Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! works on a dodge-counterpunch system, which is to say, you dodge your opponent's punch, and then quickly counterpunch to stun them. Once stunned, you can get in several free punches before they come to their senses.
==Controls==
==Controls==
{| {{prettytable|notwide=1|style=width:50%}}
{| {{prettytable}}
!Controle !!Effect
! Move || Instruction
|-
|-
|{{nes|Left|Dpad}}||Dodge Left
! Dodge Left
| Tap {{nes|Left|Dpad}} on the direction pad
|-
|-
|{{nes|Right|Dpad}}||Dodge right
! Dodge Right
| Tap {{nes|Right|Dpad}} on the direction pad
|-
|-
|{{nes|Down|Dpad}}||Block
! Quick Dodge
| Tap {{nes|Left|Dpad}} when dodging right, or {{nes|Right|Dpad}} when dodging left, to quickly return to the center.
|-
|-
|{{nes|Down|Dpad}}{{nes|Down|Dpad}}||Duck
! Defend
| Hold {{nes|Down|Dpad}} on the direction pad to block punches
|-
|-
|{{nes|B}}||Low Left punch
! Duck
| Tap {{nes|Down|Dpad}}{{nes|Down|Dpad}} on the direction pad to duck underneath a punch
|-
|-
|{{nes|A}}||Low Right Punch
! Left Jab
| Hold {{nes|Up|Dpad}} and tap {{nes|B}}.
|-
|-
|{{nes|Up|Dpad}} {{plus}} {{nes|B}}||High Left Punch
! Right Jab
| Hold {{nes|Up|Dpad}} and tap {{nes|A}}.
|-
|-
|{{nes|Up|Dpad}} {{plus}} {{nes|A}}||High Right Punch
! Left Body Blow
| Tap {{nes|B}} without touching the direction pad.
|-
|-
|{{nes|Start}}||Uppercut (if you have a star)
! Right Body Blow
| Tap {{nes|A}} without touching the direction pad.
|-
|-
|{{cade|Tap}}{{(}}{{nes|B}} {{plus}} {{nes|A}}{{)}}||Stand up after being knocked down
! Uppercut
| Press {{nes|Start}} to exchange one star for an uppercut. If you have no stars stored up, you cannot perform this move.
|-
! Recover
| Rapidly tap the {{nes|B}} and {{nes|A}} buttons to get back up on your feet after getting knocked down.
|-
! Health Boost
| Between rounds, press {{nes|Select}} to instruct Doc Louis to loosen you up and increase your stamina. This may only be performed once per match.
|}
|}
Left punches are quicker than right punches and do a little less damage.
== Player ==
[[Image:MT Punch-Out little mac.png|frame|right|Little Mac in his corner with his trainer.]]
You play through the game as Little Mac, an up and coming boxer from the Bronx. Your trainer is named Doc Louis. He coaches you between rounds and helps you train between circuits. You must use your strength and reflexes to take on all of the higher ranked opponents in the various boxing circuits of the WVBA.
Right punches are slower than left punches but do a little more damage.
You begin each match with a full bar of stamina. As you take hits, you lose stamina. When you lose all of your stamina, you will be knocked down. Note that guarding attacks chips away at your stamina, and some of your opponents attacks will knock you down regardless of how much stamina you have remaining. Also note that it is possible to regain a small amount of stamina if you successfully attack your opponent while your stamina is extremely low. The amount of stamina that can be regained in this manner is very small, but often enough to help you survive another punch. If you are knocked down three times, you will lose due to a Technical Knock Out, or TKO. Even if you do not lose by a TKO, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to survive getting knocked down more than three times in a single match. In order to get back up on your feet, you must rapidly tap the {{nes|A}} and {{nes|B}} buttons to get back up on your feet. If you manage to rise on the count of 9, you are very likely to get back most or all of your stamina.
The game cannot be paused; you must wait for the end of the round or match.
Little Mac's left and right punches are identical in speed and power. He can defend himself by guarding his head to block an attack, or dodging it entirely. Not all opponent attacks can be blocked, but all can be dodged. You don't need to correctly choose which direction to dodge an attack; a dodge in either direction will work equally well regardless of the direction of an incoming attack. If you press {{nes|Left|Dpad}} and immediately press {{nes|Right|Dpad}} (or press {{nes|Right|Dpad}} and immediately press {{nes|Left|Dpad}}) you will return to the center more quickly when dodging. This is the quick-dodge, an important technique against Mr. Sandman's uppercuts, since he will hit you hard if you dodge too long. Additionally, if you double tap {{nes|Down|Dpad}}, you will perform the duck maneuver. Ducking is generally not recommended since dodging is faster and works just as well.
Ducking is a useless move since dodging is faster and works just as well.
''Note: The game cannot be paused in the middle of a fight. You must wait for the end of the round or match.''
Not all opponent attacks can be blocked, but all can be dodged.
=== Status Bar ===
The status bar is shown at the top of the screen throughout the duration of each round. A lot of important and useful information is contained there.
| '''Stars''': The number of stars you have indicates how many uppercuts you can throw. You may store up to a maximum of three stars at any one time. You earn stars by attacking opponents at pivotal moments like just before or after an opponent's own attack. Throwing an uppercut uses up one star. You will also lose a star if you get hit and you will lose all of them if you are knocked down.
|-
! 2
| '''Hearts''': This indicates your level of fatigue. You begin each match with a certain number of hearts. You are generally provided more hearts against opponents who require you to block more frequently. Hearts are lost every time you block an opponent's punch, when you get hit by your opponent, and every time your attacks are blocked. If your hearts are reduced to 0, you will turn purple and be unable to throw any punches, guard against attacks, or quick dodge. You must successfully dodge a couple of attacks before you regain hearts, permitting you to fight again.
|-
! 3
| '''Player's stamina''': This meter indicates your current stamina in the match. You start each match with a full stamina meter. You lose stamina as you get hit throughout the match. When your stamina meter is reduced to nothing, you will get knocked down. If you are able to get back up on your feet, your meter will refill to varying degrees.
|-
! 4
| '''Opponent's stamina''': The meter opposite your own indicates your opponent's current stamina. Like you, your opponent begins the match with a full meter. You must successfully attack your opponent to reduce his stamina. When you reduce it to nothing, your opponent will be knocked down. If he stands back up, his meter will refill to some amount.
|-
! 5
| '''Player's score''': Your score is determined by how many successful attacks you perform throughout the match. Each score only applies to the match you are currently fighting in, and is only used in the event that you and your opponent fail to knock each other out by the end of the third round. Then the match is decided by judge decision. The judges will consider your score and either award or deny you the victory based on whether your score is high enough. Note that some opponents can not be beaten by a score decision.
|-
! 6
| '''Round timer''': Each round lasts 3 "minutes" (or 180 "seconds"). A second in the game isn't quite the same as a second in real life, so it's not an exact measurement. The timer starts at 0:00 and counts up to 3:00. Once the clock reaches 3:00, the round is immediately stopped and the fighters go to their corners. If neither fighter is knocked out by the end of Round 3, the winner of the fight is determined by the judges.
|}
If you press {{nes|Left|Dpad}} and immediately press {{nes|Right|Dpad}} (or press {{nes|Right|Dpad}} and immediately press {{nes|Left|Dpad}}) you will return to the center more quickly. This is the quick-dodge, an important technique against Mr. Sandman's uppercuts, since he will hit you hard if you dodge too long.
===Supporting cast===
{| {{prettytable}}
==Rounds==
! Doc Louis || Mario
Each fight is divided into three rounds of three game minutes each. (A second in the game is slightly quicker than in real life. From here on the terms "second" and "minute" will denote game time and not real-life time.) At the end of round 1 and round 2, your number of hearts is reset to the number you started the fight with, and your number of stars is reset to zero. If you knock down your opponent three times in a round, you get an automatic technical knockout (TKO), which means you win and get another KO added to your KO record. (Your opponents can also TKO you.) If round 3 ends before one of you is knocked out, you might be able to win by decision.
|-
|[[Image:MT Punch-Out doc louis.png|left]] Doc Louis is your trainer and your coach. He is dedicated to making you the champion that he knows you can be. He's been around the WVBA for a long time and knows each and everyone of the fighters that you be going up against. Between rounds, he can provide you with key strategies to use against them, and he can loosen you up a bit to restore some stamina, but only once per match. He is also a former WVBA champion.
To win by decision, you need to have a certain number of points. The number of points depends on the opponent and is listed in this walkthrough. Circuit champions can never be beaten by decision, and neither can Mr. Sandman or King Hippo. Winning by decision does not add to your KO record, but it makes no real difference.
|[[Image:MT Punch-Out mario.png|right]] After returning home from his adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom, the WVBA has given this legendary hero an honorary position as a referee. Known for his honesty and impartiality, Mario is trusted to run each match and make every call fairly.
|}
==Hearts and stars==
At the top of the screen you can see the number of stars and hearts you have. At the start of each round you will have a certain number of hearts, depending on your opponent. (You will usually have more hearts against opponents who require you to block a lot.) You will use up one heart whenever you block an attack or when your opponent dodges or blocks your attack. You will also lose three hearts if you are hit. If you run out of hearts, you will turn pink and you cannot punch, block, or quick-dodge. You will regain some hearts after dodging a few of your enemy's attacks. Be warned that opponents will alter their behavior when you're out of hearts, but they'll resume their normal pattern once you're back to normal. If you get knocked down, then your hearts are reset to 9.
The number of stars you have indicates how many uppercuts you can throw. If you are hit, the number of stars you have is reduced by one, and you will lose all your stars if you're knocked down. You gain stars by hitting your opponent at the right time, which you will learn about below.
==Countering an attack==
Most of the time you will not be the aggressor. Instead, you will wait for your opponent to make a move and exploit it.
There are three ways to counter an attack:
# Blocking and countering
# Dodging and countering
# Interrupting it
Blocking causes you to take a small amount of damage and also uses up a heart. Dodging costs nothing but if your timing is off you will get hit by the full force of the attack. In either case you will usually get to hit your opponent multiple times in the face (they will usually block their body when stunned). You can keep hitting him until you hear and see a punch that looks particularly forceful: this signifies that your chain of hits is over and your opponent has recovered.
Interrupting an attack will usually, but not always, get you a star (but it won't if you knock down your opponent). It depends on the attack and the timing. Generally, you want to hit your opponent while they are preparing their attack, not the moment they actually begin their move. This can be a risky move, and will often backfire on inexperienced players except in the case of very slow moves (like Great Tiger's uppercuts). Although stars are valuable, you don't need to master this technique to be good at the game.
A few of your opponents have special moves which can be interrupted. These will be detailed in the description of your opponent. Interrupting your opponent's special move will usually knock down your opponent, so it is a valuable technique to learn.
You play through the game as Little Mac, an up and coming boxer from the Bronx. Your trainer is named Doc Louis. He coaches you between rounds and helps you train between circuits. You must use your strength and reflexes to take on all of the higher ranked opponents in the various boxing circuits of the WVBA.
You begin each match with a full bar of stamina. As you take hits, you lose stamina. When you lose all of your stamina, you will be knocked down. Note that guarding attacks chips away at your stamina, and some of your opponents attacks will knock you down regardless of how much stamina you have remaining. Also note that it is possible to regain a small amount of stamina if you successfully attack your opponent while your stamina is extremely low. The amount of stamina that can be regained in this manner is very small, but often enough to help you survive another punch. If you are knocked down three times, you will lose due to a Technical Knock Out, or TKO. Even if you do not lose by a TKO, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to survive getting knocked down more than three times in a single match. In order to get back up on your feet, you must rapidly tap the and buttons to get back up on your feet. If you manage to rise on the count of 9, you are very likely to get back most or all of your stamina.
Little Mac's left and right punches are identical in speed and power. He can defend himself by guarding his head to block an attack, or dodging it entirely. Not all opponent attacks can be blocked, but all can be dodged. You don't need to correctly choose which direction to dodge an attack; a dodge in either direction will work equally well regardless of the direction of an incoming attack. If you press and immediately press (or press and immediately press ) you will return to the center more quickly when dodging. This is the quick-dodge, an important technique against Mr. Sandman's uppercuts, since he will hit you hard if you dodge too long. Additionally, if you double tap , you will perform the duck maneuver. Ducking is generally not recommended since dodging is faster and works just as well.
Note: The game cannot be paused in the middle of a fight. You must wait for the end of the round or match.
The status bar is shown at the top of the screen throughout the duration of each round. A lot of important and useful information is contained there.
1
Stars: The number of stars you have indicates how many uppercuts you can throw. You may store up to a maximum of three stars at any one time. You earn stars by attacking opponents at pivotal moments like just before or after an opponent's own attack. Throwing an uppercut uses up one star. You will also lose a star if you get hit and you will lose all of them if you are knocked down.
2
Hearts: This indicates your level of fatigue. You begin each match with a certain number of hearts. You are generally provided more hearts against opponents who require you to block more frequently. Hearts are lost every time you block an opponent's punch, when you get hit by your opponent, and every time your attacks are blocked. If your hearts are reduced to 0, you will turn purple and be unable to throw any punches, guard against attacks, or quick dodge. You must successfully dodge a couple of attacks before you regain hearts, permitting you to fight again.
3
Player's stamina: This meter indicates your current stamina in the match. You start each match with a full stamina meter. You lose stamina as you get hit throughout the match. When your stamina meter is reduced to nothing, you will get knocked down. If you are able to get back up on your feet, your meter will refill to varying degrees.
4
Opponent's stamina: The meter opposite your own indicates your opponent's current stamina. Like you, your opponent begins the match with a full meter. You must successfully attack your opponent to reduce his stamina. When you reduce it to nothing, your opponent will be knocked down. If he stands back up, his meter will refill to some amount.
5
Player's score: Your score is determined by how many successful attacks you perform throughout the match. Each score only applies to the match you are currently fighting in, and is only used in the event that you and your opponent fail to knock each other out by the end of the third round. Then the match is decided by judge decision. The judges will consider your score and either award or deny you the victory based on whether your score is high enough. Note that some opponents can not be beaten by a score decision.
6
Round timer: Each round lasts 3 "minutes" (or 180 "seconds"). A second in the game isn't quite the same as a second in real life, so it's not an exact measurement. The timer starts at 0:00 and counts up to 3:00. Once the clock reaches 3:00, the round is immediately stopped and the fighters go to their corners. If neither fighter is knocked out by the end of Round 3, the winner of the fight is determined by the judges.
Doc Louis is your trainer and your coach. He is dedicated to making you the champion that he knows you can be. He's been around the WVBA for a long time and knows each and everyone of the fighters that you be going up against. Between rounds, he can provide you with key strategies to use against them, and he can loosen you up a bit to restore some stamina, but only once per match. He is also a former WVBA champion.
After returning home from his adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom, the WVBA has given this legendary hero an honorary position as a referee. Known for his honesty and impartiality, Mario is trusted to run each match and make every call fairly.
on the direction pad
on the direction pad
on the direction pad to block punches
and tap 
.
.
to exchange one star for an uppercut. If you have no stars stored up, you cannot perform this move.
to instruct Doc Louis to loosen you up and increase your stamina. This may only be performed once per match.
