WWF WrestleMania (1989 video game)

For the 1991 video game, see WWF WrestleMania (1991 video game).
WWF WrestleMania
North American cover art featuring Hulk Hogan
Developer(s)Rare
Publisher(s)Acclaim Entertainment
Designer(s)Jools Jameson
Tim Stamper
Artist(s)Kevin Bayliss
Composer(s)David Wise
Platform(s)Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
Genre(s)Wrestling
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer (up to six players)

WWF WrestleMania (named after the annual pay-per-view event) is a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) video game created by Rare and published by Acclaim Entertainment in 1989. It was the first WWF licensed NES game and the second WWF game overall, the first being MicroLeague Wrestling. WrestleMania also marked the beginning of a long relationship between Acclaim and the WWF which lasted ten years. Released just months prior to WrestleMania V, it was intended to help build up to that event. The game's title screen features the tagline for WrestleMania III: "Bigger. Better. Badder".

A Game Boy version started development in 1990 but was cancelled. It was developed by Zippo Games and designed by John Pickford.[5] Rare later developed a follow-up game, WWF WrestleMania Challenge. A contemporary VCR board game version, designed by Interactive VCR Games was also released around the same time, as well as a handheld version.[6]

  1. ^ "Availability Update" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 11. February 1989. p. 14.
  2. ^ "The Complete NES Game Pak Directory (special edition)". Nintendo Power. Nintendo of America. March–April 1989. p. A6. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  3. ^ "WWF Wrestlemania". Game Zone. No. 8. June 1992. pp. 56–57.
  4. ^ Andy (June 1992). "Wrestlemania". Total!. pp. 26–27.
  5. ^ "WWF Wrestling". Zee-3 Digital Publishing. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Acclaim Announces New NES Game, Diversifies". Computer Entertainer. October 1988. p. 9.