game
icon
title Mat Mania
set name matmania
manufacturer Technos (Taito America license)
year 1985
genre Sports (hof)
category Sports / Wrestling (hof)
driver status good
driver source matmania.c
snapshots MW: in game / CT: in game | title | artwork / Mr. Do: artwork / Dany69: artwork
zoom
rating

66% after 69 votes
 
clones Exciting Hour
display
colour emulation good
palette 80
display type raster
orientation vertical
resolution 240x256
frequency 60.000000Hz
sound
sound emulation good
channels mono
controls
players 2
nplayers 2P alt
controls 8 way joystick
buttons 2
coin slots 2
hardware
cpu M6502 @ 1.5MHz
cpu M6502 @ 1.2MHz
audio AY-3-8910A @ 1.5MHz
audio AY-3-8910A @ 1.5MHz
audio DAC
data
version added .030
last change(s) none since version .53
roms
name size crc set flags sha1
k0-03  16384  314ab8a4  matmania    dc86b2f71a9af8524edad2317343b0d05fe5ef4a 
k1-03  16384  3b3c3f08  matmania    65f0c5dba0b8eeb5c2d42b050cac37c475e6a398 
k2-03  16384  286c0917  matmania    50d6133406e7db0694b02858c7d06725744cf243 
k4-0  16384  86dab489  matmania    27f6eea29b0287e461e0e321fd7bfaada52c39dc 
k5-0  16384  4c41cdba  matmania    a0af0c019bd6d9456cbbe83ecdeee689bc5f1bea 
ku-02  8192  613c8698  matmania    07acb2fe150a64029fd15d177c8b6481fcd9eb0b 
kv-02  8192  274ce14b  matmania    58ed8c8fe0cc157d642aae596e41f2099c1ea6b1 
kw-02  8192  7588a9c4  matmania    0c197a8fea1acb6c9a99071845be54c949ec83b1 
kt-02  16384  5d817c70  matmania    f7759be40a8850d325440d336241ecd05b80c0bd 
ks-02  16384  2e9f3ba0  matmania    21d6686580de6ecfe57e458821fa92e966a42d95 
kr-02  16384  b057d3e3  matmania    24216b22a69c1ecc7eabd7ae10de381e1ff0afc1 
k6-00  16384  294d0878  matmania    0aaae97e35d504dbf6c479ddf04b981847a23ea6 
k7-00  16384  0908c2f5  matmania    acc34c578f9a3521855ad4dd8fbd554e05c3f63c 
k8-00  16384  ae8341e1  matmania    ca198087b3aec320543a19921015861324ace8a2 
k9-00  16384  752ac2c6  matmania    309fe4e396616b569b9b25654e3dc2751d7b1605 
ka-00  16384  46a9cb16  matmania    35e6bd4f33098c98bf2d0b1dfefec2f9d25444e7 
kb-00  16384  bf016772  matmania    c901fc2d553622b6dbfaaa9cd94759799d974c39 
kc-00  16384  8d08bce7  matmania    1433962c837f568cc1eb27464e243dc580a141de 
kd-00  16384  af1d6a60  matmania    ae3131e3e1fcc9bb1d59db6b1668f6838849241d 
ke-00  16384  614f19b0  matmania    67e4687b9be36007c2e1fd504a2eb952fe098d53 
kf-00  16384  bdf58c18  matmania    a76c6984e4d4f88384e15d0b6b74093c3bc0fcda 
kg-00  16384  2189f5cf  matmania    48289263f7b9cc5b6d975742d45dd64ba45e38c8 
kh-00  16384  6b11ed1f  matmania    8b5c52a14ac3f80ebf630fed8108df17106efd93 
ki-00  16384  d7ac4ec5  matmania    35b1503147cb521d2fcc756e6f90ef70d62e2d04 
kj-00  16384  2caee05d  matmania    51e0799312e4737bc6f6ae7b74d02f9e10f91c3b 
kk-00  16384  eb54f010  matmania    9ed8addd8a542299be2a8f0108447e68b9b33436 
kl-00  16384  fa4c7e0c  matmania    365f5b60ac880928b49a254a5a49a9e9a766046d 
km-00  16384  6d2369b6  matmania    b3071cc27598045167681a00f41bf77b6d4bd5bd 
kn-00  16384  c55733e2  matmania    b550afd2ceb3b0159c11627ab31f49cc49785809 
ko-00  16384  ed3c3476  matmania    eb7bc7c72443d4e3bdfc535bfe460524c0f900d3 
kp-00  16384  9c84a969  matmania    8492ba523e1c1ca94eeba1e53521dd74df854cb9 
kq-00  16384  fa2f0003  matmania    7327ce822be8aea360210bbd466a8129788a65c3 
matmania.1  32  1b58f01f  matmania    ffc098d85413777740a25c767096ba5b2aeaf5a8 
matmania.5  32  2029f85f  matmania    7825d42eed284ea0fe7fd60304b8a27a1b5a4075 
matmania.2  32  b6ac1fd5  matmania    e312a8ff7317eb21320308400539a733c27e8fca 
matmania.16  32  09325dc2  matmania    3d9ebdf73840a9603af2acc4bcc4339f3029d284 
cabinet art
cabinet matmania.png
marquee matmania.png
control panel matmania.png
flyer matmania.png
PCB matmania.png
additional information
info 0.30 [Brad Oliver]

WIP:
  • 0.124u2: Fabio Priuli added tags and locations to dips for Mat Mania driver.
  • 0.122u4: David Haywood fixed garbage graphics (matmaniac37b14gre).
  • 0.103u2: Roberto Fresca fixed Mat Mania dipswitches. Replaced 'Unknown' dipswitches with 'Tournament Time' and 4x 'Unused'.
  • 0.31: Nicola Salmoria added speech in Mat Mania.
  • 0.30: Brad Oliver added Mat Mania (Technos 1985) and clone Exciting Hour. Most colors seem correct, but the audience graphics use purple instead of blue?
Other Emulators:
  • Raine
Recommended Games (Wrestling):

The Big Pro Wrestling!

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Mat Mania

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Robo Wres 2001

The Main Event

Champion Wrestler

Wrestle War

Wrestle War (Mega-Tech)

WWF Superstars

WWF WrestleFest

Ring Rage

3 Count Bout / Fire Suplex (NeoGeo)

Saturday Night Slam Masters

Ring of Destruction: Slammasters II

Blazing Tornado

WWF: Wrestlemania

Shin Nihon Pro Wrestling Toukon Retsuden 3 Arcade

Zen Nippon Pro-Wrestling Featuring Virtua

Ehrgeiz

Romset: 489 kb / 36 files / 204 zip
history Mat Mania - The Prowrestling Network (c) 1985 Technos.

A match of wits and skill with classic ring techniques used in today's popular professional wrestling arenas. The ringside announcer to signal the start of the match introduces the events. The player battles each of his 5 awesome opponents in quest of the championship. Timely use of joystick and buttons maneuvers the player into position and activates all the standard as well as spectacular moves including : Pile Driver, Sunset Flip, Rolling Sole Butt, Lariat, Plunger, Flying Body Press, everything to weaken the enemy for a pin-fall win for the count of 3, or keeping the challenger out of the ring for a twenty count. After each win, the player takes on the next opponent for another three-minute period. If he defeats all of the opponents, he earns the right to the Championship Belt and goes on to the next four in defense of his title. Colorful, fast-paced action plus realistic sound effects of hits, moves, count-down and crowd cheers adds to the atmosphere and excitement associated with the current rage of professional wrestling. Enjoy a moneymaking ringside seat with this sure winner, the Mat Mania King Kit conversion.

- TECHNICAL -

Game ID : TA-0015

Main CPU : M6502 (@ 1.5 Mhz)
Sound CPU : M6502 (@ 1.2 Mhz)
Sound Chips : (2x) AY8910 (@ 1.5 Mhz), DAC

Screen orientation : Vertical
Video resolution : 240 x 256 pixels
Screen refresh : 60.00 Hz
Palette colors : 80

Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 2
=> [1] Punch, [2] Kick

- TRIVIA -

Licensed to Taito.

This game is known in Japan as "Exciting Hour - The Prowrestling Network".
The 2 players version of this game is known as "Mania Challenge".

In the game, if you look closely at the audience in the background, you will see a variety of recognizable characters including a boy in a Union Jack t-shirt, Darth Vader, Superman, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (look to the far left when outside the ring) and ZZ Top is very prominently present in the middle of the crowd..

The champion in this game is very obviously a copy of Hulk Hogan. First of all, he bears a striking resemblence to Hogan. Second, his name is 'Golden Hulk'; Hulk Hogan debuted wrestling as 'Sterling Golden'. Finally, Golden Hulk's most powerful move is the leg drop, which is Hogan's finisher.

Other wrestlers are copied from superstars of the early 80s : The Insane Warrior is a copy of Road Warrior Animal, Coco Savage is probably Kamala The Cannibal and The Piranha is probably Mil Mascaras. The main wrestler (you) bears a striking resemblence to Kerry Von Erich. These are guesses, but all the mentioned wrestlers were very popular about the time this game was released.

Rac Carpana holds the official record for this game with 5,000,150 points.

- UPDATES -

In the game, The Piranha's name is misspelled as 'The Pirania'.
In clone "Exciting Hour" :
- Insane Warrior's name is misspelled as 'Insane Worrier'.
- Golden Hulk is known as 'Blues Bloody'.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Here is a complete Mat Mania moves list :
First, basic moves :
Joystick - Move Around
Button 1 - Punch (P)
Button 2 - Kick (K)
Both Buttons - Run

While Opponent is Standing :
P+K - Dash at opponent.
P (while running) - Shoulder Block
K (while running) - Flying Press

To grab the opponent, run towards him.

While holding on to opponent :
P - Irish Whip (Throw opponent)
K - Pile Driver
P+UP - Body Slam
K+UP - Suplex

After Opponent has been thrown :
P+Opponent's direction - Elbow Smash
P - Back Body Drop
K+Opponent's direction - Clothesline
K - Reverse Mule Kick

While Opponent is on the ground :
P - Pick up opponent
K - Pin Opponent

While on the Turnbuckle :
P - Knee Drop
K - Sunset Flip

You can do three moves (two in later matches [late 30s on]) to your opponent before needing to ram him with the old 'faceblock' maneuver. However, the moves appear to be broken into categories :

Big moves - Piledriver and Brainbuster (Suplex)
Medium moves - Clothesline, Elbow, Backdrop
Small moves - Body Slam, Spinning Kick

Doesn't seem to count - Shoulder Block, Flying Body Press, Rope Moves

The 'count' works as follows. Usually you get one of each class of move in order from big to small. You can always substitute a lower move for a higher one. At certain times you will get only medium and small, especially the first series when facing Karate Fighter or Piranha after match 5. Sometimes you won't be able to do three. You can tell because your opponent puts up a small, ineffective resistance to your second move.

Once per match, you CAN do two big moves in a row. You are guaranteed to be able to do a third move afterward. In the first 5 matches, the triple is generally between 2:30 and 2:15.

* Miscellaneous notes :
1) You can only climb on the turnbuckles in the top-left and top-right corners.
2) Running towards the ropes and pressing the K button will cause you to jump out of the ring (should only be done while an opponent is out there).
3) The maximum number of jumps off the rope you can do is three - any more and the opponent will get up regardless of the amount of damage inflicted.
4) Fight as little as possible outside the ring; you run the chance of being thrown to the other end and facing a ring out loss (especially with Coco Savage and the Piranha - they are dirty fighters!).
5) When an opponent throws you, you have the choice of pressing P to do a shoulder block or K to do a flying press. The move you select should depend on the opponent's reaction - if they throw you and run, press K repeatedly to beat them with the flying press. If the opponent is standing there, it is almost a sure sign that you will be receiving one of their 'stopping moves' (i.e.: Coco's Haymaker or Piranha's choke hold). For this, press K repeatedly. If the opponent has not prepared their signature stop, this usually means they are just going to punch or kick you. Pressing P will give them a shoulder block and knock them down. Try to decide on which move you plan on doing once you see their reaction.
6) If you start to get the 'upper hand' on your opponent (which isn't that hard to do), throw him into the ropes and when he bounces back, let him collide into you (you should be the first one to get up), pick him up and do a pile driver, pick him up, throw him into the ropes and let him collide into you, pick him up and pile drive him again. You can do this for as long as you like but make sure to pin him before the time runs out. For a sure pin, just climb the top rope and land on him three times then pin.
7) A change in the music in the game indicates you are in danger of losing the match!

- SERIES -
  1. The Big Pro Wrestling! (1983)
  2. Mat Mania - The Prowrestling Network (1985)
- SOURCES -

Game's rom.
Machine's picture.
resource links view in MAWS
view in CAESAR
view high score and replay at MARP
view in Progetto EMMA (Italian)
view in arcade-history.com
view in GameFAQs
view in KLOV
view in MamEnd
view in System16
view in The Arcade Flyer Archive
view in The Arcade Flyer Archive
view in VGMuseum Game Endings
view in VGMuseum Gamepics
cheats
cheats
code comments
00000000:02CF:00000059:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Time
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000  ---------------------------------------------------------------
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000  The Referee never counts cheat gives you Infinite Time out of
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000  the ring, when you are on the corner and makes it impossible
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000  to Get a fall. Either disable it or use the CORRECT 'Time ='
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000  cheats. These can also be useful to enable when it's to
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000  your advantage!! ;-)
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000  ---------------------------------------------------------------
00000000:00E6:00000001:FFFFFFFF  Referee never counts
00000001:00E6:00000019:FFFFFFFF  Out of Ring Time = 19 Now!
00000001:00E6:00000002:FFFFFFFF  Fall Count Time = 2 Now!
00000001:00E6:00000004:FFFFFFFF  Corner Count Time = 4 Now!
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000 
00000000:004A:000000FF:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Energy PL1
00000001:004A:00000000:FFFFFFFF  Drain all Energy Now! PL1
00000000:0059:00000000:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Jumps on Corner PL1
00000000:0039:00000000:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Attacks PL1:This cheat prevents the other player attacking you after you've attacked them three times in a row.
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000 
00000000:004B:000000FF:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Energy PL2
00000001:004B:00000000:FFFFFFFF  Drain all Energy Now! PL2
00000000:0059:00000000:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Jumps on Corner PL2
00000000:003A:00000000:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Attacks PL2:This cheat prevents the other player attacking you after you've attacked them three times in a row.
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