Big Boy Boxing from smash-up fighter to boxing boss rush. Dev Interview.

In the realm of indie gaming, where creativity and love for the game often is needed to set it apart, one upcoming title is making waves with its personality-based blend of retro charm and modern gameplay mechanics showcasing a homage to Punch-Out and many indie boss battle based games. Big Boy Boxing, developed by the dynamic duo at Soup Masters, promises to deliver an adrenaline-fueled experience reminiscent of classic and modern games while injecting its own colorful personality into the mix.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Martin Calendar, one half of the creative force behind Big Boy Boxing, to discuss the inspiration behind the game, its development journey, and what players can expect when they step into the ring.

From the get-go, Martin emphasized the game's roots in classic titles like Punch-Out and modern indie darlings like Cuphead. "We took a lot of inspiration from old retro games like Punch-Out and also some newer indie star hits," Martin explained. Describing the game as a boss rush experience, Martin highlighted the focus on unique boss encounters and mechanics. "All the bosses have this very unique, iconic mechanic but also kind of style to them," he noted. "It's because it's a boxing game. It's one person at a time. So, it just inherently feels like a boss type game."

But what sets Big Boy Boxing apart from other boss rush titles? According to Martin, it's the seamless integration of challenging encounters without any filler content. "There's basically no fluff in between this. Just, you know, we got a boss in there, we got the next boss, and its new mechanics and new things such as upgrades and goals that add to the experience," he explained.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Big Boy Boxing is its dynamic boss phases, which add depth and challenge to each encounter. "We put a twist on it that only makes sense if you already know the lesson from the first phase," Martin elaborated. "So that makes it very engaging, I think, and satisfying to engage with the game."

The journey of Big Boy Boxing from concept to reality has been a long and transformative one. Originally conceived as a Super Smash Bros.-inspired platform fighter, the game underwent significant changes before settling into its current form. Martin shared insights into this evolution, highlighting the decision to pivot to a punch-out inspired experience. "It started as a Super Smash Bros. type platform fighter with me and my colleague Ludwig brainstorming these crazy, wacky characters," Martin recounted. "But we saw that if we actually wanted to sell this game to a publisher or something, we're going to have a hard time as there are a lot of similar games already out there." Furthermore, Martin noted that they were not really eager to end up with a game that would need a lot of constant game balancing afterwards to keep the competitive scene fair. They wanted a game that was a fun challenge to play all the way through no matter how you played. And for long the decision was made to switch over and make a punch-out style game instead.

With a clear vision in mind, the team at Soup Masters embarked on a journey to bring their unique brand of boxing action to life. Along the way, they found a valuable partner in Joystick Ventures, whose support has helped accelerate the game's development. "Joystick Ventures definitely gives us more tools in our arsenal to do anything we want to see happen in the game," Martin remarked. "But it obviously also comes with its own kind of challenges when you work with another partner. There's it's no longer, just, I want to do this cool, thing, let's do it. You have to pitch it to these guys. And we have to, you know, talk about everything and make sure everyone's on board."

Looking to the future, Martin expressed excitement about the potential for player-created content and community involvement. "We were going to have a very extensive and easy to use mod support system, so people in the community can make their own boss and also make their own new player or stage," he revealed.

As our conversation drew to a close, Martin shared his hopes for the game's future, including the possibility of crossover content with other indie titles and the potential for expanded game modes and features. With its vibrant art style, engaging gameplay, and passionate development team behind it, Big Boy Boxing is poised to make a big splash in the indie gaming scene when it releases later this year. As players gear up to step into the ring and take on the ultimate boxing challenge, one thing is certain: this is one bout you won't want to miss.

Big Boy Boxing is set to release on PC and consoles later this year with a brand-new demo for the upcoming Steam Next fest. Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to duke it out with the biggest and baddest bosses in boxing gaming history. You can find the full interview on our YouTube Channel and get more insights into the development of the game.

About the writer: DadGeek (Rob) is the co-founder of GeeksVsGeeks. He is a product of the eighties and never let go of his geek interest and hobbies no matter how often someone told him to stop. His love for gaming and all things geeks has been part of his parenting style and permeates throughout the whole family. A family of Geeks vs Geeks