Editing Little Mac

{{forfighter|SSB4=y|SSBU=y}}

|caption=[[File:PunchOutSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert-dark]]

Official artwork of Little Mac from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Punch-Out!!|Wii}}'' for the [[Wii]].

|firstgame=[[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|''Punch-Out!!'' (arcade)]]<ref name=SakuraiMac/> (1984, technical debut)<br>[[Punch-Out!! (NES)|''Punch-Out!!'' (NES)]] (1987, proper debut)

|lastappearance= ''{{iw|mariowiki|WarioWare: Move It!}}'' (2023, cameo)

|placeoforigin= {{iw|wikipedia|The Bronx}}, {{iw|wikipedia|New York|state}}, {{iw|wikipedia|United States}}

|voiceactor  = {{iw|wikipedia|Hisao Egawa}} (''[[Brawl]]'')<br>{{iw|wikipedia|Kōsuke Toriumi}} (''[[SSB4]]''/''[[Ultimate]]'')

|interwikipage = Little Mac

'''Little Mac''' ({{ja|リトル・マック|Ritoru Makku}}, ''Little Mac'') is the main character of the {{uv|Punch-Out!!}} series. Originally debuting as a nameless boxer in the [[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|arcade version of ''Punch-Out!!'']], Little Mac gained his name and backstory beginning with the [[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (NES)|NES installment of ''Punch-Out!!'']]<ref name=SakuraiMac/>

[[File:Littlemacnes.png|thumb|left|60px|Little Mac, as he appears in ''{{b|Punch-Out!!|NES}}'' for the NES.]]

Mac is a 17-year-old New Yorker from The Bronx who aspires to become a professional boxer. Due to being only 4'8"/142 cm, his below-average stature turned most trainers away from teaching him. However, upon meeting former heavyweight boxing champion [[Doc Louis]] by chance, Mac convinced him to become his trainer. Some time thereafter, the now rechristened Little Mac officially turned pro by joining the World Video Boxing Association (WVBA), with Doc joining him as his {{iw|wikipedia|cornerman}}.

Little Mac's fighting style most closely resembles the real life style of the Out-Boxer, more specifically the Counterpunch sub-style. Due to his small stature, Little Mac uses a defensive strategy that focuses on dodging the opponent's attacks before capitalizing on their mistakes and counterattacking before backing off and repeating the process, which makes up the gameplay of the entire ''Punch Out!!'' series. However, the greatest asset Little Mac gained from this training was Doc's signature Star Punch. After stunning an opponent, Mac can throw a powerful uppercut instead of his usual jabs and hooks.

Thanks to adhering to Doc's expertise and training regimen, which most notably featured him wearing a pink sweatsuit while jogging after a bicycling Doc, Little Mac proceeds to defeat opponents who are increasingly larger and more experienced than him. Ultimately, Mac manages to win the WVBA Minor Circuit, Major Circuit, and even World Circuit Championships en route to knocking out the promotion's top-ranked fighter: real-life boxer and then-[[wikipedia:List of heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight champion]] {{iw|wikipedia|Mike Tyson}} in the original NES version, or the fictional and undefeated Mr. Dream in the re-released NES version.

Due to having sandy blond hair, a pair of blue shorts, and lacking a tank top, originally there was confusion over whether or not the main protagonist of ''Super Punch-Out!!'' was actually Little Mac (with said character being referred to as Little Mac when he was included in the Gamecube version of EA Sports' ''Fight Night Round 2''). Although Bryce Holliday, a member of the development team for the Wii installment of ''Punch-Out!!'', claimed that this protagonist was not Little Mac, Nintendo later clarified that the two are indeed the same character,<ref name=SuperMac>[https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/super-punch-out-wii-u/ Super Punch-Out!! for Wii U - Nintendo Game Details]</ref> with Little Mac having changed his appearance after splitting ways with Doc Louis.

After a 15-year hiatus, the ''Punch-Out!!'' series was rebooted with [[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (Wii)|a titular installment on the Wii]],<ref>[https://www.nextlevelgames.com/games/punch-out/ Punch-Out!! – Next Level Games]</ref> and followed by a prequel, [[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (Wii)#Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!|''Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!'']], shortly thereafter.<ref name=Doc>[https://www.nextlevelgames.com/games/doc-louiss-punch-out/ Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! – Next Level Games]</ref> In addition to borrowing a few elements from the home console versions of ''Punch-Out!!'' and ''Super Punch-Out!!'', the Wii installment features multiplayer and a redesigned cast (such as Little Mac's height being updated to 5'7"/170 cm), while it and its prequel collectively expand Little Mac's backstory, his friendship with Doc Louis, and the personalities of his opponents.

In ''Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!'', Little Mac undergoes three final training sessions as an amateur boxer by personally sparring with Doc.<ref name=Doc/> Although Mac is initially worried over the damage he inflicts on his trainer, the end of each session sees Doc reassure Mac of how proud he is of his progression. At some point during these sessions, Doc pulls a chocolate bar out of his pocket and Mac instinctively punches it out of his hand. This enrages Doc, who aggressively takes off his red track jacket to reveal a leopard print t-shirt, which causes Mac to recoil in horror. Upon successfully clearing the final session, Doc jokingly asks if he is ready for a chocolate cake in order to celebrate, to which Mac responds by laughing alongside him.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kl-1AQxdVo Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! - Boss Rush (All Doc Louis Fights, No Damage)]</ref>

Following this, Little Mac's journey as a professional boxer unfolds similarly to how it did in the NES version, albeit with a few changes added for the sake of expanding the plot. In addition to retaining his classic jogging method, brief cutscenes show Little Mac learning other training methods from Doc (weightlifting, jumping rope, performing one-armed push-ups and inclined sit-ups, and punching [[wikipedia:Punching bag#Types of bag|a heavy bag, a speed bag]], and Doc's {{iw|wikipedia|focus mitt}}s). As Little Mac progresses through Contender Mode, the personalities and/or lifestyles of his opponents are also gleaned over via brief montages of pictures, sometimes for humorous effect.

Little Mac makes an appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' as an [[Assist Trophy]].<ref name=Brawl/> Instead of using a 3D version of his ''Super Punch-Out!!'' design as he did in the [[Nintendo GameCube]] version of ''{{iw|wikipedia|Fight Night Round 2}}'', Little Mac uses a 3D version of his design from the NES version of ''Punch-Out!!'' Fittingly, his punches retain their sound effects from said game.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfyqOZgR8w Evolution of Little Mac (1983 - 2018)]</ref>

When summoned, Little Mac [[dash]]es quickly toward his summoner's opponents, and will attack by throwing a {{iw|wikipedia|one-two combo}} and an uppercut.<ref name=Brawl>[https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_uk/items/assist/assist10.html Smash Bros. DOJO!! - Assist Trophies - Little Mac]</ref> The one-two combo deals respectable damage, whereas the uppercut is devastatingly powerful: it deals 25%, [[KO]]s under 50%, and is an instant [[shield break]]er.

 

Due to his speed and immense power, Little Mac is one of the most dangerous Assist Trophies in the game. However, he is also very inconsistent, as he is easily prone to falling off-stage, especially if the opponents can lure him off-stage. Like his fellow Assist Trophies, Little Mac has his own [[trophy]].

{{main|List of SSBB trophies (Others)}}

|name=Little Mac

|image=Little Mac - Brawl Trophy.png

|desc-ntsc=A lightweight scrapper from the Bronx. After meeting with a former boxing great named Doc Louis who fell from glory, Mac takes Doc on as his coach, and together the pair try for the championship belt in the WVBA. Little Mac works his way up the ranks of the WVBA, taking out foes several times his size. By landing multiple blows, Little Mac gains a "☆" uppercut.

|desc-pal=A lightweight scrapper from the Bronx. After meeting with a former boxing great named Doc Louis who fell from glory, Mac takes Doc on as his coach and tries for the championship belt in the WVBA. Little Mac works his way up the ranks, taking out foes several times his size. If he saves up the ☆'s he gets from hitting his opponent, he can throw a powerful uppercut.

|gamelist={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!}}

}}

[[File:Little Mac SSB4.png|thumb|Little Mac, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''.]]

The majority of Little Mac's grounded attacks boast quick frame data alongside impressive power. His forward tilt, the one-two combo he used in ''Brawl'', is a prime example of this potent combination: it hits on frame 4, yet is capable of KOing middleweights below 120% while near the edge of {{SSB4|Final Destination}}. Little Mac's smash attacks, in particular, boast outstanding power and even grant him [[super armor]] during certain frames, the latter of which allows him to effectively [[Wikipedia:Tank (gaming)|tank]] an opponent's attack despite his status as a lightweight.<ref name=SakuraiMac/> [[Slip Counter]] further supplements his defense, as it is a [[counterattack]] that is tied with [[Double Team]] and [[Witch Time]] as the fastest of its kind in the game.<ref name=SakuraiMac/>

Little Mac's [[Final Smash]] is [[Giga Mac]], his gargantuan transformation that can be used during multiplayer of the Wii installment of ''Punch-Out!!'' As Giga Mac, his entire moveset drastically strengthens to the point of boasting a few [[one-hit KO]] options.<ref name=SSB4/> Lastly, Little Mac has a unique mechanic called the [[Power Meter]], which originates from his home series. When fully charged via damage dealt or received, the Power Meter allows him to use the [[Straight Lunge#KO Uppercut|KO Uppercut]], an immensely fast and powerful uppercut that is capable of KOing the entire cast at extremely low percentages.<ref name=SakuraiMac/>

However, Little Mac's aerial presence is indisputably the worst of any character in the series. This is because of his aerial attacks being almost totally useless and, more infamously, his recovery being very easily foiled because of his very low [[jump]]/[[double jump]] and both [[Jolt Haymaker]] and [[Rising Uppercut]] having very short travel distances and small [[edge sweetspot]]s.<ref name=SakuraiMac/> Although Little Mac's ground game is nigh-unparalleled, it is not flawless: his overall range is short because of his average size, while his grab game is very unimpressive because of his aforementioned range issue and his throws having very minimal utility.<ref name=SakuraiMac/>

Due to his exploitable weaknesses counterbalancing his potent strengths, Little Mac has difficulty performing in high-level play. However, he has nevertheless managed to achieve both average representation and varying levels of success: {{Sm|Cagt}} has achieved several top 10 placings and a few top 25 placings at local and regional tournaments respectively, {{Sm|Destany}} has won several local tournaments in both singles and [[doubles]] play, and {{Sm|Sol}}, {{Sm|Vash}}, and {{Sm|Alphicans}} have each achieved a few respectable placings in singles play and a few high placings in doubles play at regional and national tournaments. As a result, Little Mac is currently ranked 43rd out of 54 on the [[tier list]]. This places him in the E tier, and posits him as the second lowest ranked mid tier character.

{{main|List of SSB4 trophies (Punch-Out!! series)}}

|desc-ntsc=This little boxer from the Punch-Out!! series makes up in heart what he lacks in height. He wasn't afraid to take on the boxing champs, and he's not afraid of the Nintendo stars. In Smash Bros., he packs a serious punch. When his KO Meter fills up, wade in and trigger a devastating uppercut.

|desc-pal=The little guy from Punch-Out!! has come a long way since his humble beginnings fighting the almost literal boxing giants. Above his damage display, you'll notice he has a little meter that fills up as he fights. When it's full, you'll see a flashing "KO" there. That means you can unleash a devastating uppercut!

|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!|release1=10/1987|console2=Wii|game2=Punch-Out!!|release2=05/2009}}

|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!|release1=12/1987|console2=Wii|game2=Punch-Out!!|release2=05/2009}}

|name=Little Mac (Alt.)

|image-3ds=LittleMacAltTrophy3DS.png

|image-wiiu=LittleMacAltTrophyWiiU.png

|desc-3ds-ntsc=No matter his opponent, Little Mac always puts his best fist forward. He enters a charge state before unleashing his Straight Lunge special and can unleash it while charging by pressing the button again. He won't flinch while charging. At max charge, the launching power of this move is scary!

|desc-wiiu-ntsc=No matter his opponent, Little Mac always puts his best fist forward. He enters a charge state before unleashing his Straight Lunge special—you can unleash it while charging by pressing the button again. He won't flinch while charging. At max charge, the launching power of this move is scary!

|desc-pal=Little Mac always puts his best fist forward, especially when you use Straight Lunge! You start by charging, then unleash the punch whenever you press the button again. Charge it to the max and its launching power is formidable! Also, attacks won't make you flinch while you're charging or once you've fully charged the move.

|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!|release1=10/1987|console2=Wii|game2=Punch-Out!!|release2=05/2009}}

|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!|release1=12/1987|console2=Wii|game2=Punch-Out!!|release2=05/2009}}

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|name=Little Mac (Captain Rainbow)

|image=FatMacTrophyWiiU.png

|desc-ntsc=Wait. Is...is that Little Mac from Punch-Out!!? We'd heard he went to Mimin Island to train to become a world champion again, but it looks like he went a few too many rounds in the ring with those island mangoes. If you don't help him get back in shape, we might need to come up with a new name for him...

|desc-pal=Wait a second. This is Little Mac? What happened to the "Little" part?! The star of Punch-Out!! clearly hasn't been keeping up with his training if he's ended up like this! Now that he's moved to Mimin Island, though, all hope is not lost. It's said wishes come true there – hopefully that includes Mac's wish to get back to his former glory.

|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=Wii|game1=Captain Rainbow|release1=2008 (JP)}}

Little Mac returns as a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. He was formally announced alongside the rest of the cast via ''Ultimate''{{'}}s E3 2018 trailer on June 12th, 2018.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L93H7YC-83o Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - E3 2018 - Nintendo Switch]</ref> Unlike in ''Super Smash Bros. 4'', Little Mac is now an [[unlockable character]], and Giga Mac now [[Giga Mac Rush|performs a rapid barrage of punches]] instead of being a controllable transformation. Little Mac has also lost eight of his sixteen alternate costumes from ''SSB4'', to have eight costumes like the entirety of the playable cast.

Despite being a lower mid-tier character in ''SSB4'', Little Mac received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition to ''Ultimate'' that resulted in him generally being viewed as being nerfed overall. While he has received useful direct buffs, he received heavy nerfs to his damage output and combo potential. In addition, the universal engine changes in ''Ultimate'' hinder him more so than help him, which is noticeable by how most of the cast benefits from said changes in comparison to him. While balance changes have improved his perception and he has dedicated mains who have achieved impressive results in both regional and national tournaments, Little Mac's struggles in competitive play have resulted in him having extremely low representation overall, with most players considering him a bottom 5 character, and resulting in him being ranked 81st out of 82 in the current ''Ultimate'' tier list in the E+ tier.

{{clr}}

SSBU spirit Little Mac.png|932. '''''Little Mac'''''

Mac.jpg|Official artwork of Little Mac from ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.

***Of the four, he is the only former summonable character to represent a new universe instead of being an addition to an already represented universe.

*Despite being voiced by English-speaking voice actors in the ''Punch-Out!!'' series, Little Mac is voiced by a Japanese voice actor in all of his appearances in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series.

*Little Mac is the first character to feature a unique UI element beside their damage meter (namely the [[Power Meter]]), and is the only such character in {{for3ds}}.

*Fitting with his professional boxing fighting style and his appearances in the ''Punch Out!!'' games, Little Mac only uses punches throughout every appearance in the ''Smash Bros.'' series, since boxing does not involve leg attacks.

 

{{reflist}}