Early Punch-Out Prototype Emerges Online with Shared ROM
A recently surfaced Nintendo prototype of Punch-Out has caught the attention of gaming enthusiasts. This particular cartridge is believed to have belonged to a former employee of Nintendo of America. It was sold at a garage sale and later sold at auction for an astonishing $45,000.
Rare Punch-Out Prototype Released Online
After its purchase, the prototype ROM was made available through The Cutting Room Floor, a site known for archiving video game content. Gamers can now access this piece of Nintendo history online. This prototype showcases several noteworthy differences from the final version of the game.
Key Features of the Prototype
- No sound code or data is included in the prototype.
- Players can only face four characters: Glass Joe, Bald Bull, King Hippo, and Don Flamenco.
- After defeating Don Flamenco, players are directed to a training cutscene, where a password is provided to replay the game.
- Mike Tyson does not appear in this iteration of Punch-Out.
Interestingly, the prototype features characters originally from the arcade version. The Guest Stars section includes Piston Hurricane and Pizza Pasta, while the completed game replaces Hurricane with Piston Honda and excludes Pizza Pasta altogether.
Additional Character Insights
- Unknown characters, Rockyhead and Mongol Khan, are also part of the prototype.
- The character that would later be known as Soda Popinski is referred to by his original name, Vodka Drunkenski, from the 1984’s Super Punch-Out.
This prototype also offers debug options, allowing players to control unfinished opponents and cycle through their movesets, albeit with visual glitches. The Video Game History Foundation has showcased the Punch-Out prototype in a recent video, inviting fans to explore more about this unique find.
For those interested in digging deeper into the world of Punch-Out, new codes for Super Punch-Out have also been uncovered, providing further insight into this iconic franchise.
