Boxing

About

Boxing is a straightforward brawler from Activision that pits two fighters against each other in rapid two-minute matches. Played from an overhead perspective, it focuses on landing timed jabs and power punches to rack up points. A quick jab scores one, a close-range uppercut nets two, and landing a knockout, which happens often, slams the board with a 100-point swing. The simple control scheme lets players jump right into slugfests, whether solo or split-screen against a friend. What stands out is how cleanly it distills boxing into its most chaotic moments. Despite the Atari 2600's limitations, the game captures the urgency of a fast-paced fight, rewarding quick reflexes over strategy. With separate difficulty settings for each player, it balances skill levels well in head-to-head mode. Released in December 1980, it's one of the earliest examples of competitive arcade-style sports games on home consoles.