ROCKY FOR SEGA MASTERSYSTEM

Released in 1987 after the furor of Rocky IV had died down, Sega's Rocky game pits the Italian Stallion against Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago. 

One player can work his way through the ranks of opponents, or two players can fight each other. In the one-player mode, there are short training sessions with Mickey before each match that can improve your chances in the ring. 

The graphics in this game are a big improvement on Coleco's 1983 game. The training sessions in particular feature a large, muscle-bound Rocky and smooth animation. The fights feature detailed ring graphics and a crowded audience. The boxers look good and are even wearing the appropriate shorts, but they're a bit small and it's tough to tell what's going on up close. Between rounds you can even see the boxers resting in their corners! 

The gameplay doesn't quite live up to the standard set by the graphics. There are three types of punches, but there doesn't seem to be an advantage to using any particular one, plus, the guard moves aren't very effective. The matches inevitably turn into button mash-a-thons. The fast tempo music is fairly good.