Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! DS (2008). Play online

Summary

When I fire up Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! DS, the game tosses me straight into the world that made the manga a knockout. I can choose from a full‑pen mode where every jab and dodge is traced with the stylus, a hybrid half‑pen mode that leaves movement to the D‑pad, or go old‑school with a full‑button layout—each scheme feels surprisingly fluid on the DS screens.

The core Challenge Mode reenacts Ippo’s rise, kicking off with his A‑class tournament bout against Takuma Saeki and unlocking new rivals as I land victories. Once I’ve stacked up enough wins, the Free Match roster swells, letting me pick any boxer for a scrappy showdown. Around the edges, the training mini‑games—from leaf‑grabbing drills to speed punches—pump up my stats, so I can max out reflexes and power before stepping into the big fights.

If I’m hungry for a real sparring partner, the Wi‑Fi function lets me throw down with friends, and a handy data book records every opponent’s moves, keeping the experience as fresh as a first‑round knockout.

Storyline

Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! DS stays true to the original manga’s story. Players jump straight into the A‑class tournament, opening with the bout between Makunouchi Ippo and Saeki Takuma. The game’s match‑up system mirrors the series’ progression, letting you fight through the same opponents Ippo faces in the anime. Each fight follows the narrative beats of the source material, preserving key moments and rivalries.