If you grew up in the 1980s, the following may mean something to you:
007-373-5963.
No, it’s not Tommy Tutone’s follow up single to 867-5309/Jenny. It’s a passcode that takes you directly to the champ on the classic Nintendo’s Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out.
And at age 41, I recently used it again for the first time in a couple of decades.
It was awesome.
So too is the experience at Club Geek, a fun nightspot in downtown St. Joseph where they incorporate retro video game consoles and board games into your after-five outing.
Sitting down in front of Punch-Out for what seemed like the first time since college – I have a vague recollection of finding a classic NES somewhere in the years since – I actually was transported to 1987.
Punch-Out came out when I was about 11 and it was a must-have for any Nintendo owner.
Making my way up through the ranks, all the familiar names came flooding back to me. Glass Joe. King Hippo. The Bald Bull. Sandman. And on and on.
Of course, the highlight of getting through Punch-Out is making it to face Iron Mike himself. But pressed for time, the old memory banks conjured up the cheat code to get directly to Tyson, against whom I once had a pretty impressive track record (or so I like to tell myself … and anyone else willing to listen).
The secret is to pay attention to the beat and rhythm of the background music and move in time with Tyson’s massive uppercuts. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear the audio so Tyson laid me out pretty quickly … three different times.
The next time you’re in St. Joseph – a city noted for its history and ties to Jesse James and The Pony Express – check out Club Geek.
You’ll remember exactly why it’s good to be a kid.