WWF WrestleFest

"An old wrestling game, but still cool"

I am a wrestling fan, but even if I wasn't, I would still think this game was OK anyway, especially considering the time period. WWF Wrestlefest featured 12 grapplers: Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Sgt. Slaughter, the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, Mr. Perfect, the Big Boss Man, Earthquake, Jake Roberts, Hawk, Animal, Ax and Crush. The object, like most wrestling games, is to pin your opponent for a three count. Options in this game included one-on-one, tag team or a Royal Rumble match. Some matches were also fought inside a steel cage. Up to four players could play.

Graphics: 7/10

For the time, very good. Wrestlers were large and colorful, and looked just like their real life counterparts, with one exception: they were all built pretty much the same way and all the animations were similar for their moves. Also, some moves like Hogan's legdrop could have looked better. Lots of nice touches though, like Earthquake stomping the mat before his splash and Jake Roberts twirling his finger to signal for the DDT (if you watched wrestling then, you know what I'm talking about).

Sound: 5/10

The effects were OK, but the music was non-existant.

Gameplay: 7/10

Most moves are executed with a lock up, or your opponent can be knocked down with a few punches. The assortment of moves is not huge, but bigger than anything else available at the time. Each wrestler is able to execute his finishing move as well. One major flaw is that once you're knocked down, it can be very hard to fight back because your opponent can pick you up off the mat, and then you're dazed, meaning you're weakened for the next lock up. This pattern can continue for some time. Each player has an energy bar, and it can be refilled by inserting another coin. Up to four people can compete in a tag team or Royal Rumble match.

Replay: 7/10

Not a bad game to play again. 12 wrestlers was decent at the time. More moves would have been nice, but there is a four player mode.....

Overall: 7/10

An old game now, but still a fun one. Some wrestling fans will want to play it based on the fact alone that it contains many wrestlers that are no longer wrestling, at least in the WWF. Anybody else will probably see it as just another wrestling game that offers nothing spectacular. However, I recommend you take a look, at least once.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99