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Word is that the new Punch Out!! game for the Wii is due out in the first half of 2009. It's an ambiguous release date, but I'll take it.

For those unfamiliar, Punch Out!! is the tale of a tiny boxer who fights stereotypes, all of which are several times his own size. The series has been dormant since 1994's excellent Super Punch Out!! for the Super Nintendo, at which point someone from Standards and Practices probably took one look at Piston Honda and Great Tiger and said "guys, this is not okay."

Early reports indicate that at least a few of the old crew will be back, including pushover Glass Joe and fan favorite King Hippo. I only hope that the game's colorful roster isn't neutered in the name of political correctness - it's great to be sensitive to issues of race, don't misunderstand me, but Punch Out!! loses much of its sense of humor if your remove the playful mockeries of other cultures. The opponent from Russia? His name is Vodka Drunkenski. Don't take that away from me.