Super FamiComplete #87: WWF Super Wrestlemania

 

Title: WWF Super Wrestlemania 

Release Date: March 1992

Developer: LJN

Publisher: Acclaim

We have our first professional wresting game, and this one from LJN. LJN isn't really known for quality games, so I really don't have high expectations for this entry. On the bright side, this is the last of the four March 1992 US developed games, so we are almost out of the woods.  

Background

Back in the 1990s, the WWE was known as the WWF, or World Wrestling Federation. It was still owned by the McMahons, and this was the generation where some of those classic wrestlers from the 1980s, like Randy Macho Man Savage and Hulk Hogan, were starting to really feel their age. This was the weird transitional period in wrestling, where the superstars of the 80's were fading, while we were still a ways off from The Rock" and Stone Cold Steve Austin. This was back when the Big Show was known as The Giant.  

The Roster

The roster is a little strange to be sure, but it has some classics in it. The headliners in this title are Hulk Hogan, Randy Macho Man Savage, and Ted DiBiase, who were present in every port of this title. Unique to the SNES version though, they added The Undertaker (back when he was the cowboy style undertaker and not the biker quite yet), Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Sid Justice, The Legion of Doom (comprising of Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal), and finally The Natural Disasters (comprise of Typhoon and Earthquake) who "famously" feuded with the Legion of Doom. Now this sounds like a pretty decent roster, but one issue I have with the game is that it pretty much turns these really unique and flashy personalities into a set of homogeneous characters. For example...

Randy Macho Man Savage looked like this at the time...

And in game he looks like this...(he's the one drop kicking his clone, who is actually Jake the Snake)

Hulk Hogan generally wrestled like this...

And in game he looks like this...

Jake Roberts looked like this...

and in game he looks like this...

One of my big issues with this game is that it takes a lot of the flash and fun out of wrestling, and just reduces it to a very simple wrestling simulator, and this is apparent even in the character designs. Not saying that they needed to add oddballs like Doink or The Boss, but at least play with some of the fun of grown beef boys in crazy costumes play fighting around a ring. 

Gameplay

There is a weird trend in sports games from this era where developers stopped at just translating the rules of the game into video game format, and then said "okay good enough let's ship." This is certainly one of those titles, where the only gameplay format available to the players is arcade matches, a survival tournament, and tag team matches. There is no story or career mode, no arcade style tournament series, or really any other game mode outside just set a match and play. I am not saying that there has to be a full on narrative to this wrestling game, but there part of professional wrestling is some of that silly pageantry to it. There should at least be SOME sort of storyline, but instead what you get is a very barebones wrestling simulator. It feels like a port of an arcade title or an NES title rather than a true individual game. The most you really get, as far as hinting to its source material, is the announcer introducing each wrestler before a match. 

The wrestling itself is pretty lackluster. You basically just punch and kick the enemy, and get into little "tug of war" style grapples where you can, if you win, throw the opponent against the ropes, deliver one of your signature slams, or wallop them for a little bit. You can do goofy shit like jump from the turnbuckle, but there is no exiting the ring and slamming into tables, no chairs being slid into the ring, or accidentally taking out the referee. The most effective and common strategy seems to be just punching your opponent until they fall, and then kicking them when they are on the ground. When they are weak enough, you can then pin them, winning the match. 

Music

There is some music! It is...okay!

Ads

There are two mediocre ads, so I added a commercial that has nothing to do with the game, but I found quite funny. 

Final Verdict

This is a super mediocre wrestling title. While not a huge fan of the sport in general, I do have an appreciation for the athleticism that goes into this sport, and generally enjoy the silliness, so was a little disappointed that none of that translated into this game. I really wanted to be screaming "OH YEAAHHHHHH" and "BROTHER!" and this game made me very bored instead. Oh well.