WWF WrestleMania (named after the pay-per-view event) is a professional wrestling game on the Nintendo Entertainment System created by Rare and published by Acclaim Entertainment Inc. in 1989. It was the first licensed WWF game for the NES and the game's title screen uses the tagline for WrestleMania III: Bigger, Better, Badder!
The game features six wrestlers to choose from: Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, Bam Bam Bigelow, and The Honky Tonk Man. All wrestlers possess a lilited amount of techniques, which consist of basic standing punches, kicks, headbutts, a running attack, a technique off the turnbuckle (which André the Giant and Bam Bam Bigleow cannot perform) and a body slam (which Bam Bam Bigelow and The Honky Tonk Man cannot perform). All the wrestlers possess a "back attack" that they can use if their opponent is standing behind them (Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, and The Honky Tonk Man execute a back elbow smash, André the Giant and Bam Bam Bigelow unleash a back punch). The techniques themselves are taliored to eash wrestler (For example, Randy Savage uses elbow smashes instead of punches, while Bam Bam Bigelow uses two running attacks instead of one). It is worth noting that Hulk Hogan can only bodyslam André the Giant. The wrestlers cannot leave the ring and can only perform their turnbuckle attacks in the bottom two corners of the arena. Sometimes when a wrestler is recieving damage from their opponent, they will turn red, indicating anger. An "angry" wrestler can cause more damage while their in this state. Occassionally during a match, an icon will float from left to right behind the ring the a wrestler can grab to obtain lost energy. The icons are unique to each wrestler (for example, The Honky Tonk Man collects guitars while Hulk Hogan catches a golden cross as his own) and cannot be used interchangably (wrestlers must pick up their own icons).
Players can choose between a single exhibition match (one player versus the computer or two players compete against each other) or a tournament mode. In a single player tournament, the player picks a wrestler and faces the other five in a series of matches to win the championship. In a tournament with two or more players (up to six can play), each wrestler faces one another. (fifteen total matches). At the end of the tournament, the wrestler with the best record takes the Championship belt. In the event of a tie, the wrestler in the tie who achieved the single fastest victory during the tournament will be declared the winner.
The Energizers for each wrestler[]
Hulk Hogan - a Golden Cross
André the Giant - a Giant Foot
Randy Savage - a Pair of Shades
Ted DiBiase - a Dollar Sign
Bam Bam Bigelow - Flames
The Honky Tonk Man - a Guitar
In popular culture[]
A scene in the 2008 film The Wrestler features a fictional NES game entitled Wrestled Jam 88. The fully functioning demo features a style inspired by WWF WrestleMania.
