Final Blow

{{for multi|the final blow in mutliplayer video games|Last hitting|the jazz/funk album|The Final Blow}}

{{Infobox video game

| title = Final Blow

| image = Final Blow Cover.jpg

| caption = Arcade flyer

| developer = Taito

| publisher = Taito

| designer =

| release = 1988

| platforms = Arcade, Genesis, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, FM Towns, Master System

| genre = Sports

| modes = Single-player, 2 player competitive

}}

Final Blow is a boxing arcade video game released in 1988 by Taito. The name remained the same for all ported platforms, except for the Sega versions, which Sega released outside Japan as James 'Buster' Douglas Knockout Boxing featuring American boxer James "Buster" Douglas himself in 1990 immediately after his upset victory over Mike Tyson.

Plot

The game follows a single season boxing championship run. There are five fictional fighters competing: Dynamite Joe - The Miracle Fighter, Fernando Gomez - The South American Eagle, Kim Nang - The Korean Comet, King Jason - The Black King, and The Detroit Kid - The Invincible Black Panther.

Gameplay

Final Blow is a side-scrolling boxing game where the player moves left and right to control a screen sized boxer. When the timing is right, the player can unleash a final blow punch which can sometimes KO the opponent in a single strike.

The home versions contain a spectator mode where the player can watch their favorite boxers compete.

The Sega Genesis port adds two boxers: James "Buster" Douglas (who uses The Detroit Kid's graphics, slightly edited and palette swapped) and Ironhead. It was one of the games used as part of the Genesis Does Campaign, particularly since Nintendo used Mike Tyson for its Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! video game, whom Douglas had challenged and defeated that year.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| GamePro = GEN: 15/25{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bc/GamePro_US_018.pdf#page=100 |title=Genesis ProView: James "Buster" Douglas Knock-Out Boxing |last=Lang |first=Chip |magazine=GamePro |date=January 1991 |pages=82–83}}

}}

In Japan, Game Machine listed Final Blow on their June 1, 1989 issue as being the third most-successful table arcade unit of the month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=357|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 June 1989|page=21|lang=ja}}

Mega placed the game at #9 in their list of the 10 Worst Mega Drive Games of All Time.{{cite magazine|title=10 Worst Mega Drive Games of All Time|magazine=Mega|issue=1|publisher=Future Publishing|date=October 1992|page=85}}

Rerelease

Final Blow was ported for home consoles as part of the Arcade Archives series by Hamster Corporation in November 2024, for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.{{Cite news |date=November 20, 2024 |title=Final Blow is this week’s Arcade Archives game on Nintendo Switch |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/final-blow-is-this-weeks-arcade-archives-game-on-nintendo-switch/}}{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2025 |title=Arcade Archives FINAL BLOW |url=https://www.arcadearchives.com/en/title/aca-335/}}