Martial arts in the ’80s and ’90s exploded in popularity, thanks to the rise of kickboxing films that brought the sport into living rooms around the world. At the same time, the action game genre took a major leap forward with Panza Kick Boxing!

This brilliant fighting game paid tribute to André Panza—an incredible French athlete and world champion in Kickboxing, Full-Contact, and Savate—for his outstanding competitive career. The game allowed players to rise from amateur bouts, improving their stamina and strength through training sessions. I still remember the jump rope mini-game, just like in a real gym—a brilliant touch!

One of the most exciting moments for me was reaching the final match. Unlike the usual afternoon bouts, this one took place in the evening, under bright lights, with a packed crowd—an unforgettable atmosphere.

For combat sports fans, Panza Kick Boxing offered one of the most realistic representations of what it meant to train and fight in martial disciplines. Its faithful recreation of fighting and training techniques, combined with graphics that were, in my opinion, well ahead of their time, made it one of the most cherished memories among early fighting games. It laid the groundwork for many of the more famous titles that would follow—even those released in recent years.

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