WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game
| WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game | |
|---|---|
 Arcade flyer featuring Bret "Hitman" Hart. | |
| Developer(s) | Midway, Sculptured Software (Console ports) |
| Publisher(s) | Midway, Acclaim Entertainment (Console Ports) |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, DOS, 32X |
| Release | 32X Mega Drive/Genesis PC PlayStation Saturn Super NES Arcade |
| Genre(s) | Fighting wrestling Sports |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players, simultaneous |
| Arcade system | Midway Wolf Unit hardware Sound CPU: ADSP2150 Midway Digital Compression System (DCS) – Amplified Mono |
WWF WrestleMania (also known on console versions as WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game) is a professional wrestling arcade game released by Midway Manufacturing Co. in 1995. It is based on the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) professional wrestling promotion.
The game featured digitized representations of eight WWF performers who are pitted against each other in fast-paced matches inspired by Midway's Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam games. Commentary is provided by Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler, who also appear in the game sitting at the announcers' table to the right of the ring.
Acclaim, who published the console versions of the game, developed a follow-up, WWF in Your House for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and DOS.
Gameplay
Despite being based on professional wrestling, WrestleMania's digitized graphics and fast-paced gameplay make it more of a fighting game than a Sports/wrestling game inspired by Midway's popular Mortal Kombat series.[1] What separates this game from previous and future WWF/WWE video games is its over the top and very cartoonish attacks. Examples include Doink the Clown pulling out a mallet out of thin air, Razor Ramon's arm transforming into a blade, or Bam Bam Bigelow's fists catching on fire. While actual wrestling moves are present, matches consist primarily of strike attacks and special moves. There are other similarities to the Mortal Kombat games, such as uppercuts that cause the opponent to go sky high, flawless victories and very tongue-in-cheek character animations.
WrestleMania's one-player mode has the player choose one of eight wrestlers – Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon, Bam Bam Bigelow, Yokozuna, Doink the Clown, and Lex Luger. A unique feature is that each character can "bleed" an object that represents them. Such "bleeding" objects include dumbbells flying out of Lex Luger and valentine hearts coming out of Bret Hart.
WWF WrestleMania features two single-player modes: the Intercontinental Championship and the WWF Championship. In the Intercontinental Championship mode, the player must win four one-on-one matches, two Handicap 2-on-1 matches, and one Handicap 3-on-1 match to win the title. In the more difficult WWF Championship mode, the player must win four Handicap 2-on-1 matches, two Handicap 3-on-1 matches, and finally a "WrestleMania Challenge," where the player must defeat every wrestler in the game in a gauntlet, starting with a three-on-one setup, with each eliminated opponent being replaced with another until all eight have been defeated.
The game also features two multi-player modes; head to head, a one-on-one match between two players, or cooperative, where the two players team up in a tag team version of the WrestleMania Challenge in which they must defeat the game's eight wrestlers in groups of two to become the Tag Team Champions. In-game music consists of snippets from the roster's circa-1994 entrance music (with the exception of Shawn Michaels, who has the older, Sherri Martel version of "Sexy Boy" and Undertaker with his previous theme when he had the Western Mortician moniker from 1991 to 1994), as well as the opening themes to WWF Monday Night RAW, WWF Superstars and WWF Wrestling Challenge.
Development
Programmer Mark Turmell stated that "I worked 16 hours a day, seven days a week for six months to get WWF WrestleMania out. People play the game all day in my office and give me feedback, plus artists are always coming in with new ideas for me and my partner, Sal DiVita."[2]
Many years after the game was released, developer Sal DiVita confirmed an old rumor that Adam Bomb was a hidden character, but also stated that the character in the game was not fully completed.[3]
Ports
Ports were developed for Mega Drive/Genesis, 32X, Super NES, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and DOS. The Super NES release omits Bam Bam Bigelow and Yokozuna. When the maximum of three characters are on screen simultaneously, the game slows down. It also lacks several voice and commentary samples and damage taken by in-game fighters from attacks was reduced.
The Genesis version retains most of the voice and commentary samples from the arcade and allows for four wrestlers on-screen, also with slow down. The 32X release is similar to the standard Genesis version, but with improved graphics and audio. However, the frame rate was reduced to 30 frames per second in the 32X port compared to 60 frames per second in all other versions.
The CD-ROM (PlayStation, Saturn, DOS) releases are visually more similar to the Arcade, but the graphics are still not as sharp and sprites are slightly smaller. There is also no in-game music on the PlayStation and Saturn ports. The PlayStation and Saturn ports also freeze for a moment during gameplay to load the next character in a Battle Royal after a character has been eliminated.
Reception
GamePro gave the arcade version a positive review, particularly praising the "unmatched" level of detail in the digitized characters, the wacky sense of humor, and the accessible controls. They summarized, "Lose the basketball from NBA Jam, take away the blood from MK, throw in some famous wrestlers, and you have WWF Wrestlemania, one of the most addictive arcade games to date."[4]
References
- ^ *"WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game at MobyGames". Retrieved May 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Making his Mark: Programmer Mark Turmell". GamePro (86). IDG: 36–37. November 1995.
- ^ http://www.xboxaddict.com/Staff-Review/Xbox-360/13346/WWE-All-Stars---.html
- ^ "WWF Wrestlemania". GamePro (85). IDG: 20. October 1995.