Punch-Out!! Multiplayer: Giga Mac
Strategy for Nintendo Wii's boxing game after Little Mac Goes Giant
Punch-Out!!'s multiplayer mode is split into two phases. The punching contest between the two Little Macs was covered here. But now what happens when someone fills up the blue meter on the character profile? It’s time for Little Mac to beef up into the ape-like Giga Mac, of course!
Giga Mac
Giga Mac is the player’s chance to be on the other side of the game’s David vs. Goliath fights. The screen changes to the familiar 1P format, and the opposing Little Mac’s controls will revert back to 1P conventions as well. Giga Mac attacks faster than most 1P opponents and has the power to bring Little Mac to his knees, but if not used correctly Little Mac can bring him down just as quickly.
Giga Mac’s shares the hooks, jab, and overhead attack as in the Little Mac mirror match and can be countered just the same. If Little Mac dodges an attack, Giga Mac is open for a classic punching flurry. However, Giga Mac hits for much more damage as well. In addition, Giga Mac has these actions.
Charged Jab Left Hand – Hold up on the control pad, hold the Z button, and move the Nunchuk forward for a left charged jab. Giga Mac will pull his fist back with a blue flash sparking as he winds up. Giga Mac can hold the jab as long as he has meter, but the attack doesn’t increase in power. Try to catch Little Mac when he’s returning from a dodge.
Charged Jab Right Hand – Hold up on the control pad, hold the B button, and move the Wii-mote forward for a right charged jab. Same as the Charged Jab Left Hand
Uppercuts – Hold down on the control pad and move the Nunchuk or Wii-mote forward for a left or right uppercut. It hits ducking opponents, but has a longer delay than the basic overhead. Mix overheads and uppercuts to keep opponents guessing.
Star Punch – Hold A and move either controller forward. Giga Mac’s star punch is an unstoppable overhead attack that has to be dodged almost before the attack comes out.
Blocking – Giga Mac cannot dodge attacks, but he can block attacks by remaining idle. However, if he remains idle for too long he’ll flash yellow and give Little Mac a chance to get a star punch.
Star Taunt – Tilt left on the control stick. Giga Mac poses for a few seconds, giving him a free star. Little Mac has to hit with a left-handed attack to knock him out of it and earn a star for himself. If Little Mac hits Giga Mac with a Star Punch in the middle of the taunt it’s a one-hit knock down.
Time Taunt – Tilt right on the control stick. Giga Mac mocks his opponent, adding more time to the Giga Mac meter as often as he can get away with it. If Little Mac hits him with a right attack, he will lose a sizable chunk of his meter. As with the Star Taunt, Giga Mac will kiss the canvas if Little Mac counters with a Star Punch.
Little Mac vs. Giga Mac
As the match’s underdog, Little Mac goal is to essentially play single-player Punch-Out!!, dodging Giga Mac attacks and waiting for an opening. Like the computer, Giga Mac will flash red before each attack, giving Little Mac a small window to dodge or counter for a star punch. However, the window to dodge and counter Giga Mac’s attacks is smaller than single-player foes, so Little Mac needs to keep on his toes to survive.
A level-one Star Punch is all Little Mac needs to floor Giga Mac if he’s taunting, so looking for a counter opportunity is better than increasing the Star Punch’s level. Also keep an eye on the Giga Mac meter: If Giga Mac’s meter is running low and he tries to get one last taunt out, punish him.
Giga Mac vs. Little Mac
Since Giga Mac has to be the aggressor and his moves are all telegraphed by motions and the red flash, mixing up attacks is very important. Whether the difference is between a straight attack and a hook, a fast attack and a slow one, or an attack and a taunt staying unpredictable is key. Don’t forget about staying idle as well: It can make an opponent nervous, and Giga Mac can play mind games with the eventual gold flash.
Little Mac can’t tire out Giga Mac, but Giga Mac can tire out Little Mac. Little Mac has to dodge to regain stamina, but he’ll also exit it if Giga Mac taunts. In this case, getting a star or extending the time is safer than attacking. This goes for taunting in general – never do it at an obvious time, like a Time Taunt just as the timer goes out.
Don’t treat Giga Mac time as an endgame situation. A solid Little Mac vs. Little Mac game can get a player back to business before his opponent can transform.
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