Play Knockout Kings 2000 (E) Online

Game Overview

Knockout Kings 2000 on N64 is one of those boxing games that actually makes you feel like you're in the ring—well, as much as a blocky 3D fighter from 2000 can. The punches have weight to them, and if you just button-mash, you’ll eat a counter hook and hit the canvas fast. There’s a decent roster of real boxers (though some names are hilariously outdated now), and the career mode keeps you grinding through fights to unlock better gear.

What surprised me was how much footwork matters—dodging and weaving feels clunky at first, but once you get the timing down, slipping a big swing and countering with an uppercut is stupidly satisfying. The graphics haven’t aged gracefully, but the animations still sell the impact when you land a clean combo. Just don’t expect a sim—it’s arcade-y enough that you can pull off ridiculous comebacks if you’re willing to risk it all.

If you’ve got a buddy around, the versus mode turns into a chaotic mess of swinging wildly and laughing when someone gets KO’d by a lucky jab. It’s rough around the edges, but there’s a reason I still dig this out for a few rounds now and then.