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PS2
Hajime no Ippo All*Stars |
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PS2
Hajime no Ippo All*Stars -
New Import |
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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. |
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