3. "WWF Superstars" (Arcade) 1989
Playable Wrestlers: Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Ultimate Warrior, Bossman, Honky Tonk, Jim Duggan Not long after the first WWF Console game came the first WWF Arcade game. "WWF Superstars" was created by Technos Japan but is completely unrelated to the later LJN Game Boy game. We'll get to that one soon enough. This game marks the first wrestling game that could be considered pretty good, especially for a game released in 1989. Granted, it was not a deep wrestling game but a more fast paced arcade style fighter. Being an arcade game, it was however designed to be a ruthless coin eater. It was odd in that the entire game was based around tag team wrestling. Again, it featured a basic grapple and attack system, though characters did have a few of their own specific moves included. The referee made his first proper appearance in this game, though you couldn't affect him in any way. To my knowledge it is also the first WWF game in which you could leave the ring, with participants forced to return to the squared circle before the count of 20. Spend enough time outside and you could come across a table and chair to use as a weapon, in another first for the genre. At that point in history, no one could be put THROUGH the table, though you could pick it up and beat someone over the head with it if you so desired. The main aim of the game was to face off against the other tag teams until you made it to the "Bosses" of Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant. Ted and Andre were not playable characters, and Andre had the annoying power of being immune to grapples. After winning, you get a newspaper headline showing that you won and a nice bunch of flowers from Miss Elizabeth. Then you have to head out to Japan and do the whole career over again. Being an arcade machine, it boasted really great looking colourful graphics and decent sound, though there was no commentary present. Wrestler sprites were well put together, with noticeable signature ring attire. Again, it's a very basic game on reflection and although not great is still a massive improvement on the NES game that preceded it. At last, WWF fans had a game to be somewhat proud of. That is if they were good enough or had enough coins to last the duration.