Saturday Night Slam Masters

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Saturday Night Slam Masters
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Distributor: Sega-Ozisoft (AU)
Original system(s): Capcom CPS-1
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code US 1994-12 T-12066 EU 1995 T-12066-50 UK 1995 T-12066-50 AU 1995-04 $99.9599.95 FSLA00SMC
Non-Sega versions Arcade FM Towns Super NES

Saturday Night Slam Masters is a hybrid fighting and wrestling arcade game developed by Capcom, originally released for Capcom's CP System Dash arcade hardware in July 1993. It was ported to the Sega Mega Drive and Super NES the following year.

In Japan, the game is typically known as Muscle Bomber: The Body Explosion, although the Mega Drive port was not released in that region. Nevertheless, during development, the game featured at Summer CES 1994 under the working title of Muscle Bomber, which may suggest that a Japanese version was planned.

The game features artwork by manga artist Tetsuo Hara, known for Fist of the North Star.

Gameplay

Character select

Saturday Night Slam Masters mixes up Capcom's one-on-one fighting system seen in games like Street Fighter II with the rules of professional wrestling. Matches are fought in a ring with a vertical plane similar to a beat-'em-up.

Wrestlers move around the ring with the D-Pad and jump with . They attack with , which includes punches and kicks. Each character has two special attacks: a non-grappling technique and a "Super Slam Technique" that can be used when the opponent is grabbed. They run with or and can perform attacks (such as dashing kicks or clotheslines, depending on the character) while running.

Wrestlers can step out of the ring by pressing any direction twice (except ) while standing near the ropes, but they can only remain out of the ring for 20 seconds before forfeiting the match by count out. Objects such as bottles and folding chairs can be found outside the ring and picked up with , then swung as a weapon with again or thrown with after jumping. Objects can be thrown into the ring from the sides. It is also possible to climb the turnbuckles by double-tapping one of the diagonal directions when standing in front of one. While standing on a turnbuckle, the wrestler can taunt with or jump off with .

A wrestler can grab an opponent by holding the D-Pad toward the opponent and pressing . While grabbing, the wrestler can then perform a slam, pin, or other technique by pressing , +, or + or throw the opponent into the ropes with + or +. Opponents can be grabbed from the front or the back, which affects the moves that can be performed. Every wrestler has a special Super Slam Technique that can be performed with a button combination while the opponent is in a hold.

When a wrestler has hit the mat, his opponent can pin him with when standing over him if he is lying face up (otherwise, he can be flipped with if he is lying face down). Opponents can also be attacked while prone (including jump attacks). A wrestlers can try to escape a grab or a pin by moving the D-Pad and pressing the buttons rapidly; the other wrestler can try to lock an opponent in a pin the same way. It is harder to escape a hold if grabbed from behind. A wrestler's chances of escaping a pin decrease as his life decreases, and a wrestler cannot escape a pin at all if he has no life remaining. A wrestler loses a match if pinned for a count of three seconds or counted out while outside the ring. Additionally, matches are timed, and the wrestler with the most life remaining wins the match if time runs out.

Wrestlers become enraged after being hit repeatedly, which is indicated by a red hue. Their attacks do more damage and they can escape grabs more easily while the effect lasts.

Modes

There are three game modes. The single-player Single Match mode has the player travel to nine different cities around the world to fight a series of one-on-one matches against computer-controlled characters. The final two opponents are the bosses Jumbo "Flap" Jack and the Scorpion (unless playing as one of those characters, in which case that match is substituted for whichever remaining character has not been fought, as there are no mirror matches where a character fights himself). Defeating all of the other wrestlers results in winning the championship belt, which must then be defended against the entire roster (meaning every character must be defeated twice in order to finish the game).

There is a two-player Vs. Mode where each player chooses a wrestler and competes in single matches against each other. Players can choose the same wrestler in this mode. There is also a two-player Death Match Mode, which is the same as the Vs. Mode, except the ropes of the ring are replaced with barbed wire that damages opponents who are thrown into it and weapons appear inside the ring.

Characters

Note: Move lists assume that the character is facing right. When facing left, and should be reversed.

ATTACK

Any attack button

JUMP

Jump

Each wrestler has his own unique entrance music and animation at the beginning of the match.

	Biff Slamkovich
	Height: 6'4" Weight: 264 lbs.
	A Russian wrestler who trained under Haggar alongside his rival, Gunloc. His loss quote makes reference to "Comrade Zangief," from Street Fighter II. Move list Name Command Description Sonic Fist  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  Biff punches rapidly. Head Rocker  ATTACK  while grabbing Biff rolls backward while slamming his opponent.
	Gunloc
	Height: 6'4" Weight: 276 lbs.
	Another apprentice of Haggar and the rival of Biff. He is described as "related to a famous street fighter." Move list Name Command Description Sonic Fist  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  Gunloc punches rapidly Gut Crush  ATTACK  while grabbing Gunloc throws his opponent backward and lands on him.
	The Great Oni
	Height: 6'0" Weight: 221 lbs.
	A Japanese wrestler who dresses with a kabuki-like theme. Move list Name Command Description Cyclone Kick  ATTACK + JUMP  Oni spins his leg around in a circle like a cyclone. Neck Wrecker D-Pad in a 360° rotation, then  ATTACK + JUMP  while grabbing Oni grabs his opponent's neck and spins around it in circles several times before leaping off.
	Titanic Tim
	Height: 7'9" Weight: 432 lbs.
	A huge English wrestler who uses both his size and strength to intimidate his opponents. Move list Name Command Description Tsunami  ATTACK  Titanic Tim stands on his hands and spins around while kicking his legs out. Titan Breaker  ATTACK  while grabbing Titanic Tim kicks his opponent high into the air, catches him, then throws him against the mat.
	El Stingray
	Height: 5'6" Weight: 163 lbs.
	A Mexican luchador who amazes the crowds with his high-flying speed and techniques. Move list Name Command Description Jalapeño Comet  ATTACK  El Stingray spirals through the air at his opponent like a torpedo. Atomic Diver  ATTACK  while grabbing El Stingray knees his opponent, flies high into the air, then falls down with a dive attack.
	Mike "Macho" Haggar
	Height: 6'7" Weight: 309 lbs.
	One of the main characters from Final Fight, where he was the mayor of Metro City. His daughter, Jessica (also from Final Fight), enters into the ring to celebrate with him when he wins a match. Move list Name Command Description Spinning Clothesline  ATTACK + JUMP  Haggar spins around multiple times with his arms outstretched. Spinning Piledriver D-Pad in a 360° rotation, then  ATTACK + JUMP  while grabbing Haggar drives his opponent head first into the mat between his legs while spinning.
	Alexander the Grater
	Height: 6'6" Weight: 359 lbs.
	An Australian wrestler who has a merciless attitude in the ring. Move list Name Command Description Patty Cake Slap  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  Grater slaps furiously in front of him. Tornado Toss  ATTACK  while grabbing Grater throws his opponent spinning into the air like a tornado.
	King Rasta "Mon"
	Height: 6'6" Weight: 331 lbs.
	A wild and feral-like man who acts like a savage beast in combat. He is accompanied by his "manager," a pet monkey named Freak. Move list Name Command Description Jungle Fever  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  ATTACK  Rasta flaps his arms wildly like wings. Dread Lock Drop  ATTACK  while grabbing Rasta flies high into the air with his opponent, dropping him on the way down.
	Jumbo "Flap" Jack
	Height: 6'5" Weight: 410 lbs.
	A large and sadistic wrestler who enjoys making his opponents bleed. He is the right-hand man of the Scorpion and the penultimate boss of the game. Move list Name Command Description Pancake Poison  ATTACK  Jumbo takes a deep breath, then blows a poison cloud around him while spinning in a circle. Pancake Toss  ATTACK  while grabbing Jumbo grabs his opponent's ankles and swings him around in a circle before tossing him.
	The Scorpion
	Height: 6'2" Weight: 280 lbs.
	A mysterious masked wrestler whose true identity and history is shrouded in both mystery and darkness. He is the final boss of the game. Move list Name Command Description Slam Stand  ATTACK + JUMP  The Scorpion stands on a hand while spinning with his legs kicking outward. Slam Spiral D-Pad in a 360° rotation, then  ATTACK  while grabbing The Scorpion jumps high into the air while holding his opponent, then slams him into the mat while spinning in a spiral.

Stages

There are nine locations, played in order. Each stage uses the same backdrop but with a different color palette.

Los Angeles

Mexico City

Sydney

Tokyo

Moscow

Hanover

London

New York

Calgary

Versions

The Mega Drive version allows players to use the full character roster, including bosses, in single-player mode, and features a Death Match mode exclusive to the system. However, possibly due to colour palette restrictions, the four-player tag team mode present in the Super NES version (where a multi-tap is needed) is omitted.

Magazine articles

Main article: Saturday Night Slam Masters/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in GamePro (US) #64: "November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 50 GameFan (US) NTSC-U 84 GamesMaster (UK) 73 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 65 Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U 58 Next Generation (US) 25 Player One (FR) 55 Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U 82 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U 43 Sega Force (SE) 32 Todo Sega (ES) 80 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 74 Video Games (DE) PAL 70

	60
Based on 14 reviews

Saturday Night Slam Masters

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Saturday Night Slam Masters/Technical information.

References

Final Fight games for Sega systems
	Final Fight CD (1993)
	Final Fight Revenge (1999)
Related games
	Saturday Night Slam Masters (1994)
	Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams (1996) | Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Dash) (1996) | Street Fighter Collection (1997) | Street Fighter Zero 3 (1999)
	Street Fighter Alpha 3 (1999)