Man I loved this game back in the day. Still do. It was the first wrestling game that used realistic sprites like those of Mortal Kombat, and at the time was snubbed as WWF trying to make a MK-like game, but the truth is Midway/Acclaim made Mortal Kombat, and approached WWF saying they wanted to make a game where NBA Jam meets the WWF.
Being a fan of both Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam, this game fit into my life perfectly. It's not a realistic style of Wrestling play, it's far more over the top and exaggerated, creating unrealistic 100foot pile drive drops and whacky objects and projectiles flying through the air. So I can see where people who want a simulated experience stand on giving this a thumbs down, but quite a lot do change their minds when they work out the controls.
The controls are the next thing many people have problems with. This game is not a simulation type of control system, nor is it a button masher like previous wrestling arcade games. It's a 5 button system consisting of 2 punch buttons, two kicks and a block. The same as Mortal Kombat. In order to preform lock ups snd special moves, just like MK, it requires a sequence of directional inputs followed by the correct button. A lot of people had trouble with this, and dismissed the game without learning its mechanics.
For me tho, being a MK and Street Fighter II player, this game was a walk in the park to master all the moves and use when needed or to have fun with. I get why those other types of players didn't like it, but in this game it actually does work perfectly. Acclaim definitely should not have kept it again in their next simulater wrestling games WWF Warzone, WWF Attitude and ECW Revolution, but here in this over the top whacky fighter game, it does.
Eventually I bought the Super Nintendo version, and loved it! Yes, you heard right, I loved it! It was months before I even realised two characters from the arcade where not included on the snes version (Yoko & Bam Bam). But it didn't matter, the game was and still is awesome and is the only version of the game where you can execute an everlasting Sharpshooter on your opponent by facing right on a downed opponents feet and mashing X. It'll do it forever or till the time runs out. Also the SNES version used to glitch after winning the IC and Championship mode, and that was fun. It gave so much replay value to game not knowing what kind of glitch would occur, from sprites stuck in the air to AI turning completly off, or some weird graphical glitch.
The graphics of the SNES version where also better than the Genises/Mega Drive. So even tho the Sega version had Yoko and BamBam, it didn't mean it was a superior version. The SNES version was the better, had better AI, and didn't look faded in color.
The 32x and PS1 version I found closer to the arcade look, but it really lacked a lot because of the difficult AI. It was not fairly balanced and became frustrating without having to resort to cheat codes.
Probably the best version next to the arcade was the Ms Dos version. However I had to use a controller input, a keyboard is just not right for this games controls. Tho, expert PC players might have gotten a hold of it.
The game featured some of the biggest names in the WWE at the time. Brett "the Hitman" Hart, Shawn "Sexy Boy" Michael's, The Undertaker and Razor Ramon. As well as Yokozuna, the beast from the east Bam Bam Bigelow, The Narcissistic Lex Luger and Doink The Clown.... Mr. Perfect and Adam Bomb where supposed to be in the game too, but apparently Perfect never showed up to have his videos recorded and Adam was scrapped before completion because the games memory was filling up. Probably a good thing Perfect missed the plane, or else the SNES may not have been the only port to lose characters.... not to mention the referree that got cut out of the game too.
Each wrestler has their own set of moves, nothing copies from another wrestler, everything is unique. Ranging from their actual real life moves, to MK and over the top style moves. Brett Hart for example does indeed have his signature Sharpshooter and Hart Attack, but also has a rolling uppercut and a facebuster that can jump back up for 4 smashes in a row. Something not possible in real life, but none the less fun in a game.
The gameplay Ranges from 1 on 1 to 1 on 4 or 1 on 4 but eliminated opponents leave the ring and the next one enters. There is also coop mode where two players play together (not standard tag out tag team) all players fight at once. The easy goal is the Intercontinental Championship, and the harder is the Heavyweight title leading up to a Gauntlet match named the Royal Rumble.
Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler provide voice commentary, much like the commentary of NBA JAM.
The only cons I can think of to the game is there is only 1 arena, AI can sometimes be a real cheater. There's no way to select alternate palettes. The fatalities where taken out of the game at WWFs request.
The sounds great, music is awesome, controls work perfectly once you master them, hit boxes are fine, replay value is high and the graphics on the arcade version at least still hold up today.
If you've never played this, and are a MK player, definitely give this classic gem a go.
