Sinclair User


Rock 'N Wrestle

Author: Gary Rook
Publisher: Melbourne House
Machine: Spectrum 48K/128K

 
Published in Sinclair User #52

Rock 'N Wrestle

If you've ever wanted to beat Giant Haystack or Big Daddy at their own game, then here's your chance.

Fresh from its success on other micros comes Melbourne House's Rock 'n' Wrestle, an attempt to do for the grunting, sweaty passion of wrestling what Way of The Exploding Fist did for Kung Fu.

You control one of two fairly sizeable sprites - representing the Masked Terror, or the Pink Punk - and you have to wear down your opponent by variously nutting him, punching him in the fundament, and throwing him to the floor.

Rock 'N Wrestle

Each of these manouevres, if executed properly will, score you points and, reduce your enemy's energy level.

If you are playing the computer, beating the first opponent means you move on to the next challenger, who is of course tougher, meaner and graphically different. So far I've seen a punk with a mohican (bit like that twerp from Sigue Sigue Sputnik), a real weirdo with a wizard's hat and a black beard, and someone who looks like Dallas' very own JR.

Movement is either via keyboard or joystick, and is fairly standard left/right up/down. Performing any of the offensive actions involves getting close enough to your opponent to smell his breath, then pressing fire followed by one of the movement controls. This results in your character reaching out and hopefully hurting someone.

As yet I haven't worked out if particular moves score more points, but so far I've got a neat line in instep stomping.

There is a two player-option, and which I recommend for practising - your foe stays still, and you can sneak up on him.

The graphics are reasonably good, although at one point I did notice a disembodied head appearing for an instant in the centre of the ring as I was being jumped on in a corner. Still, they do say that being kicked in the head with sequinned boots for any length of time tends to make you see things...

Rock 'n' Wrestle didn't grab me straight away but now, after a while, I have to say I suspect I will be persevering with it.

Label: Melbourne House Price: £9.95 Memory: 48K Joystick: Kempston Reviewer: Gary Rook

****

Overall Summary

A decent game on a fairly unusual subject. If you're a sports fan, go for it: if not. It could be a grower

Gary Rook

Other Spectrum 48K/128K Game Reviews By Gary Rook


  • After Shock Front Cover
    After Shock
  • Kobyashi Naru Front Cover
    Kobyashi Naru
  • The Lost Ruby Front Cover
    The Lost Ruby
  • Adventure Front Cover
    Adventure
  • The Legend Of The Lost Kingdom Front Cover
    The Legend Of The Lost Kingdom
  • The Mystery Of Arkham Manor Front Cover
    The Mystery Of Arkham Manor
  • Conflicts Front Cover
    Conflicts
  • Battlefield Germany Front Cover
    Battlefield Germany
  • Ardennes Front Cover
    Ardennes
  • Journey To The Centre Of Eddie Smith's Head Front Cover
    Journey To The Centre Of Eddie Smith's Head