In this edition of Through the Years, Greg takes a look back at some of the stranger wrestling videogames that have been released over the decades.
Here at the podcast we have had wrestling videogames on the brain. Our recent Survival of the Quizzest chapter had a cheeky nod to three of the best wrestling games of all time and we have a whole discussion episode coming up. As part of our look back and celebration of wrestling videogames we are going to be taking a look at some specific examples here in our Through the Years series. Like most sport titles in videogames there have been some excellent wrestling games, some terrible ones and some downright strange entries. For this edition we are taking a look at the latter featuring; friendly Mortal Komabt clones, macabre storylines and… physics defying boobies?
1987 – MicroLeague Wrestling Developers: MicroLeague – Platforms: Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad, DOS
A unique entry as this was the WWF’s first step into the gaming market. By this point a few wrestling games had already hit consoles and arcades laying a template for many to copy. So it’s a bit of a bizarre choice that the first WWF game would be a turn based strategy. The game is a hybrid of digitized adventure games of the arcade along with the strategic home computer staples. Gameplay wise it struggles to find it’s footing with matches boiling down to a rock, paper, scissor style mechanic. Presentation wise it was a strong effort for the time in terms of graphics with it featuring pre-match interviews, entrances and even running commentary. There is probably a reason turn based strategy wrestling games never really caught on but this is a one of kind style that deserves its spot on this list.
1987 – Adventure of DinoRiki Devleopers: Hudson – Platforms: Nintendo Entertainment System
How does a game where you play as a caveman and shoot dinosaurs make it onto a list about strange wrestling games? Well the game was actually promoted by All Japan star Riki Choshu with his brand being all over the game. Released as Shin Jinryu: THE NEW TYPE, the main character is obviously named after Choshu and specific powerups could transform the character allowing him to hit his real life signature move the Lariato. Chohsu would feature pretty much exclusively in the marketing for the game, making this one of the oddest entries that is technically somewhat a wrestling game.
1994 – Super Fire Pro Wrestling Special Developers: Human – Platforms: Super Famicom
The Fire Pro series of games are iconic and have been a long running favourite in Japan with recent offering Fire Pro Wrestling World bringing the series finally to a global fandom. You could argue the series deserves to be on the list because they never had the licence for actual wrestlers presenting their own ripped off versions but many a wrestling game has used this method. What places Special on the list is it’s bat shit and macabre storyline. You play as a rookie rising up the ranks to become champion. So far so standard. However, along the way loved ones are murdered, best friends are killed in the ring and your girlfriend leaves you based on what you become. Even once you win the title the character reflects on everything he has lost in order to achieve greatness. The final cut scene is a shot of his house before a gunshot is heard and the screen cuts to black. Were the developers okay when they made this?
1996 – WWF In Your House Developers: Sculptured Software – Platforms: Playstaion 1, DOS, Sega Saturn
Having already had a strong hit in the 90’s with WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game, developers Midway and WWF wanted to ride it’s momentum to another win. Unfortunately, both companies were facing dire situations in 1996. Sculptured Software took over development and would lean further into the humour and effects of its predecessor. Both games can be viewed as a more friendly Mortal Kombat clone, especially in terms of the graphics and controls. In Your House leaned further into this motif by almost doing away with actual moves altogether. As The Undertaker, you not only hit opponents with the Tombstone but hit them with actual tombstones. You also no longer wrestled in a ring infront of an arena full of fans either. Now you had themed stages for each wrestler in the game such as Bret and Owen being able to square off in the Hart Family dungeon. By no means a terrible game it just offered very little replayability and failed to catch on like it’s more beloved predecessor.
1999 – WCW/NWO Thunder
Developers: Inland Productions – Platforms: Playstation 1
Unlockable characters have been a staple of wrestling games more or less from the beginning. Grinding away in a career or story mode is an absolute joy if it means unlocking a legend to play as. Hold my beer says Thunder. Boasting over a 100 playable characters, which was unheard of at the time, it seems the developers didn’t want to leave a single stone unturned when it came to choice. No only do you pretty much get the full WCW/NWO roster from the time but you can also unlock familiar on screen personalities such as Mean Gene Oakerland and Mike Tenay. Many wrestling games from the time did this but then the developers went a bit mad as you can also unlock; a cowboy, an astronaut, a starfish, a cow, a gorilla, a horse called Hoof Hearted and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
2001 – The Simpsons Wrestling
Developers: Big Ape Productions – Platforms: Playstation 1
The Simpsons have always been a merchandise juggernaut with videogames included in that mix. In the early 2000’s the licence went mental with releases, the bulk of which being rip offs of whatever games were popular at the time such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Crazy Taxi. I guess it only makes sense that they would eventually try their hands at a wrestling title. The result is hands down in the running for one of the worst wrestling games ever made. On paper having Homer square off against Barney in an animated smackdown should be fun. But when you are battling awful controls and buggy gameplay it just amounts to a frustrating time that isn’t even worth picking up out of the bargain bin.
2001 – WWF Betrayal
Developers: WayForward – Platforms: GameBoy Colour
Up until this point, most WWF games had more or less done what it said on the tin. They stuck to being about simulating the product you saw on TV. Betrayal was one of the first to mix up that formula, taking the form of a side scrolling beat em up ala Street of Rage and Final Fight. The story sees Stephanie McMahon kidnapped and playing as either The Rock, Stone Cold, Triple H or The Undertaker you have to go get her back. It still featured actual wrestling moves as well as weapons to take down the evil security guards and referees. The game handles surprisingly well with fans of the title still hoping for a follow up.
2003 – WWE Crush Hour
Developers: Locomotive Games – Platforms: Gamecube, Playstation 2
It seems like the early 2000’s was a time when WWE were keen to licence videogames that strayed from the norm with Crush Hour presenting another unique entry. This time it saw you select your favourite wrestler and have them get behind the wheel of a Mad Max type car creation for some Twisted Metal style mayhem. The game is fun but doesn’t exactly break the mould compared to the demolition derby titles that came before it. With limited modes and unlockables there is very little here to draw you back in but proves a fun variation if you are having a wrestling themed games night.
2003 – WWE Wrestlemania XIX
Developers: Yuke’s – Platforms: Gamecube
These days, we are guaranteed to get one WWE game a year and maybe one or two mobile titles. Back in the early 2000’s though there was a stupid amount of WWE games dropped every year. Every major console had their own exclusive series which offered it’s own spin on the then current product. Wrestlemania XIX was a pretty standard affair but it’s Revenge Mode gets it included here. In this story mode, you are fired by Vince McMahon to then be recruited by Stephanie in an attempt to stop Wrestlemania from happening. Cue you destroying merch stands, trashing sets and casually throwing construction workers to their death. A very strange addition to a wrestling game but when most WWE titles these days barely include a half decent story mode, I’ll take what I can get.
2003 – Backyard Wrestling: There Goes the Neighbourhood
Developers: Paradox Development – Platforms: Playstation 2, Xbox
The 90’s saw the rise of an alarming trend in the form of backyard wrestling. As the name suggests, it basically saw young teens and adults doing hardcore based "matches" in their garden with little to no training. Massively controversial as it threw wrestling under the spot light despite every company having messages telling people not to try it at home. But controversy is practically the middle name of the rap group the Insane Clown Posse who loaned their licence to this game. With a roster comprised of talent from their Juggalo Championship Wrestling and established “backyarders” it offers violent arcade action. It’s a very middling to poor game. The characters and environments are unique with plenty of ways to inflict brutal damage on your opponent. But the controls are pretty clunky and there isn’t much incentive to keep returning to this title after a few play throughs.
2004 – Rumble Roses
Developers: Yuke’s – Platforms: Playstation 2
Taking its cue from the Dead or Alive series, this wrestling game features over-the-top women in next to no clothing with boobies that defy the laws of physics. You wouldn’t be blamed for writing it off as teenage wank fodder but actually there are a few neat ideas here. Yuke’s already had a strong pedigree at this point as a developer of wrestling titles and even when presented with one such as this they were willing to try something new. The stand out idea comes in the form of all characters having two playable options to essentially have them as a face or heel. This not only allows you to mix up a characters play style but it also causes them to have a brand new look and feel to them. With the heel designs falling deeper into sexual fantasy fever dreams. You may want a cold shower after this one…
2011 – Hulk Hogan’s Main Event
Developers: Panic Button – Platforms: Xbox 360
Someday in the future, VR technology and motion controls will be so advanced that we will actually be placed into a wrestling ring from the comfort of our living rooms. Until then we still have to put up with titles trying to give us this fantasy too soon. Microsoft really went all in on their Kinect motion controls but ultimately it never amounted to more than a novelty with barely a handful of good titles. If you are looking for a good work out then this game endorsed by the Hulkster will hit the spot as you have to copy the same body slam motions over and over again. That’s if you can get it to register mind you. The technology will be capable one day but right now you can’t help but applaud this attempt even if you'll only play it once and quickly forget about it.
2019 – WWE 2K20
Developers: Yuke’s, Visual Concepts – Platforms: Playstaion 4, Xbox One, PC
Capping off our journey through strange wrestling videogames is the dumpster fire that is 2K20. True, this title should be reserved for talking about the worst wrestling games but it’s story and aftermath are worthy of being strange. After serving as the lead developer of WWE games for close to 20 years, Yuke’s left after being frustrated for churning out essentially the same game year after year when 2K took over as publisher. The trouble was, they left midway through the development cycle of the game causing 2K to pass it along to Visual Concepts who had no clue how it was programmed. With 2K adamant they wanted the game released for the scheduled deadline Visual Concepts scrambled to get the game done. Unfortunately, it was nowhere near completion and it released as a buggy broken mess. Over night the game became a viral sensation with people in hysterics over the glitches present but on the flip side many were angered at paying full price for an unfinished product. Despite numerous patches the game is still unplayable in certain parts and it caused 2K to put the series on hold. With the series scheduled to return this year with 2K22 I hope they deliver something fresh, new and playable.
Got any suggestions for strange wreslting games? Let us know in the comments. Tune in to Wednesday Night Paw this week at 6:30pm GMT to hear us talk about all things wrestling videogame related. Check out Survival of the Quizzest Chapter 5: Virtual Pro-Mercy Revenge! here:
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