Funky Head Boxers is the story of pugilists who have normal sized bodies but oversized heads that are made out of cubes with exaggerated expressions and antics from the twisted mind of Yoshimoto. The weird look of the game is exacerbated by the close ring that you battle it out in which leads to some very cramped bouts where the evasive procedures found in other fighting games are simply not an open option. The action plays fluidly as you jab, punch and uppercut your opponent. Each punch will usually cause the opponent to utter a sound not unlike one signifying extreme pain. Certain punches will emit sparks and cause incendiary effects when they connect for comical effect. Lightning will flash in the backgrounds when you pull off certain punches for added drama. Super moves may be pulled off which involve winding up your punch or walloping your fists down on your opponent's skull like you would see a professional, or in any case, a not so professional wrestler do. The play mechanics allow for the use of a right punch or a left punch so you can do rapidfire punches by alternating each hand. A block button is usable to guard yourself against incoming thunder. Your boxer has limited mobility so this part/facet of the game leaves you pretty much a sitting duck when the other boxer comes in for the kill or has you on the ropes. Particularly strong punches will contort the other boxers face into ridiculous shapes which range from stars, circles and what looks like a fleshy mess. Other facial effects include runny noses and tears with pained expressions to compliment the disturbance. The top right and left buttons on the joypad will make your boxer dodge oncoming blows but this was ineffective when the opposing boxer fires off a volley of blows and you are unable to dodge against the barrage. Three perspectives are available for the action, a head on view where you see the face of the opposing boxer, a head-on view that raises the camera a bit higher and a 3/4 side view where you can see both boxers. The Yoshimoto brand of humor is evident in this game in that not only are you a blockhead, everyone else is a blockhead, from the referee to everyone in the crowd. I.e, we're all the same outside. Funky Head Boxer is a fun game but it really is a gimmicky one. Once the look and surprise of the weird boxers wears off, the game itself leaves little in the way of continued interest or playability. If Blockbuster Video rented out Japanese games, this would be a sure bet because it is good for a night of checking out but its long term durability rating is low. Yoshimoto's stuff is also an acquired taste and some people may be turned off by the human tragedy featured in this game.