Mat Mania Challenge

"Down for the Count"

A gravely voiced announcer introduces you to the audience. The opening bell dings. The crowd roars. Your palms sweat as you realize this is what your training has been leading up to. This one moment, the wrestling championship. You step away from your corner with courage and determination to defeat the champ, Bruno the Sledge. Your heart feels as if it is going to pound its way out of your chest and you meet each other in the middle of the ring. You move in on Bruno and prepare for the fight of your life. The rest of this story has been left up to you to complete.

The Mat Mania Challenge Story
This classic game for the Atari 7800 has the basic storyline of any wrestling game throughout the history of video games. You are thrust into the role of ''Challenger'' fighting in the championship match and facing ''Bruno the Sledge'' for the Mat Mania Title Belt. That is the whole story. If you win then you play again. If you lose you can choose to play again. There really is no end to this game, but it is a fun arcade wrestling port for the 7800.

What Will I See?
The graphics for Mat Mania Challenge (when compared to wrestling games of the same era—NES, SMS, Atari) are comparable or better than any other wrestling game of the time. The characters are two white guys, one in red shorts and boots, the other in blue shorts and boots. The ref is no Mario, but he/she is detailed nicely with black pants and the zebra stripe shirt. Although this Atari 7800 ref has his/her own unique fashion sense; as he/she wears a white cap on top of his/her head. I don't watch very much wrestling but I am pretty sure they don't wear white hats, or any hats for that matter. The ring is blue with red ropes and the crowd is a bunch of upper torsos with different hairstyles spread out among the crowd to give the illusion of a crowd.

What Will I Hear?
This is the easiest of items to explain with most Atari 7800 games. Mat Mania Challenge has no music. Challenge; on the other hand, does have sound effects. These sound effects include bleeps and blips whenever you grapple, to signify grunts I assume. It also has the announcer making some weird noises and the crowd bursts up every once in awhile. This game is not a ''Super Cart'' so it does not have a music chip which will explain the no music situation. The good 'ol suits at Atari wanted you to play this game with Achtung Baby or X playing in the background.

Mat Mania Game Mechanics
The gameplay in Mat Mania Challenge is quite simple. The moves are completed by the process of button combination and position of your wrestler. Some of the moves need to have you running, standing still, grappling, even standing from atop the ringpost, and a few others. Mat Mania Challenge is a two player game, so bust out your joypads and joysticks and throw a Mat Mania wrestling party!

Ratings (in comparison with other wrestlings games of the same era—NES, SMS, Atari, etc.)
Graphics 7/10
The visual aspects of this game have been done quite well to compliment the Atari 7800 hardware. The characters are easily recognizable, the ring very spacious with wrestling accuracy, and the crowd is a nice colorful addition to the arena.

Sound 2/10
This game has no music, which may or may not be a drawback considering music from that period. The game does have sound effects, which constitutes a 2.

Story 5/10
This really shouldn't be graded, because it is a simple wrestling arcade game fighting it out for the title. Although, the fact that there is no league mode and are forced to fight the title match again and again makes for a very dull experience, from a storyline perspective.

Replay Value 7/10
The main fact Mat Mania Challenge received such a high replay score is that you can turn this game on at any time, and the the two player mode is a wonderful way to waste time instead of writing a term paper.

I would recommend this game to an Atari 7800 owner or any wrestling enthusiast.
Total Rating: 6/10

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 12/29/01, Updated 12/29/01