Read reams of manga or watch reels of anime and you'll notice a common character archetype used in many feel-good scenarios. There are many variants and branches of this model but they all boil down to a single core concept. Succinctly, we term it the "underdog becomes god" phenomenon where a goofy outcast rises above his oppressors with nothing but inner drive and ability. In the end, the archetype attains all of his goals and the former critics are squarely on his side.

   During the transition from geek to god, many travails and tribulations are showered upon the rising hero to showcase his determination and survival instincts. Everyone loves the little engine that could and the story arc takes full advantage of plot twists, rivals, and oppressors who would see the hero to ruin. Hajime no Ippo uses this plot vehicle and though it's scripted so close to standard formulas, the end result is nevertheless enjoyable. Ippo's a weakling and he's picked on by the boys at school. However, he's a boxing fanatic with aspirations of becoming a great boxer. Watching tapes and training to become a pugilist, Ippo eventually achieves greatness.

  Hajime no Ippo All*Stars takes fans through Ippo's matches against over 70 boxers from the animation. As in the original story, after completing Mamoru Takamura's test to join the Kamogawa Boxing Club, chief Kamogawa forces Ippo to spar with Miyata, a talented fighter who eventually become's Ippo's arch-rival. The first boxer in All*Stars is a sparring match with Miyata which is followed by a match against Oda. To offer a challenge to everyone, the difficulty level in the game may be set on Easy, Normal, or Hard for virtual pugilists of varying abilities. Along with a large cast of boxers, new custom fighters may be created and then leveled up as they fight through the ranks. In addition to playing as Ippo, players may also choose Aoki, Miyata, Takamura, and others as their virtual boxer.