Rock’n Wrestle (known as Bop’n Wrestle in the US) was one of the first games to have 3D movement through space. The game allowed for single or dual player modes, using the joystick or the keyboard supporting twenty-four wrestling manoeuvres. You could inflict pile drivers, arm-twists and body slams on your opponent. You play as blonde hero, Gorgeous Greg, named for the game’s creator, Gregg Barnett. Each of your ten opponents in the ring has a different personality and a distinctive wrestling style. Energy bars, which get depleted as you exert yourself, monitor your ‘lives’. A round is won when one of the wrestlers is pinned to the floor for three seconds. The next round offers opponents who are tougher than the last.
In addition to the use of characters moving through 3D space, Rock ‘n Wrestle offered a highly innovative set of context based moves. This meant that if a player lifts up another player it would unlocks a set of moves , or if you threw a player against the ropes it unlocks a suitable set of moves to capitalise on their rebound. This game is believed to be the first wrestling game for the home computer. Beam Software later had to turn down an approach by World Wresting Federation (WWF), as they were working on a Sergeant Slaughter title, missing out on being part of the huge, ongoing WWF video games franchise.
Source: Play It Again website: http://www.ourdigitalheritage.org/archive/playitagain/games/rockn-wrestle-bobn-wrestle/
Last accessed: 14/04/2021
Original game developed by Beam Software for Commodore 64, published in 1985 by Melbourne House and Erbe Software S.A
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
ARC000023-1
Subject category
Game
Object Types
Computer game cassette/Computer game/Game
Materials
Cassette tape computer game. Cassette, cover and paper booklet in a plastic cassette case..