B - Battle Royale

Developer: Incredible Technologies

Release Date: 1990

Alias: Arch Rivals - Wrestling
Game Type: Sports / Wrestling

From the team that eventually brought you Golden Tee, comes one of the better retro wrestling games I've ever played.  There is a ton of fun to be had with this off beat wrestling game and it's just oozing personality.  If Arch Rivals and a "normal" wrestling game got together and had some sort of strange bastard child, Battle Royale would be it!

Oh la la....

Character Selection... "process"

Where to begin, oh I know.. just look how hot the announcer is for starters.  Anyway, the game starts out and you are able to select how many live players (up to five) or how many computer players you wish to go up against.  Next, you have to select which wrestler you want to play as be it Sumo Master, Executioner, Mongo Kahn, Spitfire Spike, and Meateater.  Most fighting games of this nature revert this selection process to a simply highlighting a headshot of whichever character you wish to fight / wrestle as, but Battle Royale does things in a very different and refreshing way.

The character selection screen is actually more of a mini game.  Each player (computer or human) starts as a manager in the locker room and literally fight each other to select which wrestler they want.  If your opponent is going for Executioner, and that's who you want, you better book it over there and be ready to punch the hell out of the other player / npc before they get there first.  It's a very cool (read: unique) competitive process... even before the actual game starts.  I'd highly recommend checking out the profile screen for each wrestler via the main menu as they all have different stats.  Make no mistake that this is a fantastic party game, and I believe it would still hold up by todays standards.  Add in some sort of adult beverages to the mix and you have yourself one heck of a smack talking game extravaganza that is sure to provide several hours of fun among friends.  Of course, you'd have to own the turbo tap accessory in order to do this... but I truly think Battle Royale merits tracking the peripheral down.

The object of the game is simple, knock down your adversaries and throw them out of the ring.  Something that I really fell in love with was the way you could still cause a ruckus after being thrown out of the ring as your wrestler can still kick opponents through the ropes.  How diabolical and ruthless... I love it!

Causing trouble outside of the ring

Vicotry is mine!

There are several other nifty features on display in Battle Royale such as instant replays and a unique health bar system which is represented via the arm bands of the wrestlers themselves making this one of the cooler TG 16 titles I've played to date.  Do yourself a favor and check this one out!


This game needs to be remade... NOW!


Battle Royale match footage via youtube:

If you want a copy of Battle Royale (and you do)...   CLICK HERE to search for it on ebay.