WWF WrestleMania (1989 video game)

Gameplay

The 1989 WWF WrestleMania video game includes six playable wrestlers: Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, Bam Bam Bigelow, and The Honky Tonk Man. Each character has a small set of moves, including basic punches and kicks, headbutts, a running attack, a turnbuckle move (which André the Giant and Bam Bam Bigelow cannot perform), and a bodyslam (which Bam Bam Bigelow and The Honky Tonk Man cannot use). All wrestlers also have a back attack, typically a backward punch, for hitting an opponent from behind. The moves are slightly customized per wrestler: Randy Savage uses elbow smashes instead of punches, Bam Bam Bigelow has two different running attacks, and Ted DiBiase uses eye gouges in place of kicks. Only Hulk Hogan can bodyslam the larger André the Giant. Wrestlers cannot leave the ring and can only perform turnbuckle attacks from the two bottom corners. During a match, a wrestler taking damage may turn red, indicating anger. In this angry state, the wrestler deals more damage than usual. Occasionally, an icon appears on screen that a wrestler can pick up to restore health. Each wrestler has a unique icon: for example, The Honky Tonk Man's looks like a guitar, André's resembles a massive foot, and Hulk Hogan's is shaped like a crucifix. Wrestlers can only pick up their own icon, not another's. Players can choose between a single exhibition match, either one player versus the computer or two players head-to-head, or a tournament. In a single-player tournament, the player selects one wrestler and must defeat the other five in a series of matches to win the championship. In a tournament with two or more human-controlled wrestlers, up to six can play, and each wrestler faces every other wrestler once, resulting in fifteen total matches. At the tournament's end, the wrestler with the best record wins the championship. If there is a tie, the tied wrestler who achieved the single fastest victory during the tournament is declared the winner.