Panza Kick Boxing

The player controls a kick boxer who fights their way up the league table defeating opponents, while their ultimate goal is to challenge the Champion André Panza and take his title. The Gymnasium section allows the player to train their character to improve one of three skills - strength, resistance, and reflex - which will improve their performance in future fights.

The game contains a total of 56 kicks and punches, which players can assign to one of the 8 joystick movements to customise their boxer's fighting style. Moves inspired by real-life kick boxing include long sweeps, short jabs, and crunching kicks.

The two boxers are viewed from ring level, and a referee is present to call 'break' or count you out; each bout takes at least three rounds and each round ends either when a boxer is KO-ed or the timer runs out. A row of lights above the ring are a visual cue to how close the player is to losing, which extinguish as they are hit.

The game was developed by Futura. It was endorsed by French kickboxing then-champion André Panza (fr), who also supplied technical advice.{{cite journal |last1=Patterson |first1=Mark |date=January 1991 |title=Andre Panza's Kick Boxing |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_9612 |journal=CU Amiga |pages=49}} It contains realistic attacking and defensive moves, and around 600 frames of animation.

Panza Kick Boxing was originally published by Loriciels in France in 1991, and subsequently by NEC Technologies in the United States{{cite web |title=East vs. West: Andre Panza / The Kick Boxing |url=http://gamingafter40.blogspot.com/2011/02/east-vs-west-andre-panza-kick-boxing.html |website=Gaming After 40 |date=February 4, 2011}}{{Cite web |date=1991 |title=Andre Panza Kick Boxing manual - NEC |url=https://archive.org/details/Andre_Panza_Kick_Boxing_1991_NEC_US/mode/2up}} and Kixx (the budget range of U.S. Gold) in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy.{{Cite web |date=1991 |title=Panza Kick Boxing manual - Kixx |url=https://openretro.org/file/7f97ccaf87a98798ebf61b8472d8f656ece940c1}} The game was a new venture for NEC, which has previously built a business off their TV Sports series of events.{{Cite magazine |date=July 1991 |title=Kick Boxing |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_24/page/n59/mode/2up?q=kick |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |volume=4 |issue=24 |pages=60}} Additionally, the game was published on the TurboGrafx-16 by Turbo Technologies, a joint venture by NEC and Hudson Soft.{{Cite journal |date=1992 |title=TurboGrafx-16 |url=https://archives.tg-16.com/EB/EB_1992_03_021.jpg |journal=TurboPlay Magazine |pages=21}}

{{Video game reviews

| title =

| subtitle =

| state =

| align =

| MC =

| rev1 = Joystick

| rev1Score = 98%,{{cite journal |last1=Kaaa |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Joystick |date=November 1990 |issue=10 |pages=210–211 |language=Fr |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_44326}} 86%,{{cite journal |last1=Seb |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Joystick |date=April 1991 |issue=15 |pages=105 |language=Fr |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_44753}} 80%,{{cite journal |last1=Moulinex |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Joystick |date=December 1990 |issue=11 |pages=296 |language=Fr |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_44728}} 75%{{cite journal |last1=Seb |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Joystick |date=December 1990 |issue=11 |pages=296 |language=Fr |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_44727}}

| rev2 = Generation 4

| rev2Score = 92%{{cite journal |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Génération 4 |date=December 1990 |issue=28 |language=Fr |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_45783}}

| rev3 = Amiga Action

| rev3Score = 90%,{{cite journal |last1=Bunker |first1=Alan |title=Panza Kick Boxing re-release |journal=Amiga Action |date=July 1992 |issue=34 |pages=91 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_40896}} 87%{{cite journal |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Amiga Action |date=February 1991 |issue=17 |pages=104 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_32200}}

| rev4 = The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review (ACAR)

| rev4Score = 85%{{cite journal |last1=Graney |first1=Juris |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review |date=June 1991 |volume=8 |issue=6 |pages=76 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_4561}}

| rev5 = Zero

| rev5Score = 84%{{cite journal |last1=Lakin |first1=Paul |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Zero |date=February 1991 |issue=16 |pages=46 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_5798}}

| rev6 = CU Amiga

| rev6Score = 82%{{cite journal |last1=Patterson |first1=Mark |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=CU Amiga |date=January 1991 |pages=49 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_9612}}

| rev7 = Amiga Joker

| rev7Score = 81%{{cite journal |last1=Borgmeier |first1=Carsten |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Amiga Joker |date=January 1991 |issue=11 |pages=28 |language=De |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_54421}}

| rev8 = Datormagazin

| rev8Score = 80%{{cite journal |last1=Hedqvist |first1=Pekka |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Datormagazin |date=April 1991 |issue=8 |pages=66 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_31623}}{{cite journal |last1=Thörnqvist |first1=Daniel |title=Panza Kick Boxing re-release |journal=Datormagazin |date=April 1993 |issue=8 |pages=56 |language=Sv |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_32773}}

| rev9 = Amiga User International

| rev9Score = 75%{{cite journal |last1=Horgan |first1=Tony |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Amiga User International |date=January 1991 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=80 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_7410}}

| rev10 = Power Play

| rev10Score = 65%{{cite journal |last1=Forster |first1=Winfried |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Power Play |date=February 1991 |pages=126 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_15631}}

| rev11 = Aktueller Software Markt

| rev11Score = 100%{{cite journal |last1=Zimmermann |first1=Bernd |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Aktueller Software Markt |date=January 1991 |pages=138 |language=De}}{{cite journal |last1=Kleimann |first1=Manfred |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Aktueller Software Markt |date=May 1991 |language=De |url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=11395}}

| rev12 = Tilt

| rev12Score = C{{cite journal |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Tilt |date=April 1991 |issue=89 |pages=77 |language=Fr |url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Tilt/tilt_numero089/tilt%20-%20n%C2%B089%20-%20avril%201991%20-%20page076%20et%20077.jpg}}

| rev13 = Go

| rev13Score = 81%{{cite journal |title=Andre Panza Kickboxing |journal=Go |date=April 1993 |issue=18 |pages=6–7 |url=https://necretro.org/index.php?title=File:Go_UK_18.pdf&page=6}}

| rev14 = Special Program

| rev14Score = Positive{{cite journal |title=Andre Panza's Kick Boxing |journal=Special Program |date=April 1991 |volume=7 |issue=75 |pages=26–7 |language=It| url=https://www.edicola8bit.com/sfoglia_rivista.php?collana=special_program&id=75&console=48k#page/27}}

| rev15 =

| rev15Score =

| rev16 =

| rev16Score =

}}

ST Action and TurboPlay described it as "tremendous"{{cite journal |title=Panza Kick Boxing |url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/hi_res/atari_st_action_59_64.jpg |journal=ST Action |issue=59 |pages=64}} and "fantastic"{{Cite journal |date=October–November 1991 |title=Coming Soon... Andre Panza Kick Boxing |url=http://archives.tg-16.com/TURBOPLAY/TP-09-28.jpg |journal=TurboPlay |issue=9 |pages=28}} respectively, while Amiga Computing deemed it "extremely good".{{cite journal |title=Panza Kick Boxing |journal=Amiga Computing |date=February 1991 |issue=33 |pages=51 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_7993}} Adam Smith from Rock Paper Shotgun praised the animations for the referee.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Adam |date=November 8, 2012 |title=Monster Smash: Beast Boxing Turbo Demo |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/monster-smash-beast-boxing-turbo-demo |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}} Games Village called it "one of the best Kickboxing simulators ever produced in history".{{cite web |last1=Iglio |first1=Gianpaolo |date=April 24, 2018 |title=Campioni per caso: i peggiori Testimonial mai visti nei titoli sportivi |url=https://www.gamesvillage.it/6882791/campioni-per-caso-i-peggiori-testimonial-mai-visti-nei-titoli-sportivi/ |website=Games Village |language=It}}

Mixed reviews were offered by reviewers like Tony Horgan of Amiga User International who criticised the game's repetitiveness which he argued is standard for this genre.

Italian site Games Village discussed how the "modest...pixel portrait of the solemn André Panza" on the cover juxtaposed the quality of the game in a larger discussion about how "the palatability of a video game is not necessarily linked to the actual value of its gameplay, nor to its technical prowess".{{cite web |last1=Iglio |first1=Gianpaolo |date=April 24, 2018 |title=Campioni per caso: i peggiori Testimonial mai visti nei titoli sportivi |url=https://www.gamesvillage.it/6882791/campioni-per-caso-i-peggiori-testimonial-mai-visti-nei-titoli-sportivi/ |website=Games Village |language=It}}

Commenting on the contemporary context in which the game was developed, TurboPlay suggested that with Champions Forever Boxing (1991) and Panza Kick Boxing saturating the TurboGrafx-16 market, it was unlikely for Cinemaware to release their TV Sports Boxing on the platform.{{Cite journal |date=October–November 1991 |title=TV Sports Oddities |url=http://archives.tg-16.com/turbo_play_0009.htm |journal=TurboPlay |issue=9}}

A 1992 sequel was announced in October 1992 tentatively titled Panza Kick Boxing 2.{{Cite journal |date=October 1992 |title=Panza Kick Boxing 2 preview |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_19069 |journal=Amiga Power |issue=18 |pages=62}} The game, closer in design to a re-release, was published in Japan as The Kick Boxing (Micro World){{Cite journal |date=January 1993 |title=Game review |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:MarukatuMD_JP_03.pdf&page=109 |journal=Marukatsu Mega Drive |language=ja |pages=109}}{{Cite journal |date=February 1993 |title=Game review |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:BeepMD_JP_1993-02.pdf&page=21 |journal=Beep! Mega Drive |language=ja |pages=21}} and Super Kickboxing (Electro Brain){{Cite web |date=February 26, 2014 |title=Original "Panza Kickboxing" and its copycats |url=https://eng.timtal.com/original-panza-kickboxing-and-its-copycats/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305103639/http://eng.timtal.com/original-panza-kickboxing-and-its-copycats/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 5, 2014}} as Panza was unknown in the country.{{cite web |date=February 4, 2011 |title=East vs. West: Andre Panza / The Kick Boxing |url=http://gamingafter40.blogspot.com/2011/02/east-vs-west-andre-panza-kick-boxing.html |website=Gaming After 40}} This updated version was later imported{{Cite journal |date=February 1994 |title=The Kick Boxing |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SegaPro_UK_28.pdf&page=50 |journal=SegaPro |issue=28 |pages=50}} in the United States by Electro Brain as Best of the Best: Championship Karate in July 1993.{{Cite journal |date=June–July 1993 |title=Incoming! |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SegaVisions_US_13.pdf&page=97 |journal=Sega Visions |pages=97}}{{Cite journal |date=June 1993 |title=Viewpoint |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:GameFan_US_0107.pdf&page=16 |journal=GameFan |volume=1 |issue=7 |pages=16}} The game has also been subtitled Panza Gold Edition.{{Cite journal |last=Graney |first=Juris |date=May 1993 |title=Best of the Best: Championship Karate |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_4723 |journal=The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review |volume=10 |issue=5 |pages=75}}

Amiga Joker noted that while the gameplay, graphics, sound and options screen had been updated from the original, "apart from the title there are only a few real innovations", describing it as a "deceptive package".{{Cite journal |last=Löwenstein |first=Richard |date=February 1993 |title=Best of the Best |url=https://amigareviews.leveluphost.com/panzakic.htm#panzakickboxingac |journal=Amiga Joker |volume=2 |issue=93 |pages=96}} MegaTech suggested the latter title was an effort to tie the game to the 1989 martial arts film Best of the Best.{{Cite journal |last=Merrett |first=Steve |date=December 1993 |title=The Kick Boxing |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:MegaTech_UK_24.pdf&page=68 |journal=MegaTech |issue=24 |pages=68}} Sega Zone described it as "one of the most differingly-named [sic] games in the history of gaming".{{Cite journal |date=January 1994 |title=The Kick Boxing |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SegaZone_UK_15.pdf&page=68 |journal=Sega Zone |issue=15 |pages=68}} The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review noted that while the game is officially a sequel, it's "almost a reproduction".

In contrast to the original, this version received a mixed reception in Europe,{{Cite journal |date=February 1994 |title=The Kick Boxing |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:Mega_UK_17.pdf&page=42 |journal=Mega |pages=42}}{{Cite journal |date=January 1994 |title=The Kick Boxing |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SegaPower_UK_50.pdf&page=65 |journal=Sega Power |issue=50 |pages=65}}{{Cite journal |last=Löwenstein |first=Richard |date=February 1993 |title=Best of the Best: Championship Karate |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_25275 |journal=Amiga Joker |language=de |pages=96}}{{Cite journal |last=Fuente |first=Derek dela |date=February 1993 |title=Best of the Best: Championship Panza Gold |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_50902 |journal=Svenska Hemdatornytt |language=sv |issue=2 |pages=39}} and Asia.{{Cite journal |date=September 1995 |title=Game review |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf&page=87 |journal=Sega Saturn Magazine Japan |language=ja |pages=85}}{{Cite journal |date=1996 |title=Best of the Best |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:72IgryDlyaSMD.pdf&page=23 |journal=72 Igry Dlya Sega MegaDrive (72 Games for Sega Mega Drive) |language=ru |pages=22}}{{Cite journal |date=2003 |title=Best of the Best Champion Karate |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:14000_opisaniy_i_sekretov_SEGA.pdf&page=24 |journal=SEGA 14000 Opisaniy i sekretov |language=ru |pages=23}}{{Cite journal |date=2000 |title=Best of the Best: Championship Karate |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:%D0%98%D0%B3%D1%80%D1%8B_Sega_%D0%9B%D1%83%D1%87%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B8%D0%B7_%D0%BB%D1%83%D1%87%D1%88%D0%B8%D1%85_%D0%92%D1%8B%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BA_1.pdf&page=384 |journal=Igry Sega Luchshiye Iz Luchshikh |language=ru |volume=1 |pages=383}}{{Cite journal |date=March 10, 2003 |title=Best of the Best: Championship Karate |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:1700_igr_dlya_Sega_2003.pdf&page=53 |journal=1700 Igr Dlya Sega |language=ru |pages=51}}{{Cite journal |date=2005 |title=Best of the Beast [sic]: Championship Karate |url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:Entsiklopediya_igr_Sega._100000_sekrety,_kody,_paroli_(2005).pdf&page=32 |journal=Entsiklopediya Igr Sega 100000 Sekrety, Kody, Paroli |language=ru |pages=34}} However, actor and martial artist Ron Yuan deemed it the "best SNES fighting game from a purely technical martial arts point of view",{{Cite magazine |last=Eye Spy |date=November 1994 |title=Supreme Warrior Prepares to Fight |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_064_November_1994/page/n63/mode/2up?q=%22best+snes%22 |magazine=GamePro |issue=64 |pages=62}} while Brazilian magazine Ação Games described it as "one of the best games of the genre" and one that fans of Luta Livre would enjoy.{{Cite journal |title=Best of the Best |url=https://archive.org/details/acao_games_50/acao_games_38/page/n27/mode/2up?q=best |journal=Ação Games |language=pt |pages=28}} Super Action further deemed it "classic kick boxing action".{{Cite journal |date=August 1994 |title=Best of the Best Championship Karate |url=https://archive.org/details/super-action-24/page/76/mode/2up?q=classic |journal=Super Action |issue=24 |pages=76}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{moby game|id=/12587/panza-kick-boxing}}
• [https://hol.abime.net/1010 Panza Kick Boxing] at the Hall of Light
• [https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File%3ATheKICKBOXING_MD_jp_manual.pdf&page=1 Japanese The Kick Boxing manual]

Category:1990 video games

Category:Amiga games

Category:Amstrad CPC games

Category:Atari ST games

Category:DOS games

Category:Kickboxing

Category:Loriciel games

Category:Martial arts video games

Category:Turbo Technologies games

Category:TurboGrafx-16 games

Category:TurboGrafx-CD games

Category:Video games developed in France