Thunder Ray for Android

Punch Out-inspired boxing game

Thunder Ray is a free-to-play arcade game from Crunchyroll, best known as a provider of streaming services. This boxing experience draws clear inspiration from retro games, such as the 1987 classic Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out. With a second-person camera view and stylized 2D artwork, this game challenges the player to beat a series of opponents and ultimately emerge as the strongest.

Contrary to the realistic approach of Punch-Out, Thunder Ray focuses more on style and visual effects. Some enemies have unusual abilities, adding to the fun of playing this title. Other Crunchyroll Game Vault titles include Hime’s Quest and Ponpu.

Punch your way to the top

In Thunder Ray, you play as the titular boxer. The game is gracious enough to provide an intuitive tutorial session, with the basics of the game divided into steps. Learn how to throw punches, dodge, and chain combos. Also, as you continue attacking, you unlock a special attack. Characters have their HP bars at the top, putting you at risk of getting knocked down once it runs out.

It uses an impressive art style that boxing fans might connect to shows like The Boondocks or Megalobox. The interface is easy to get used to, with similar buttons color-coded together, the HP bars at the top, and the standard joystick. It’s also quite responsive, whether you play through your touchscreen or an external controller. Lastly, the Special moves add a visual spectacle, whether it’s you or your opponent.

However, the main catch in this game is that it requires a premium membership with Crunchyroll. While it’s accessible and free to download, you will be blocked as soon as you open the game, unless you’ve subscribed. Other than that, the difficulty of the late-game stages can get frustrating for casual players but are additionally reminiscent of the classic Punch-Out game.

A nostalgic boxing experience

Thunder Ray delivers an engaging boxing experience with its intuitive tutorial, impressive art style reminiscent of popular shows, and responsive controls. However, the requirement of a premium Crunchyroll membership for access may deter some players. Additionally, late-game difficulty spikes might frustrate casual players, though they evoke nostalgia for Punch-Out fans. Overall, Thunder Ray offers a visually striking and challenging boxing adventure for those willing to invest.