WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game

"One of my favorite ever games on my least favorite system? It's good?!"

Not to get too personal...but I think Kasket's review was...a tad off. Well, a lot off. For instance:

''What Sega did with this version of the game, was attempt to make it extremely difficult, which ultimately ended up with the game being too difficult to play in some instances, or, with the change of difficulty, too easy to play! There was no middle ground here, and finding enough time to learn how to work all of the moves and the various, programmed combinations was...''

My fellow gamer seems to overuse the exclamation point in his review. Also probably spent so much time coming up with what he thought were clever metaphors that apparently he didn't devote much time to the game. Very Easy is very easy, Easy is easy, Medium is medium, and so on. No complaints about the difficulty from me. Learn how to PLAY it then judge the difficulty. He also didn't notice that SEGA didn't make this game, but in fact it was Midway and Sculptured Software. I played this game in the arcade; dumped tons of quarters as I drooled over the graphics and cool effects. Not only did it look and sound great, it was just so damn FUN a game that it was hard to walk away from. When home versions were announced? Well, you could bet I was interested.

At the time, the most high-powered system I had was the 32x. So I waited for that version...

....and waited.

Frankly, I didn't know if it ever came out. So, played rentals of the Genesis and SNES versions, also played the PC version, bought the Playstation version (in fact, this game convinced me to), and basically every version BUT this. Having played all the Wrestlemania: TAGs, I must say that--NONE of them are perfect.

Genesis? Graphics and sound are off. SNES? Graphics, sound and 2 missing characters. PC? Decent but the sound isn't right either. Playstation and Saturn? Smaller sprite size and no in-game music.

However, this, the best cartridge version of the game around, does a respectable job. I recently got this online--shocked that it really existed. Of course--I knew it'd be no no perfect port or even look as good as the Playstation disc. But if you have a 32X and don't own it, I'd recommend it.

Graphics-wise, the sprites are as big as the Playstation version but don't look quite as clear and are missing some animation--still trounce their 16-bit brothers, however. The ringside area looks surprisingly drab for a system that can produce thousands of colors--it looks much like the Genesis versions' ring. However, these are still top-notch digitized graphics, and the attract screens all look good even if they don't match the arcade. The problem though is that sometimes sprites are missing--''shadow'' effects like Bam Bam's splash and Taker's sliding chokeslam are missing whenever there are many characters on screen (no noticeable slowdown, though). Less objects pop out of wrestlers when hit, less smoke trails result from Taker's uppercuts, and he only has shoots 2 ghosts out at a time (oddly, his demon dizzy shoots out TWO as well, instead of simply one). I believe it was the same way in the Genesis version, however.

Soundwise...well, the 32x never was known for its sound. All the wrestlers' themes are in, the in game music is back (even though tinny and Genesis-like), and there are voice samples here not in the Playstation version! However, the commentary hardly ever chimes in like in other versions. Voice samples that are there all sound very clear and crisp.

Gameplay wise, except for minor things like the Taker demon modification, it's almost exactly like the arcade game. 2 punches, 2 kicks, a block button are here, plus you can use a run button (in the arcade, you had to press P+K to run, although that still works here). The Sega 6-button is the best way to go, although it supports the 3 button and Ascii pads. Unfortunately, the configuration is pre-set instead of allowing you to configure any of the buttons as you'd wish (I'd prefer Y as block and B as run, but they're the opposite way). Playing the game, you'll do moves with mostly double tap motions, with a few quarter-circle motions as well. While there are exaggerated but real moves here, wrestlers can also pull off superhuman moves, like making objects appear out of thin air to bash you with. The game is utter mayhem to play, but the exaggeration makes it a blast to play; easy to pick up, but not too difficult to learn to play. Combos are similar to the MK3 Dial-A-Combos; when you have a full COMBO! meter, grabbing an opponent, forward forward and a button press allows you to launch into a series of attacks, each button press adding a small series of attacks on to it. For example: -> -> Super Punch with Bam Bam begins a punch combo, Punch follows with headbutts, Kick causes a combo of fire punches, Super Kick causes you to hoist up and back break the opponent, and Super Punch adds more backbreakers. Bam Bam--20 hit combo! Of course, the opponent can do the same thing. And to make it so matches aren't too short, you play best out of three--one of the many reasons I liked this game better than Saturday Night Slam Masters. Once an opponent's energy bar is drained, you ''pin'' them, although you don't have to do it yourself--it's merely academic. It would have been preferable that you had to pin or else you or your opponent can continue, however.

Even non-wrestling fans could enjoy this game. It feels like a fighting game, but plays enough like a wrestling game to still stick close to its theme. The downside is that the gameplay is shallow and there are too few modes. Of course, I've been playing this game in some form or another since it first came out in arcades. Maybe I'm the exception, not the rule, but take it into account. The various difficulties will ease you into becoming a master (I actually prefer the difficulty here, as compared to the much harder PS game.)

Right now the game could probably run you about 10 bucks tops online, maybe half that, so if you should happen to find it--snap it up. It was hard to find even when the 32X was still alive and kicking. And be POSITIVE you have a 6-button controller.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/18/02, Updated 06/18/02