Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Sculptured Software

Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars, thanks to the NHLPA license, was able to get real names of players on this game…Unfortunately, only having the NHLPA license means that the team names and logos aren't present since they didn’t get the NHL license. It does, however, have a few international teams…So, if you want to play as the USSR, you can…Even though the USSR dissolved in late 1991 and this game was released in late 1995. I guess the hammer and sickle lived on in the hearts of Sculptured Software? Anyway, unlike EA's NHL games where the action takes place up and down the screen, this game goes left to right. The end result is decent, but nowhere near as good or easy to play as EA's hockey efforts. Still, if you want a passable hockey game on the SNES, Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars isn't bad (at least not in my opinion - some people seem to REALLY dislike this game, though)…just don't use Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars as a geographical history lesson, since the developers apparently weren't really aware of any major geographical changes that had happened in the world since they had last been in school. With proper player names, however, I suppose you could look back and use it as a hockey history lesson if you’d like to know who the stars of the league were at the time.

Review added: 12/25/2022

Wrecking Crew '98

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Pax Softonica

Wrecking Crew ’98 was a Japan-exclusive release near the end of the Super Famicom’s life. It included two games in the package – the classic, 8-bit Wrecking Crew that was released way back in 1985 and a new Wrecking Crew game, titled Wrecking Crew ’98…because, well, it was released in 1998, I guess. The focus of the game is supposed to be on the new Wrecking Crew ’98, I assume, since that’s the name of this compilation. Wrecking Crew ’98 is the nicer-looking game of the two (the original Wrecking Crew is essentially just a straight port of the 8-bit, NES version of the game without enhancements) and it has the fancier, more unique gameplay to it…but I can’t help but feel like the original Wrecking Crew is the game that shines in this pairing. I guess it depends on your preferences, though. Wrecking Crew is an action game with puzzle elements, where Wrecking Crew ’98 is more of a puzzle game with action elements. Either way, though, both games are enjoyable and the two of them come together in a decent, simple compilation that I think most folks will enjoy, if they give it a chance.

Review added: 02/28/2021

WWF Raw

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Sculptured Software

WWF Raw adds to the mildly successful formula of WWF Royal Rumble by differentiating each wrestler not just by their finishing holds, but also by their basic movesets, so each wrestler has a slightly different moveset, and as a result, feels slightly different to play as. Also added is the first female wrestler in a WWF game, the late Luna Vachon, so if you prefer to beat up men as a lady, you can do that as well. Lastly, some secret moves for each wrestler have been added as well - very arcade-y, unrealistic moves, but they're in the game should you feel the need to unleash them on unsuspecting opponents. Despite those additions, and a few new game modes, this is still basically the same game that Acclaim had been putting out since Super Wrestlemania..but this is the best version of that style of game. It was passable for its time, and it hasn't aged as poorly as one might think, but North American wrestling games have come a very long way since this game came out.

Review added: 06/23/2020

WWF Royal Rumble

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Sculptured Software

WWF Royal Rumble, whether it be on Genesis or Super NES, was always a favorite of mine as a kid. Admittedly, though, I preferred the Genesis version for its talent roster, though the games are essentially exactly the same aside from the ‘rasslers that you find in each one. The Royal Rumble was always my favorite pay-per-view of the year, so being able to play a Rumble match in a game was a dream come true. This is one of the more solid, early WWF Acclaim titles...Unfortunately, it's still not that great, especially when compared to the wrestling games that the folks in the Land of the Rising Sun got during this time period. All wrestlers have the same move sets, aside from finishing moves, which makes this game get repetitive rather quickly...But still, the inclusion of the Royal Rumble match, which is pretty fun (and complete with stats at the end based on your performance) is enough to make this a worthwhile game for wrestling fans...Though non-wrestling fans may not find a whole lot to like here.

Review added: 05/25/2020

WWF Super Wrestlemania

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Sculptured Software

I loved WWF Super Wrestlemania as a kid...And quite frankly, I could lose a few minutes here and there with it still today...But that's more due to the fact that I'm a wrestling nut than it is that this game is good by any means. In Super Wrestlemania, the controls are solid enough, but what hurts the game is the lack of match options - singles, tag, and elimination tag are your only options here. A tournament-style road to the title would have been nice. Also hurting the game is that every single wrestler plays EXACTLY the same. There are no finishing moves, so Earthquake has the same move set as Randy Savage. So, once you’ve played a few matches as any one wrestler, there’s absolutely no reason to play as the others…unless you’re a wrestling nut and just want to play as a bunch of folks from the WWF’s early 1992 roster. Despite the decent controls and easy-to-play design, there's nothing here to keep the average player around for more than a match or two before they move onto something better.

Review added: 07/05/2019