Boxing game that packs a punch

Boxing sims have a long history of being a bit disappointing. That’s why I was skeptical about testing Touch KO, especially as it’s an iPhone game.

Amazingly, Chillingo has managed to put together an iPhone boxing game that doesn’t completely suck. In fact, playing Touch KO often feels more natural than if you were playing one of the console slugfests.

The control system in Touch KO is based around finger gestures, and there is a selection of different punches at your disposal. A single tap on the screen will produce a jab; swiping horizontally will execute a hook; and moving up and down unleashes an uppercut. The side of the screen you tap determines which hand will be launched at your opponent’s ugly mug. Blocking is done by holding your finger on the screen, while you can dodge by tilting your iPhone from side-to-side. The controls are surprisingly easy to get to grips with, though there is a Training mode available if you’re struggling.

There are two different game modes in Touch KO – Quick fight or Career mode. The career mode sees you start as a rookie amateur boxer who must work his way up to the ranks of professional and take on the World. Along the way you win money, which can be used to buy new gear in order to power up your stats. Before every bout you can choose an attribute (power, stamina, agility, etc.) to focus on, and it will boost your ranking in that area. A strategic element also comes into play when choosing an opponent, as you need to pick one that you think you can beat.

Touch KO is a lot of fun to play, thanks to the range of punches and the workable control system. Boxing purists may scoff somewhat at the lack of realism in the game though. For instance, the graphics aren’t as polished as they could be, and I didn’t like the fact that fights rarely go beyond the first round. In fact, there’s quite often three or four knockdowns in the first minute of a bout, which is utterly unrealistic.

On the whole though, Touch KO proves that boxing on the iPhone can be playable – and even enjoyable!