Line #11 Awesome/PunchOut


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/newworldchamp.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Goliath, meet David]].]]
3
4	'''Moments pages are Administrivia/SpoilersOff. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''
5	----
6	!!Mr. Sandman
7	Mr. Sandman is such an awesome character, he gets his own section.
8	* He gets several on the Wii.
9	** First, when you fight him for the first time, you see a 5-or-so-second montage of his fist meeting every other boxers' faces. Beforehand, if you have the presence of mind to look, you'll notice he has ''zero'' losses on record.
10	*** Even better, the montage is set up so that the last five punches are caught at a different position, flipbook-style, carrying the visual implication that he did beat them all ''in one punch''. While that's obviously not quite how it happened, the effect is [[TheDreaded unnerving.]]
11	** When he comes back for a rematch in Title Defence Mode, he gets a new montage. He punches the walls of a brick building, and then the whole building collapses. He ''[[CharlesAtlasSuperpower punched out a building]]''. Dude is ''[[ScaryBlackMan scary]]''.
12	** The fact that he was the former champ at all is a moment of awesome. Think about all the other boxers in the world circuit or hell, the entire game. All those boxers got where they are by either cheating, or using a gimmick to win for example, Soda Popinski drinking soda to keep his stamina up or Aran Ryan using underhanded tactics to get a punch in. How did Mr. Sandman get all the way to the top then? By [[BadassNormal just being a good boxer with powerful punches]].
13	** In previous games, Super Macho Man actually outranked him. But on the Wii, Sandman humiliated him like everyone else before Mac challenged him.
14	* Mr. Sandman's final rush in Title Defense Mode on the Wii. Basically if he's one KO away from losing the match, Mr. Sandman will start attacking with a flurry of uppercuts, which are devastating if they connect. If the player survives the onslaught Mr. Sandman will completely drop his guard out of exhaustion. This enables you to combo him as much as you want, and get stars for doing so. Finish up the combo with a [[{{Shoryuken}} 3-Star Punch]] and you win. ''Awesomely''.
15	* There's another one for the fight against Mr. Sandman, but for Little Mac instead. When your first fight with him starts, it shows him entering the stadium, so large that the ''[[BadVibrations ground is shaking with every step he takes.]]'' When Doc sees him, he lets out a small [[OhCrap groan]] of fear, followed by another more questionable one at Little Mac as if to say, "Are you sure about this?". Little Mac's response?... [[DeathGlare He furrows his eyebrows]] at him, [[NervesOfSteel pats his fists together,]] and then calmly stands up to start the fight. Considering the fact that he's doing this against a man who is twice as tall as him, over a hundred pounds heavier than him, and is notorious for knocking all of his opponents out in one punch, [[{{Determinator}} this only further proves how brave and determined Little Mac really is.]]
16	** And if you look closely, you'll notice Doc loses all doubt when he sees Mac's determination, giving his student a proud little smile as he steps up to face the champ.
17	* In Title Defense, Mr. Sandman's re-introduction consists of him taking a gander at Little Mac and immediately goes into a roaring rage. You know you're one of the best boxers in the association when you turn a previously-undefeated boxer roughly twice your size into a raging SoreLoser.
18	* Honestly, just about everything regarding Mr. Sandman's bouts. Contender or Title Defense, the game makes clear that you are going up against a ''monster''. From the intense, heavy metal soundtrack, to every one of his blows doing insane damage, to even knocking him down, just about everything you do feels like you're fighting a war. But the best is his KO animation, which consists of the final blow being shown in a RepeatCut with a flashing camera on the final shot, complete with Mr. Sandman falling to the mat in slow motion and ending with the camera looking down at his still, unmoving form.
19
20	!!Other
21	* Doc Louis gets one with five words.
22	--> "I ''invented'' the Star Punch!"
23	* The [[SuddenlyVoiced voice acting]] in the Wii iteration, and the fact that [[ShownTheirWork every boxer now speaks their respective native language]].
24	* The ComebackMechanic where Little Mac supposedly gets KO'd, but [[{{Determinator}} manages to keep standing with his last ounce of strength]]; slamming his foot down to catch himself before he falls, and yelling in rage at his opponent. It's even more awesome if you ''manage to win''... and it's one of the Challenges for TD Mr. Sandman, as well.
25	* Simply put, ''beating Mike Tyson!'' If you've defeated Mike Tyson/Mr. Dream in the NES version -- especially by knockout/TKO -- you might as well consider yourself a true champion. Especially since Tyson here has outshined both Mr.Sandman and Super Macho Man, and is a very difficult final boss that lives up to his title.
26	** Mr. Sandman in Title Defense does a flurry of mighty uppercuts when he is desperate. Tyson does these in the ''very beginning''.
27	* When Doc asks Mac if he's sure he wants to do The Last Stand, Mac's response is a simple punch at him that deliberately misses by only a few inches. Also worth noting Doc doesn't flinch in the slightest, but calmly says:
28	-->'''Doc Louis:''' Alright, then. Let's go out on top, kid. It's time to take your place in history!
29	* [[CheatersNeverProsper Countering Aran Ryan's illegal attacks with a Star Punch]] for a OneHitKO. Even in Title Defense, he can end up stuck on the ropes ''upside down''.
30	* Bald Bull's Bull Charge, being a very big risk. He hits you, you go down. You hit him mid-charge, ''he'' goes down.
31	* King Hippo can use his fat against you and is hard to make go down. Even though he can't get back up.
32	* Super Macho Man has great brute force and an even bigger ego. It's incredibly fun to dodge his named attacks and see his taunts become curses.
33	-->'''Super Macho Man:''' Release the... (you dodge) bogus!
34	** In Title Defense, he can't be knocked out instantly, meaning you have to consistently be a good boxer that can dodge and counter. Who else could surpass Macho Man? None who relied on gimmicks, only Mr. Sandman who is simply a very good boxer. To beat Super Macho Man, Mac has to fight like Sandman.
35	** Before the Wii version, he actually outranked [[NoNonsenseNemesis Sandman]] more than once.
36	** His SNES version is the strongest, since he keeps his trademark attacks and has the powerful combos called ''Exercise Programs''. You can send him flying if you knock him down with a knockout punch.
37	* In a way, Glass Joe having a 1-99 record. Sure, he's a nervous wreck who practically serves as [[{{Jobber}} training for aspiring other boxers]], but [[{{Determinator}} not only has he accepted 100 matches, he goes through each fight to the very end]], thoroughly subverting the CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys stereotype.
38	-->'''Doc Louis:''' Woowee, Mac baby. Let's give Glass Joe a little respect here, okay? He can always take a whoopin'!
39	** Even if it was a freak accident, his victory was against Nick Bruiser, the final boss in ''Super Punch-Out!'', who outranked his powerful brother and the recurring champions, and could also break arms. [[DavidVersusGoliath Way to go, Joe!]]
40	* Losing to [[ButtMonkey Glass Joe]] in Title Defense -- [[TookALevelInBadass which is surprisingly easy to do]] because he now has a headgear and increased confidence -- theoretically means he becomes world champion. Read that again. '''It's very possible for Glass Joe to become World Champion.'''
41	** Really, this goes to everyone who returns for the Title Defense portion. They don't come back as they were in the first go around, no, they come back fully prepared to win. The defense of Glass Joe and the offense of Von Kaiser have been increased, making them a serious wake-up call for this mode. Even some of the more quirky gimmicks, such as Disco Kid's new passion for aerobics, Bear Hugger's squirrel companion or Aran Ryan's boxing glove whip, are able to bring the heat in the ring.
42	* Gabby Jay, who in the SNES version has been trained by Glass Joe, also has the same record as his master. He didn't learn how to win, but he did learn how to never give up.
43	* [[FridgeBrilliance In a sense]], Mac retiring after three defeats in Mac's Last Stand is this. As the world champion who has now achieved his dream (twice!) and defended the belt from all comers, he [[KnowWhenToFoldEm chooses to go out on top from his career]] once it becomes clear he's losing his touch; to him, retiring while still being known as a champion is better than suffering a humiliating chain of defeats and being remembered as a has-been.
44	* Back on the NES version, there's a wonderful satisfaction at seeing Von Kaiser go ''flying'' back when he gets knocked down. Even Glass Joe would stumble a bit. Not just Von Kaiser, strong foes like Popinski can also get sent flying.
45	* During Don Flamenco's Intro, he launches a bull into the stratosphere![[note]] He doesn't actually launch it into the stratosphere, but still high enough to be beyond impressive.[[/note]] Imagine having that ability in real life!
46	** In two of his appearances, it's possible to stunlock this guy, even though he is no joke otherwise.
47	* Fight well enough in Mac's Last Stand and you will face Donkey Kong. Any gorilla would be a threat in boxing, and Donkey Kong is no ordinary gorilla, having beaten enemies such as a sapient crocodile king even bigger than himself. You can still beat him.

Context Awesome / PunchOut