prove you’re the greatest—this game makes you feel like you belong among the legends.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10