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==Reception==
==Reception==
Bear Hugger has received mostly positive reception. He has been described as a favourite of the series by [[IGN]] editor Levi Buchanan,<ref name="ign1">{{cite web|last=Harris |first=Craig |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/987/987471p1.html |title=Grudge Match: Punch-Out!! New vs. Classic - Wii Feature at IGN |publisher=Wii.ign.com |date=2009-05-28 |accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref> a statement that ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]'' editor Tom East echoed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=8598 |title=Wii News: More Punch-Out!! Characters revealed! |publisher=Official Nintendo Magazine |date=2009-05-18 |accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref> ''[[Bucks Herald]]'' editor Damien Lucas agreed, stating that anyone would recognize him.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lucas |first=Damien |url=http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/console-corner/Punchout-review-40Nintendo-Wii41.5396460.jp |title=Punch-out!! review (Nintendo Wii) - Aylesbury Today |publisher=Bucksherald.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref> [[GameSpy]] described him as "one of the wackiest opponents you'll ever see"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/super-punch-out-virtual-console/ |title=Super Punch-Out!! - Wii - GameSpy |publisher=Wii.gamespy.com |date= |accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref> and ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]'' editor Greg Tito wrote that he giggled every time Bear Hugger called the player character [[Little Mac (Punch-Out!!)|Little Mac]] a "[[hoser]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/events/favorites2009/6900-The-Escapist-Staffs-Five-Faves-of-2009-Greg |title=The Escapist : The Escapist Staff's Five Faves of 2009: Greg |publisher=Escapistmagazine.com |date=2010-01-01 |accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref> In their list of the seven best second quests, ''[[GamePro]]'' listed the Title Defense mode of ''Punch-Out!!'' for the Wii, stating that losing to the "squirrel-assisted" Bear Hugger would demonstrate the difficulty and creative talent of the developers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.gamepro.com/articles/wii/features/the-7-best-second-quests/210891/ |title=Wii &#124; Feature &#124; The 7 Best Second Quests &#124; GamePro Mobile |publisher=M.gamepro.com |date=2009-06-19 |accessdate=2010-08-27|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110711071026/http://m.gamepro.com/articles/wii/features/the-7-best-second-quests/210891/|archivedate=2011-07-11}}</ref> On the other hand, [[Allgame]] editor Skyler Miller opined that while Bear Hugger was humorous in ''Super Punch-Out!!'' for the SNES, he was not quite "out there" compared to boxers from ''Punch-Out!!'' for the NES.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller |first=Skyler |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2633&tab=review |title=Super Punch-Out!! - Review |publisher=allgame |date=2010-10-03 |accessdate=2014-06-02}}</ref>
Bear Hugger has received mostly positive reception. He has been described as a favourite of the series by [[IGN]] editor Levi Buchanan,<ref name="ign1">{{cite web|last=Harris |first=Craig |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/987/987471p1.html |title=Grudge Match: Punch-Out!! New vs. Classic - Wii Feature at IGN |publisher=Wii.ign.com |date=2009-05-28 |accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref> a statement that ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]'' editor Tom East echoed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=8598 |title=Wii News: More Punch-Out!! Characters revealed! |publisher=Official Nintendo Magazine |date=2009-05-18 |accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref> [[GameSpy]] described him as "one of the wackiest opponents you'll ever see"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/super-punch-out-virtual-console/ |title=Super Punch-Out!! - Wii - GameSpy |publisher=Wii.gamespy.com |date= |accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref> and ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]'' editor Greg Tito wrote that he giggled every time Bear Hugger called the player character [[Little Mac (Punch-Out!!)|Little Mac]] a "[[hoser]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/events/favorites2009/6900-The-Escapist-Staffs-Five-Faves-of-2009-Greg |title=The Escapist : The Escapist Staff's Five Faves of 2009: Greg |publisher=Escapistmagazine.com |date=2010-01-01 |accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref> In their list of the seven best second quests, ''[[GamePro]]'' listed the Title Defense mode of ''Punch-Out!!'' for the Wii, stating that losing to the "squirrel-assisted" Bear Hugger would demonstrate the difficulty and creative talent of the developers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.gamepro.com/articles/wii/features/the-7-best-second-quests/210891/ |title=Wii &#124; Feature &#124; The 7 Best Second Quests &#124; GamePro Mobile |publisher=M.gamepro.com |date=2009-06-19 |accessdate=2010-08-27|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110711071026/http://m.gamepro.com/articles/wii/features/the-7-best-second-quests/210891/|archivedate=2011-07-11}}</ref> On the other hand, [[Allgame]] editor Skyler Miller opined that while Bear Hugger was humorous in ''Super Punch-Out!!'' for the SNES, he was not quite "out there" compared to boxers from ''Punch-Out!!'' for the NES.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller |first=Skyler |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2633&tab=review |title=Super Punch-Out!! - Review |publisher=allgame |date=2010-10-03 |accessdate=2014-06-02}}</ref>


===Canadian stereotyping===
===Canadian stereotyping===

Revision as of 16:42, 6 June 2014

Bear Hugger
'Punch-Out!!' character
File:Bear Hugger.png
Bear Hugger in Punch-Out!! (2009)
First gameSuper Punch-Out!! (1985)

Bear Hugger (ベア・ハッガー, Bea Haggā) is a fictional character from the Nintendo-produced Punch-Out!! video game series. He first appeared in the arcade game Super Punch-Out!! in 1985. In related game Frank Bruno's Boxing, the character was renamed Canadian Crusher. In Punch-Out!!, Bear Hugger is the boxing champion of Canada. He is depicted as a stereotype of Canadian people, having an obsession for maple syrup and a love for the wilderness. He is powerful, yet also fast. He has received mostly positive reception.

Concept and appearances

Bear Hugger is a Canadian boxer who hails from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, and is the national boxing champion of the country. He first appeared in Super Punch-Out!! for the arcades, and then again in Super Punch-Out!! for the Super NES. He most recently appeared in Punch-Out!! for the Wii, where he was designed by Eddie Viser and voiced by Richard Newman. Eurogamer described Bear Hugger's attack style as using "sheer force to send opponents to the mat."[1] In their walkthrough, IGN noted that he was fast considering how large he was.[2]

Bear Hugger personifies several stereotypes of Canadian people, including being a lumberjack by trade and his love for maple syrup, ice hockey and the wilderness.[3] He is bald, and has a thick, brown beard and mustache, as well as a tuft of chest hair. He also wears overalls. As seen in one of the cutscenes, Bear Hugger does boxing training with bears.[4] He also uses a squirrel in his boxing.

Reception

Bear Hugger has received mostly positive reception. He has been described as a favourite of the series by IGN editor Levi Buchanan,[5] a statement that Official Nintendo Magazine editor Tom East echoed.[6] GameSpy described him as "one of the wackiest opponents you'll ever see"[7] and The Escapist editor Greg Tito wrote that he giggled every time Bear Hugger called the player character Little Mac a "hoser."[8] In their list of the seven best second quests, GamePro listed the Title Defense mode of Punch-Out!! for the Wii, stating that losing to the "squirrel-assisted" Bear Hugger would demonstrate the difficulty and creative talent of the developers.[9] On the other hand, Allgame editor Skyler Miller opined that while Bear Hugger was humorous in Super Punch-Out!! for the SNES, he was not quite "out there" compared to boxers from Punch-Out!! for the NES.[10]

Canadian stereotyping

Bear Hugger has been described as a stereotype of Canadian people. In discussing stereotyping in Punch-Out!!, GamesRadar editor Brett Elston stated that Bear Hugger embodied several stereotypical Canadian traits, including being husky, loving the outdoors, ice hockey, and drinking maple syrup. Canadian GamesRadar editor Tyler Wilde jokingly stated that the stereotypes were "absolute malarky," stating that they only consume maple syrup on special occasions, and even then, only from "goose-shaped goblets carved from pine wood."[11] Editor Scott Jones commented that Bear Hugger's Canadian origins predisposed him to consume the "big jug of booze" with which he is portrayed; however, the jug actually (or at least ostensibly) contains maple syrup.[12] (cf. the character shift in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! from "Vodka Drunkenski" to "Soda Popinski"). IGN editor Craig Harris called him "over-the-top."[13] Kotaku editor Michael McWhertor praised the stereotyping of characters in the series, stating that it was improved in the Wii Punch-Out!!, and stated that Bear Hugger was "extremely Canadian."[14] The Globe and Mail editor Chad Sapieha, writing about the roster of fighters in Punch-Out!! that "would send chills down the spine of any potential pugilist," mentioned Bear Hugger as one of these boxers, calling him an "ostensibly Canadian".[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Purchese, Robert (2009-05-18). "Punch-Out!! has Title Defence mode •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  2. ^ "Punch-Out!! Guide/Walkthrough - Wii, Wii Walkthrough - IGN". Guides.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  3. ^ "Punch-Out!! Review for Wii". GameSpot. 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  4. ^ Kato, Matthew (2009-09-22). "A Fantastic Throwback that's More than Just a Nostalgia Act - Punch-Out!! - Nintendo Wii". GameInformer.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  5. ^ Harris, Craig (2009-05-28). "Grudge Match: Punch-Out!! New vs. Classic - Wii Feature at IGN". Wii.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  6. ^ "Wii News: More Punch-Out!! Characters revealed!". Official Nintendo Magazine. 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  7. ^ "Super Punch-Out!! - Wii - GameSpy". Wii.gamespy.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  8. ^ "The Escapist : The Escapist Staff's Five Faves of 2009: Greg". Escapistmagazine.com. 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  9. ^ "Wii | Feature | The 7 Best Second Quests | GamePro Mobile". M.gamepro.com. 2009-06-19. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  10. ^ Miller, Skyler (2010-10-03). "Super Punch-Out!! - Review". allgame. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  11. ^ "Fun with stereotypes: starring Punch-Out!!, Punch-Out!! Wii Features". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  12. ^ "Punch-Out!! (Wii)". Crispy Gamer. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  13. ^ Harris, Craig (2009-05-15). "Punch-out!! Review - Wii Review at IGN". Wii.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  14. ^ "Punch-Out!! Review: Call It A Comeback". Kotaku.com. 2009-05-19. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  15. ^ "Punch-Out!! floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
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