Toughman Contest

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • 32X
  • Mega Drive

Toughman Contest Title.png

ToughmanContest MD TitleScreen.png

Toughman Contest
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega 32X
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer:
Distributor:
Sega Mega Drive
SF Interactive Media (SE rental)
Genre: Sports[1] (boxing)

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$64.9564.95[2] 741101
ESRB: Teen
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E295SMXI
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
PT
MDJ295
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£49.9949.99[5][3] E295SMXI
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
AU
OFLC: G8
Sega 32X
US
T-5001B
ESRB: Teen
Sega 32X
EU
T-5001B-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega 32X
DE
DM 139.00139.00[7] T-5001B-50
Sega 32X
UK
£49.9949.99[6] T-5001B-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK

Toughman Contest is a boxing game, developed by High Score Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the Sega Mega Drive in Europe in March 1995 and in the United States in July 1995. The game was ported to the Sega 32X by developer Visual Concepts and published worldwide in June 1995.

Gameplay

Toughman Contest MD, Opening.png

"Butterbean"

Toughman Contest is an over-the-shoulder boxing game, featuring a player character represented by a green outline, and dodge-punch gameplay inspired by Nintendo's 1984 arcade game Punch-Out!!. The game is based on the Toughman Contest amateur boxing competition and features boxer Eric "Butterbean" Esch as the cover character as well as the game's final boss.

Players control a boxer and have to win boxing matches against their opponents. There are 24 different characters in the game from which to choose. Each boxer can throw various punches, such as jabs, uppercuts, and hooks. Jabs are thrown by tapping A (left-handed) or C (right-handed) and hooks are thrown by holding A (left-handed) or C (right-handed). Punches are normally thrown at the opponent's abdomen, but holding Up while throwing a jab or a hook aims it at the opponent's head instead. The boxer can throw an uppercut with B. Each boxer also has three "power punches," which can be selected before starting a fight. These are higher-damage moves performed with special button combinations, but they often have a wind-up time before executing, during which the boxer is vulnerable to counterattack.

Boxers can avoid attacks from their opponents by dodging with Left or Right or by ducking with Down. They automatically block low, but they can block high by holding Up. Boxers cannot punch dodging or ducking, nor can they duck body blows. Attacks still do a small amount of damage when blocked. To land hits, players must read opponents for openings when part of their body is undefended.

In two-player fights, boxers can move around the ring by holding B while pressing Left or Right.

Each match is composed of three one-minute rounds. Each boxer has a stamina bar that turns red when he takes hits from his opponent, and he is knocked down when the stamina bar turns completely red. The referee counts the boxer out, but the boxer can recover with some stamina restored to continue the round. A boxer can recover some stamina when his opponent is downed by pressing A, B, and C rapidly. The boxer loses the match by knockout (K.O.) if he fails to stand up or by technical knockout (T.K.O.) if he is knocked down three times in a single round. If neither condition is fulfilled before time runs out, the victor is decided by a panel of three judges, who award points based on each boxer's performance, with the fighter with the most points being declared the winner.

During a fight, the player can press  START  for a menu with some options: watching an instant replay of the last actions in the fight, consulting the corner man for advice about the opponent, viewing statistics about the punches thrown by each boxer in the round, or "throwing in the towel" and forfeiting the round.

The game has an exhibition mode for single matches (which can be played by one or two players), a Toughman Contest mode where the player fights a tournament to win a regional championship before advancing to the world championship (with a password system for continuing), and a customizable tournament mode that can be played by 2, 4, or 8 players (with computer-controlled opponents filling in when there are fewer than 8 human players).

Power punches

When selecting a fighter, the player can choose any three "power punches," which are performed during gameplay with special button combinations.

Move list
Name Command Description
Power Jab Tap B, then Left Up The boxer throws a quick left-handed jab.
Back-Handed Slap Tap B, then Right Left The boxer slaps his opponent with the back of his left hand.
Power Elbow Tap B, then Down Down The boxer hits his opponent with his left elbow.
Power Hook Tap B, then Left Left The boxer throws a powerful left-handed hook.
Haymaker Tap B, then Up Up The boxer swings a right-handed fist down to his opponent's head.
Power Uppercut Tap B, then Down Up The boxer delivers a big uppercut.
Super Uppercut Tap B, then Down Down-right Right The boxer delivers a big uppercut.
Low Blow Tap B, then Down Down-left Left The boxer hits his opponent's abdomen with a low uppercut.
Duck, Body Blow Tap B, then Left Down-left Down The boxer ducks, then hits his opponent with a low punch.
Measured Hook Tap B, then Up Left The boxer holds his left hand out, then hits his opponent in the head with a right-handed hook.
Windmill Wind-up Tap B, then Right Right The boxer swings his right arm three times to wind up for an uppercut.
Headbutt Tap B, then Up Down The boxer holds his hands up, then headbutts his opponent.
Popeye Punch HOLD UpTap B eight times rapidly The boxer pummels his opponent rapidly with both hands.
Furious Flurry Tap B eight times rapidly The boxer performs a combo consisting of a left jab, a right hook, a left body blow, and a right uppercut.

Boxers

There are 24 playable fighters from four different regions. Additionally, "Butterbean" appears as the final boss of the Toughman Contest mode.

United States

Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Coolio Loc
Height:
5'11"
Weight:
198 lbs.
Power:
92
Speed:
92
Stamina:
87
Recovery:
91
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Biff Blublood
Height:
6'2"
Weight:
221 lbs.
Power:
85
Speed:
88
Stamina:
90
Recovery:
88
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Freddy Bravo
Height:
6'0"
Weight:
173 lbs.
Power:
81
Speed:
98
Stamina:
76
Recovery:
85
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Benny Booyah
Height:
6'2"
Weight:
230 lbs.
Power:
90
Speed:
93
Stamina:
90
Recovery:
87
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Charlie Ponderosa
Height:
6'3"
Weight:
254 lbs.
Power:
97
Speed:
77
Stamina:
92
Recovery:
86
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
P.J. Rock
Height:
6'0"
Weight:
183 lbs.
Power:
86
Speed:
89
Stamina:
82
Recovery:
88
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Joe Wildhawk
Height:
6'2"
Weight:
225 lbs.
Power:
89
Speed:
82
Stamina:
91
Recovery:
88

South/Central America

Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Diego Garcia
Height:
5'11"
Weight:
209 lbs.
Power:
88
Speed:
93
Stamina:
90
Recovery:
85
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Muerte Martinez
Height:
6'2"
Weight:
244 lbs.
Power:
90
Speed:
92
Stamina:
92
Recovery:
79
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Havana Jones
Height:
6'1"
Weight:
241 lbs.
Power:
87
Speed:
87
Stamina:
81
Recovery:
86
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Coco Valdez
Height:
6'0"
Weight:
172 lbs.
Power:
86
Speed:
84
Stamina:
88
Recovery:
88
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Rigo Suave
Height:
6'1"
Weight:
179 lbs.
Power:
85
Speed:
96
Stamina:
82
Recovery:
84

Europe/Middle East

Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Hans Fischer
Height:
6'2"
Weight:
225 lbs.
Power:
89
Speed:
82
Stamina:
91
Recovery:
88
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Monsieur Victoire
Height:
6'1"
Weight:
245 lbs.
Power:
84
Speed:
85
Stamina:
86
Recovery:
88
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Bruno Maserati
Height:
6'2"
Weight:
193 lbs.
Power:
86
Speed:
94
Stamina:
90
Recovery:
87
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
T.K. O'Reilly
Height:
6'1"
Weight:
248 lbs.
Power:
88
Speed:
89
Stamina:
92
Recovery:
86
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Gavin Greyson
Height:
6'1"
Weight:
201 lbs.
Power:
87
Speed:
86
Stamina:
88
Recovery:
85
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Jacob Jabowitz
Height:
6'3"
Weight:
189 lbs.
Power:
85
Speed:
88
Stamina:
86
Recovery:
83
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Jabfar el Habib
Height:
6'3"
Weight:
258 lbs.
Power:
90
Speed:
82
Stamina:
83
Recovery:
84

Asia/Australia

Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Yang Ah Chi
Height:
5'10"
Weight:
205 lbs.
Power:
89
Speed:
87
Stamina:
91
Recovery:
90
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Hiro Sokitone
Height:
6'1"
Weight:
240 lbs.
Power:
91
Speed:
86
Stamina:
90
Recovery:
89
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Chang Fu
Height:
5'10"
Weight:
213 lbs.
Power:
88
Speed:
90
Stamina:
82
Recovery:
94
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Nikolai Radinski
Height:
6'3"
Weight:
233 lbs.
Power:
96
Speed:
83
Stamina:
90
Recovery:
90
Toughman Contest 32X, Fighters.png
Sydney Dundee
Height:
5'11"
Weight:
235 lbs.
Power:
84
Speed:
81
Stamina:
97
Recovery:
85

Venues

Main article: Toughman Contest/Comparisons.

Fights take place in one of five venues. "Butterbean" appears in the crowd in the Las Vegas stage and enters the ring to challenge the player after defeating the penultimate opponent.

Toughman Contest 32X, Venues, Northwest Mill.png

Northwest Mill
Used for fights in the United States.

Toughman Contest 32X, Venues, La Cantina.png

La Cantina
Used for fights in South/Central America.

Toughman Contest 32X, Venues, Roman Coliseum.png

Roman Coliseum
Used for fights in Europe/Middle East.

Toughman Contest 32X, Venues, Imperial Palace.png

Imperial Palace
Used for fights in Asia/Australia.

Toughman Contest 32X, Venues, Las Vegas.png

Las Vegas
Used for championship fights.

Versions

The Sega 32X version of Toughman Contest boasts higher quality speech samples and expanded background colors over the Sega Mega Drive original.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Designed by: Michael Rubinelli
  • Developed by: Visual Concepts Entertainment, Inc.
  • Programming by: Tim Meekins
  • Lead Artist: Colin Silverman
  • Graphic Artists: Heather Snitzer, Peter Wong, Nelson Wang, Dale Henderscheid, Matthew Crysdale
  • Project Manager: Jeff Thomas
  • Technical Assistance: Stephen Theodore Chiang
  • Sound & Music: Brian Schmidt
  • Executive Producer: Scott Orr
  • Producer: Michael Rubinelli
  • Assistant Producer: Scott Wilkinson
  • Testers: Foster Birch, Marc Gilliland
  • Technical Director: Dave Walker
  • Product Manager: H. Erik Whiteford
  • Licensed by: Adore Ltd.
  • Special Thanks: Arthur Dore Sr., Kevin C. Hogan, Eric 'Butter Bean' Esch, Gordon Bellamy, Coolio, Spoon, Shelly Haute, Cheri Fischer
Source:
In-game credits
Toughman Contest MD credits.pdf
[8]

  • Package Design: E.J Sarraille Design Group
  • Package Photography: David Martinez
  • Package Art Direction: Nancy Waisanen
  • Documentation: David "Boom-Boom" Lee, Paul "Knuckle-Dragger" Armatta
  • Documentation Layout: Robert Gin
  • Testing Manager: Al Roireau
  • Product Testing: Foster Birch, Marc Gilliland, Rich Rogers, Michael Caldwell
  • Quality Assurance: Mike Gong
  • Special Thanks To: Joe Bob
Source:
US manual
Toughman Contest MD US Manual.pdf
[9]


32X version

  • Designed by: Michael Rubinelli
  • Developed by: Visual Concepts Entertainment, Inc.
  • Programming by: Tim Meekins
  • 32X Programming by: Roderick L. Mann
  • Lead Artist: Colin Silverman
  • Graphic Artists: Heather Snitzer, Peter Wong, Nelson Wang, Dale Henderscheid, Matthew Crysdale
  • Project Manager: Jeffrey J. Thomas
  • Technical Assistance: Stephen Theodore Chiang
  • Sound & Music: Brian Schmidt
  • Executive Producer: Scott Orr
  • Producer: Michael Rubinelli
  • Assistant Producer: Scott Wilkinson
  • Testers: Foster Birch, Marc Gilliland, Sean House, Michael Caldwell
  • Technical Director: Dave Walker
  • Product Manager: H. Erik Whiteford
  • Licensed by: Adore Ltd.
  • Special Thanks: Arthur Dore Sr., Kevin Hogan, Eric 'Butter Bean' Esch, Gordon Bellamy, Coolio, Spoon, Shelly Haute, Cheri Fischer
Source:
In-game credits
Toughman Contest 32X credits.pdf
[10]

  • Package Design: E.J. Sarraille Design Group
  • Package Photo: David Martinez
  • Package Art Director: Nancy Waisanen
  • Documentation: Paul "Knuckle-Dragger" Armatta & David "Buzz-Saw" Lee
  • Documentation Layout: Tom Peters and The Gin Brothers
  • Testing Manager: Al Roireau
  • Quality Assurance: James "Saved-by-the-Bell" Abney, Mike Gong
  • Special Thanks To: Joe Bob
Source:
US manual
Toughman 32x us manual.pdf
[11]


Magazine articles

Main article: Toughman Contest/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in GamePro (US) #69s: "Toughman Contest advertising supplement" (1995-0x-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80
84 [12]
77 №11, p79
Sega Mega Drive
80
Based on
3 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
70
[13]
Consoles + (FR)
90
[14]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
69
[5]
Digitiser (UK)
78
[15]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
67
[16]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
68
[17]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[2]
Joypad (FR)
87
[18]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
67
[19]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
64
[20]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
84
[21]
Micro Kid's Multimédia (FR)
50
[22]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
75
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
64
[3]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[24]
Player One (FR)
85
[25]
Power Up! (UK)
83
[26]
Score (CZ)
58
[27]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
66
[4]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
82
[28]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
82
[29]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
74
[30]
Todo Sega (ES)
70
[31]
Top Consoles (FR)
60
[32]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
77
[33]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[34]
Sega Mega Drive
73
Based on
26 reviews

Toughman Contest

Mega Drive, US
ToughmanContest MD US Box.jpg
Cover
TC MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Toughman Contest MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
ToughmanContest MD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
TC MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Toughman Contest MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
TMC MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, PT

Mega Drive, SE rental (SF)
ToughmanContest MD SE Box Rental.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU (PAL)
TMC MD AU pal cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU (NTSC-U)
TMC MD AU ntscu cover.jpg
Cover

32X version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
Sega 32X
Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
70
[35]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[36]
Hyper (AU)
80
[37]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
67
[38]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
64
[39]
Sega Magazin (DE)
69
[40]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
70
[41]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
79
[6]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
70
[42]
Sega 32X
73
Based on
9 reviews

Toughman Contest

32X, US
ToughmanContest 32X US Box Back.jpgToughmanContest 32X US Box Front.jpg
Cover
ToughmanContest 32X US Cart.jpg
Cart
Toughman 32x us manual.pdf
Manual
32X, EU
ToughmanContest 32X EU Box Back.jpgToughman Contest 32X EU Box Spine.jpgToughmanContest 32X EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
ToughmanContest 32X EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Toughman Contest 32X EU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Toughman Contest/Technical information.

References

  1. File:ToughmanContest MD SE Box Rental.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 GamePro, "May 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 44
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Mean Machines Sega, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-02-28), page 79
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sega Magazine, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-03-15), page 80
  5. 5.0 5.1 Computer & Video Games, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-03-15), page 88
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Sega Pro, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-08), page 50
  7. Games World Magazin, "" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 79
  8. File:Toughman Contest MD credits.pdf
  9. File:Toughman Contest MD US Manual.pdf, page 16
  10. File:Toughman Contest 32X credits.pdf
  11. File:Toughman 32x us manual.pdf, page 28
  12. GamesMaster, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-xx-xx), page 63
  13. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 250
  14. Consoles +, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 90
  15. Digitiser (UK) (1995-05-22)
  16. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "June 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 82
  17. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 5 May 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 40
  18. Joypad, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 60
  19. MAN!AC, "05/95" (DE; 1995-04-12), page 60
  20. Mega Fun, "05/95" (DE; 1995-04-19), page 68
  21. Mega Play, "June/July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 49
  22. Micro Kid's Multimédia, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 60
  23. Magazina Igrushek, "4/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 68
  24. Next Generation, "May 1995" (US; 1995-04-18), page 101
  25. Player One, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 102
  26. Power Up!, "Saturday, April 08, 1995" (UK; 1995-04-08), page 1
  27. Score, "Duben 1995" (CZ; 1995-04-01), page 38
  28. Sega Power, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-03-16), page 42
  29. Sega Pro, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-02-23), page 54
  30. Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 153
  31. Todo Sega, "Mayo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 47
  32. Top Consoles, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 118
  33. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 205
  34. VideoGames, "May 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 92
  35. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 6: June 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 111
  36. GamePro, "June 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 66
  37. Hyper, "October 1995" (AU; 1995-xx-xx), page 68
  38. MAN!AC, "08/95" (DE; 1995-07-12), page 49
  39. Mega Fun, "08/95" (DE; 1995-07-19), page 73
  40. Sega Magazin, "August 1995" (DE; 1995-07-12), page 16
  41. Sega Magazine, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-07-13), page 90
  42. VideoGames, "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 98


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