King Hippo[a]is a fictional boxer fromNintendo'sPunch-Out!!series. King Hippo first appeared on theNintendo Entertainment SystemgameMike Tyson's Punch-Out!!,as the second competitor in the Major Circuit. Subsequent reviews have characterized King Hippo as one of the most iconic characters from the game, because he was a complicated boss to defeat. In theWiiPunch-Out!!,King Hippo returns, having a second fight where he uses a manhole to protect his weak point.
| King Hippo | |
|---|---|
| Punch-Out!!character | |
 King Hippo inPunch-Out!!(Wii) | |
| First game | Punch-Out!!(1987) |
| Created by | Genyo Takeda |
| Designed by | Makoto Wada |
| Voiced by | Garry Chalk(Captain N) Scott McFadyen (Wii) |
The character is featured prominently on theNBCSaturday morning cartoon,Captain N: The Game Master,where he was portrayed byGarry Chalk.His obese figure and his face both resemble those of ahippopotamus.King Hippo's depiction has been viewed as a racial stereotype of Pacific Islanders, specificallyPolynesian people,with some stereotypes he was said to exemplify including laziness and gluttony. His design was also criticized, identified as looking "subhuman."
Concept and creation
editKing Hippo was originally created byPunch-Out!!character designer Makoto Wada and engineerGenyo Takeda.Takeda gave King Hippo his name with the American market in mind.[1]He is typically depicted wearing a crown, with a face and girth resembling ahippopotamus', hailing from Hippo Island.[2][3][4]His fighting style consists of jabs where he blocks his mouth, and strikes where he reveals his mouth. If punched in the face, he drops his shorts, revealing his weak spot on his belly. Once he goes down, he stays down until the referee counts to 10.[4]TheWii sequelfeatures a second mode where King Hippo has duct-taped a manhole cover over his stomach to protect himself; the player must knock it loose in order to attack that weak point.[2]
When developing the roster for the Wii sequel, the developers wanted to use King Hippo and others from theNESgame was due to developerNext Level Gameswanting to primarily focus on this roster.[5]They also both wanted to ensure that they had a diversity of nationalities.[6]The staff was expected by producerKensuke Tanabeto make the cast, King Hippo included, appeal to both new and old gamers alike, designing him in such a way as to make him resemble how King Hippo looked and played in the NES game.[5]They still wanted to ensure they could "make fun" of the characters' ethnicities and traits, but also cast the characters with people matching the characters' ethnicities that they drew upon, casting Scott McFadyen.[7][6]
Appearances
editKing Hippo first appeared in the 1987 NES video gameMike Tyson's Punch-Out!!as one of its opponents, before returning in the 2009 Wii video gamePunch-Out,where his design and fighting style intentionally resemble the NES incarnation.[8][9][5]Some advertisements for the Wii game feature the protagonist Little Mac training to reclaim the World Circuit Title from King Hippo.[10]A scrapped commercial forPunch-Out!!on Wii depicted King Hippo showing off his home in an "MTV Cribs-like tour "in a place called Strong Island.[11]Promotional merchandise was created for the WiiPunch-Out!!,which included replicas of King Hippo's crown and boxing shorts, as well as a King Hippo desktop punching bag.[9]King Hippo has appeared multiple times in theSuper Smash Bros.series, including as a collectible trophy inSuper Smash Bros. for Wii Uand spirit inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.[12]
King Hippo has a major role in the animated seriesCaptain N: The Game Masteras one ofMother Brain's henchmen. He has blue skin and is often paired in with theKid IcarusvillainEggplant Wizard.[13]In this role, he was portrayed byGarry Chalk,who identified it as one of his favorite voice acting experiences.[14]
King Hippo makes acameo appearancein theScott Pilgrim & the Infinite Sadnesscomic book, as part of a guest comic written and illustrated byGirlycreator Jackie Lesnick.[15]
Reception
editSince appearing in theNESvideo gamePunch-Out!!,King Hippo has received generally positive reception.GameDailyregarded him as one of the best Nintendo characters, noting that he stood out more than the other characters in the game, a sentiment shared byGamesRadarwriter Chris Antista andWiredstaff.[16][17][18]He was also regarded as one of the best video game villains byIGN.[19]His role inCaptain Nwas also recognized as one of the reasons for his popularity byIGNwriter Lucas M. Thomas.[20][17]His appearance was praised, including byDestructoid'sColette Bennett, who called him distinct and well-designed.[21]Kotakuwriter Kevin Wong, regarding him as one of his favorite boxers in the series, praised his design as "completely unique" and a "stroke of brilliance" by Nintendo.[22]Game Informerstaff felt that the secret to defeating King Hippo was likely more well-known than the30-life codein the video gameContra.[23]Colette Bennett echoed this sentiment, feeling that it was a weak point that anyone could identify.[21]1UP.comeditor Bob Mackey called the fight with him an "iconic moment in gaming" and one that was the "talk of the schoolyards during the 80's".[24]Kevin Wong noted that the tension of having to counterattack King Hippo was an aspect of what made him one of the best opponents in the series.[22]
King Hippo had been criticized for being a racial stereotype. TheRetronautspodcast discussed how he was a stereotype of Pacific islanders, pointing to King Hippo being fat and lavish as examples of these stereotypes.[25]Brian Shirk, writing inBit Mob,criticized King Hippo's design as offensive, suggesting that his "subhuman caricature" design was likely based on the savage portrayal of Polynesians in media.[26]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^Iwata, Satoru."Iwata Asks: Punch Out".Nintendo.Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 18,2024.
- ^ab"King Hippo".January 22, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 18,2024.
- ^David Craddock (April 17, 2007)."Punch Out! Featuring Mr. Dream Wii Virtual Console Review".Shacknews.Archived fromthe originalon June 22, 2007.
- ^abHuston, Gabrielle (August 24, 2022)."Nintendo's Punch-Out!!: 15 Tricks To Make Your Way To Mike Tyson".The Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on June 26, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 18,2024.
- ^abcTotilo, Stephen (July 27, 2009)."Punch-Out Devs Talk Graphics, Difficulty, Nixed Princess Peach Idea".Kotaku.Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 18,2024.
- ^ab"Mario Strikers Interview w/ Director Mike Inglehart! (OG Strikers & Charged, Punch-Out Wii, Waluigi)".GameXplain.2023.Archivedfrom the original on January 19, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 19,2024.
- ^"King Hippo".Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 18,2024.
- ^P. Gill, Charles (December 10, 2013)."Punch-Out!! (Assorted)".Hardcore Gaming 101.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 18,2024.
- ^abColette Bennett (March 31, 2009)."Take to the ring in the Punch-Out!! King Hippo Contender kit".Destructoid.Archivedfrom the original on January 17, 2010.RetrievedJuly 29,2010.
- ^McKinley Noble (May 15, 2009)."New Punch-Out!! documentary is a knock-out".GamePro.Archived fromthe originalon May 15, 2009.RetrievedJune 6,2014.
- ^kombo (May 4, 2012)."Unreleased Punch-Out!! Clips Feature King Hippo, Piston Hondo, and Great Tiger".GameZone.Archivedfrom the original on May 26, 2023.RetrievedApril 29,2019.
- ^Hernández, David (December 21, 2018)."Todos los espíritus en Super Smash Bros Ultimate".Hobby Consolas.Archivedfrom the original on January 26, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 26,2024.
- ^Scullion, Chris (September 21, 2019)."Feature: 10 Strangest Moments In Captain N: The Game Master".NintendoLife.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 18,2024.
- ^"Optimus Primal voice actor Garry Chalk had the Best Time on Captain N The Game Master as King Hippo".TFcon.2020.Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 18,2024.
- ^Schedeen, Jesse; George, Rich (August 11, 2010)."Scott Pilgrim's Finest Gaming Moments of All Time".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 18,2024.
- ^"Now You're Playing with Power: Top 25 Nintendo Characters of all Time".GameDaily.p. 16. Archived fromthe originalon January 3, 2019.RetrievedJune 6,2014.
- ^abChris Antista (February 22, 2008)."Gaming's greatest Fatties".GamesRadar.Archivedfrom the original on June 15, 2011.RetrievedJuly 28,2010.
- ^"Losing the Upper Hand in Punch-Out!!".Wired.July 23, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2016.RetrievedApril 29,2019.
- ^"King Hippo is number 64".IGN.Archived fromthe originalon July 17, 2010.RetrievedJuly 29,2010.
- ^Lucas M. Thomas (January 18, 2008)."Smash It Up! - Delayed Again?!".IGN.Archived fromthe originalon December 12, 2010.RetrievedJuly 29,2010.
- ^abBennett, Colette (May 5, 2007)."What makes a boss unforgettable?".Destructoid.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2011.RetrievedJuly 28,2010.
- ^abWong, Kevin (April 10, 2019)."Every Punch-Out!! Opponent, Ranked".Kotaku.Archivedfrom the original on April 25, 2019.RetrievedApril 29,2019.
- ^"Punch-Out!!Boxer Breakdown, "Game Informer188 (December 2008): 74.
- ^Mackey, Bob (2009)."Top 5 Worst Dressed Videogame Characters".1UP.com.Archived fromthe originalon July 17, 2012.RetrievedJuly 29,2010.
- ^"Retronauts".Retronauts.Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2011.RetrievedAugust 8,2010.
- ^Shirk, Brian (September 28, 2009)."Racial Stereotypes in Video Games: How Do We Change Them?".Bit Mob.Archived fromthe originalon November 25, 2010.RetrievedApril 22,2013.