Rare's heel turn: WWF Wrestlemania | NES Works 109

The early days of 1989 offered a veritable cornucopia of delights for kids who wanted to watch sports on TV and then play those sports (on TV). For a certain value of sports, that is. I think most people would be hard-pressed to call the scripted, choreographed hijinks of professional wrestling a "sport" per se, though no one would contest the athleticism involved. But really, pro wrestling has always been about the personalities and characters involved, and WWF Wrestlemania brought the big sweaty dudes whose slapped, grappled, and pinned one another on TV every weekend into console game form for the first time, rendering the six biggest stars of pro wrestling in recognizable pixel form. Is it a masterpiece of a video game, to be canonized in the same hallowed league as the likes of Aki and Human's hits? Well, no, but thanks to developer Rare's involvement, it looks and sounds pretty great. Like pro wrestling, it may not have been true sport, but it certainly offered spectacle. Production notes: Video Works is funded via Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/gamespite) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! Why watch when you can read? Check out the massive hardcover print editions of NES Works, Super NES Works, and Virtual Boy works, available now at Limited Run Games (https://limitedrungames.com/collections/books)! SG-1000 Works: Segaiden Vol. I is available NOW, and Metroidvania: The First Decade is due in 2024. NES footage captured from Analogue Nt Mini. Video upscaled to 720 with xRGB Mini Framemeister. Camera work courtesy of Diamond Feit!