Super KO Boxing 2 Review

Super KO Boxing 2 (SKOB2) is the sequel to Glu's mobile phone fighting series and the first of the series to hit the iPhone. It's a modern interpretation of Punch Out from the NES parceled with stunning hand drawn characters and tongue-in-cheek irreverence. This is no simple button masher and definitely something for serious gamers to check out.

SKOB2 mimics the classic control setup from its predecessors, using virtual pads to control dodge and block with the left thumb and your punches with the right thumb. While there's no variation to the control layout, it's fairly intuitive and quite responsive. Like other virtual pads you're likely to press the wrong button(s) at times, but their layout is generally broad enough to prevent too many wasted attacks or energy.

The graphics are what separate this game from the crowd, with a cell-shaded character designs and complex (and amusing) backgrounds for each location. There are several variations to each main opponent and are more than just a palette swap (for example, an early opponent goes from being a drink-swilling slob to a country cop). The music is interesting, but thanks to OS 3.0 support you can make use of your own playlists in game.

From the single-player campaign and its hilarious opponents to unlocking challenge modes and even playing online, SKOB2 is a great arcade boxing game. What started out in all its 8 bit glory on a humble console is now a marvel to play and enjoy on the iPhone for the serious gamers.