WCW Wrestling

Infobox VG
title = WCW Wrestling


developer = Nihon Bussan
publisher = FCI
designer =
engine =
released = March 1990 (United States) [http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587761.html]
genre = Wrestling
modes = Single player, multiplayer
ratings =
platforms = Nintendo Entertainment System
media = Cartridge
requirements =
input =

"WCW Wrestling" (a.k.a. "World Championship Wrestling") is a Nintendo Entertainment System video game for one or two players released in 1990. It was the first (and to date, only) video game based on the National Wrestling Alliance (at the time, WCW was a member of NWA). After the Road Warriors left WCW for the World Wrestling Federation, they were replaced on the box front, instruction booklet, and cartridge label by Sting.

The digitalized voice sample at the title screen that says, "World... Championship... Wrestling!" was performed by Paul E. Dangerously.

Gameplay

Each wrestler in "WCW Wrestling" has eight "selectable" moves, two Irish whip moves, and a finisher.

electable moveset

"WCW Wrestling" differs from most wrestling titles in that the player selected his or her moveset prior to the match. Each wrestler has a menu of eight moves (with each wrestler featuring a unique moveset), of which the player may choose four (each move selected is assigned to a direction on the D-pad).

Irish whip moves

These moves are performed by first initiating an Irish whip (throwing the opponent into the ropes by pressing left and B or right and B) and then pressing either A or B when the opponent is near. Each wrestler has a different Irish whip moveset (though these moves are not selectable in the moveset menu).

Finishers

Each wrestler has his own finisher move. These must be performed in the middle of the ring and can only be accomplished when the opponent had two squares remaining on his health meter. The move is performed by pressing A and B simultaneously. Finishers deliver significantly more damage than a regular move and are likely to end the match in a knock-out or submission.

Featured wrestlers

"Note: many of the finisher names in "WCW Wrestling" are inaccurate. For clarity's sake, the "real" name of the move will be given in parenthesis."

*"Nature Boy" Ric Flair
**Specialty: Jumping Neck Breaker Drop
*Lex Luger
**Specialty: The Torture Rack (Octopus Hold)
*Mike Rotunda
**Specialty: Double Arm Suplex (Tiger suplex)
*"Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan
**Specialty: Brain Buster (Powerbomb)
*Sting
**Specialty: Scorpion Death Lock
*Rick Steiner - In the game, Rick Steiner's first name is incorrectly spelled with no "k".
**Specialty: Belly to Belly Suplex (Capture Suplex)
*Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
**Specialty: Flying Body Press (Running Knee Drop)
*Road Warrior Hawk
**Specialty: Lariat
*Road Warrior Animal
**Specialty: Powerslam
*"Dr. Death" Steve Williams
**Specialty: Oklahoma Stampede (Avalanche Hold)
*"Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert
**Specialty: Jumping Elbow Drop
*Michael P.S. Hayes
**Specialty: DDT (Brainbuster)
*WCW Master
**Specialty: ? (Jumping Hip Drop)

Japanese version

*"WCW Wrestling" was originally a 1989 Japanese game called "Super Star Pro Wrestling". The game featured several wrestlers legendary in Japan, such as Big Van Vader, Abdullah the Butcher, Giant Baba, and Antonio Inoki. It also featured Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk, who are the only two wrestlers to appear in both "Super Star Pro Wrestling" and "WCW Wrestling". On "Super Star Pro Wrestling"'s character select screen, the left column of names are Japanese wrestlers, while the right column are American wrestlers. This is why some of the WCW wrestlers have odd finishers - they're using the moveset of their often-inappropriate Japanese counterparts:
**Lex Luger is based on Antonio Inoki
**Ric Flair is based on Giant Baba
**Mike Rotunda is based on Jumbo Tsuruta
**Kevin Sullivan is based in Genichiro Tenryu
**Sting is based on Riki Chōshū
**Rick Steiner is based on Akira Maeda
**Ricky Steamboat is based on Bruiser Brody
**Road Warrior Hawk is based on Stan Hansen (though he's in both versions, the "WCW Wrestling" version of Hawk is not based on the "Super Star Pro Wrestling" version. This is why the US version uses Hansen's trademark Western Lariat as a finisher).
**Michael P.S. Hayes is based on Road Warrior Hawk
**"Dr Death" Steve Williams is based on Big Van Vader
**Eddie Gilbert is based on Abdullah the Butcher
**Road Warrior Animal is the only one that remains unchanged as far as movesets go. His sprite was given a more pink skin tone, as opposed to the bronze/brownish tone the sprite had in Superstar Pro Wrestling.
*WCW Master is based on André the Giant, who also appears as the boss of "Super Star Pro Wrestling" (see above). His mask is reminiscent of André's "Giant Machine" gimmick.
*While WCW Master is an "unplayable" boss character, it is actually possible to play as him using a (possibly unintentional) cheat code. The password N5-J 1BT5 RZD/ will start you off as WCW Master with a 20-0-0 record (however, the graphics becomes very glitchy when WCW Master is used).

Other games

"WCW Wrestling" was the working title for at least two other WCW games. One was a cancelled game for the game.com handheld system. The other was a sequel to Electronic Arts' "WCW Mayhem", intended for release on the PlayStation 2 platform (the game was later renamed "WCW Mayhem 2", and eventually cancelled when WCW was sold to the WWF).

External links

* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587761.html GameFAQs game info page for "WCW Wrestling"]
* [http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~t-suzuki/vol.12/ssp.htm A Japanese review for "Superstar Pro-Wrestling", the basis for "WCW Wrestling"]