Mat Mania – The Prowrestling Network

Mat Mania – The Arcade Origins of Wrestling Mayhem

Released in 1985 by Technōs Japan and distributed in the West by Taito, Mat Mania – The Prowrestling Network was one of the first arcade games to portray professional wrestling with personality and flair. Before the boom of wrestling games in the 16-bit and PlayStation eras, Mat Mania was laying the groundwork with crowd animations, character intros, and a ruleset that mirrored real matches.

Gameplay and Presentation

You play as Player 1, known as Dynamite Tommy, challenging a series of colorful opponents in a side-view wrestling ring. The goal is to survive the five-match gauntlet by pinning or knocking out your rival. You use a two-button layout—punch/kick and jump—alongside directional inputs to perform grapples, throws, and running attacks.

While the move set is basic by modern standards, it was innovative at the time: headlocks, slams, dropkicks, and even bouncing off the ropes were all part of the experience. The matches follow a round-based system, complete with referees, crowd reactions, and entrances, setting the tone for decades of wrestling games to come.

Opponents in Mat Mania

1. Insane Warrior

A powerful wrestler inspired by Road Warrior Animal, known for his brute strength and mohawk hairstyle. His signature move is the Gorilla Press Slam, and he utilizes clubbing blows and a one-handed pin.

2. Karate Fighter

A martial artist resembling The Great Kabuki, dressed in Manchu-style trousers. He employs fast kicks, jump kicks, and karate chops, making him a unique opponent without shared moves with the player.

3. Coco Savage

Inspired by Bobo Brazil, Coco Savage is a barefoot wrestler wearing a leopard skin. He uses shoulder blocks, headbutts, and a Giant Swing as his finishing move, presenting an unorthodox and swift fighting style.

4. The Pirania

A masked wrestler modeled after Mil Máscaras, known for his rule-breaking tactics like choking and eye-gouging. His finishing move is an elbow drop, and he uses a clawhold after whipping the player off the ropes.

5. Golden Hulk

The reigning champion, Golden Hulk, combines elements of Hulk Hogan and Bruiser Brody. He sports furry boots and delivers powerful moves like the leg drop, body slam, and elbow smash.

Visuals and Sound

The graphics, while simple, were expressive. Characters had distinct looks and mannerisms, and the animation quality was solid for the era. The lively crowd in the background, complete with animated cheers and signs, gave the ring a sense of presence.

Sound-wise, the game features catchy, upbeat tracks and solid impact sounds that make slams and punches feel satisfying. Each match has its own intro jingle, which adds to the presentation quality.

Mat Mania – Did You Know?

• Pop Culture Cameos: The game's audience features characters resembling Darth Vader, Superman, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and ZZ Top, adding a humorous touch to the matches. [Source]
• Champion's Inspiration: The final boss, Golden Hulk, combines elements of Hulk Hogan and Bruiser Brody. Notably, Hulk Hogan once wrestled under the name "Sterling Golden," and Golden Hulk's finishing move is the leg drop, mirroring Hogan's signature move. [Source]
• Typographical Error: In the Japanese version, the first opponent is named "Insane Worrier" instead of "Insane Warrior," likely due to a transliteration mistake from Japanese characters. [Source]
• Record-Breaking Score: The highest recorded score for Mat Mania is an impressive 5,000,150 points, achieved by player Rac Carpana. [Source]
• Spiritual Successor: Mat Mania is considered a spiritual successor to the 1983 arcade game Tag-Team Wrestling, also developed by Technōs Japan. [Source]

Legacy

Mat Mania was a spiritual predecessor to Tag Team Wrestling and WWF Superstars. Its blend of personality and arcade immediacy laid the groundwork for more advanced wrestling games like Fire Pro Wrestling and the various WWF titles of the 1990s. Technōs would go on to refine these mechanics in later titles, but Mat Mania remains a trailblazer.

Mat Mania – Ports & Releases

• Arcade (1985) – The original release by Technōs Japan, distributed by Taito. Known as Exciting Hour in Japan and Mat Mania – The Prowrestling Network in the West. It featured a single-player mode where players faced five unique opponents in succession.
• Mania Challenge (Arcade, 1986) – An updated version introducing a two-player competitive mode. Player 1 controls Dynamite Tommy, while Player 2 takes on the role of Hurricane Joe. The single-player mode was streamlined to include three opponents, repeating in subsequent loops.
• Atari 7800 (1990) – Released as Mat Mania Challenge, this port combined elements from both Mat Mania and Mania Challenge. Due to hardware limitations, it omitted several villain characters from the original arcade versions.
• PlayStation 4 (2015) – Part of the Arcade Archives series by HAMSTER Corporation, this version faithfully emulates the original arcade experience, offering features like customizable settings and online leaderboards.
• Nintendo Switch (2019) – Also released under the Arcade Archives banner, this version brings the classic wrestling action to a portable format, maintaining the authenticity of the original arcade gameplay.

Despite its popularity, Mat Mania saw limited home conversions during its initial release period. However, its legacy has been preserved through these subsequent ports, allowing new generations to experience this pioneering wrestling game.

Verdict

For wrestling fans and arcade purists alike, Mat Mania is an important piece of gaming history. While limited by today’s standards, its bold presentation, innovative match mechanics, and distinct characters were ahead of their time. It's still fun in short bursts, especially with a joystick in hand and the roar of the crowd (or a CRT emulator) nearby.

Pros

✔ Fun, responsive arcade-style wrestling.

✔ Crowd animation and entrances add personality.

✔ Distinct opponents with unique fighting styles.

✔ Paved the way for future wrestling titles.

Cons

✘ Limited move set by modern standards.

✘ No multiplayer or selectable characters.

✘ Repetitive AI and difficulty spikes in later matches.

Final Score

Arcade:

83%