WCW World Championship Wrestling: The Main Event

Recognize names like Johnny B Badd and Sting? Hard-core wrestling fans do, and they'll want to fight with their heroes in FCI's new wrestling game. Anybody else, though, will want to pin all these wanna-bes to the mat.

WCW: The Minor Event

The Main Event gives you the usual fighting options. Choices include one- or two-player brawls, single-elimination or tournament matches, three difficulty levels, and nine pro wrestlers. Each wrestler gets an arrogant photo in the manual and a Signature Move in the game. The side-view battles take place both in and out of a standard ring with no ref in sight. The 20 punches and kicks are easy to pull off, as are the Signature Moves, which require merely a single button press.

Just like pro wrestling, you can't look too closely at this game or you'll see flaws. For example, you get no reason to pick one wrestler over another -there are no on-screen power ratings, and the manual gives only general background info. The fights themselves look weak - the large, cartoony sprites lumber towards each other with bored spectators behind them. The fights sound weak, too, with thin hit effects providing meager sonic support.

Pro wrestling makes no sense if you want the real thing. Same here - look elsewhere for true fighting action.