Saturday
Night Slam Masters
STORY:
Professional
wrestling experienced a sudden increase in popularity during the early 1980s,
where many professional wrestling organizations were started all over the world.
A severe rivalry existed among the organizations. In order to resolve this
conflict, 8 organizations combined to form the Capcom Professional Wrestling
Association (CPWA), led by Victor Ortega, the CPWA's first champion.
One day, Ortega suddenly
vanished. He was considered to be the axis of the sport and his unexpected
disappearance caused the CPWA to enter an age of confusion and disorder. The
BPWA, a dark underground wrestling organization, chose to take advantage of this
opportunity and began moving. With "Fighters of Muscle Bomber =
Destiny" as the theme, the CPWA chief executives decided to hold a world
tour called the "Crash Carnival," to decide the new king of the CPWA.
The gong that determines the new "Master of Muscle Bomber" is sounded...
ABOUT:
Known as Muscle
Bomber: The Body Explosion over in Japan, Saturday Night Slam Masters is a 2D
pro-wrestling game released for the CP System by Capcom. Famed manga artist,
Tetsuo Hara (Fist of the North Star / Hokuto
No Ken) is behind the character designs and
artwork for the game. Coming from Capcom, you might expect this series to take
some cues from the likes of Street Fighter
2 and other 2D fighting games...
and you'd be right.
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Before El
Blaze... Before El Fuerte... There was, EL STINGRAY.
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There are 3 separate titles in the Slam
Masters series: Saturday Night Slam Masters, Muscle Bomber Duo:
Ultimate Team Battle, and Ring of Destruction: Slam Masters 2.
The first game played approximately 75% like a wrestling game and 25% a
fighting game, while the sequels became more and more like a traditional 2D
fighter.
The original Saturday Night
Slam Masters uses a very simplified 3-button layout (grab, attack & jump).
Each character has 2 special attacks, a non-grapple move, and a finisher. When
the opponent's health bar is empty, he must be pinned for a 3-count or
submitted. There are 2 modes, of play: Single Match and Team Battle Royale (up
to 4-players). The SNES port retains the 4-player Battle Royale mode (multitap
compatible) but the Genesis version does not. Instead, the Genesis version
introduces "Death Match mode," which basically just adds electrified
ropes.
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If ya
smeeeelll... what Mike Haggar... is... cookin'!
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The sequel, Muscle Bomber Duo, is an updated version of the original
which removes 1-VS-1 matches, now focused only on 2-VS-2 Team Battle Mode. This
version allows the same character to be chosen by more than one player for the
first time, and gives
all returning characters 2 new special attacks.
The final version, Ring of Destruction: Slam Masters 2, was released as a
CPS2 title and exclusive to arcades. This version plays mostly like a fighting
game, now featuring a 5-button layout (2 punches, 2 kicks & grapple).
Players can now achieve victory through simply depleting the opponent's life
bar, as pins or submissions are no longer required. There are also 4 new
characters added in this version.
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| Page Updated: |
April
19th, 2023
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| Developer(s): |
Capcom |
| Publisher(s): |
Capcom |
| Designers: |
Tetsuo
Hara Character Design / Illustrations
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| Platform(s): |
Arcade,
Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, FM Towns Marty
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| Release Date(s): |
July
13th, 1993 Saturday
Night Slam Masters
Dec. 1993  Muscle Bomber Duo
Sept. 2nd, 1994 Ring of Destruction |
| Characters: |
Mike
Haggar, Biff Slamkovich, Gunloc,
The Great Oni, El
Stingray, Titanic Tim, King Rasta
Mon, Jumbo Flapjack, The
Scorpion,
Alexander The Grater |
Slam Masters 2
Characters: |
Victor
Ortega, Black Widow, Rip Saber, The
Wraith |
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Featured Video:
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| Related Games: |
Final Fight: Revenge, Street
Fighter: The Movie, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Street
Fighter III: 2nd Impact, Super Street
Fighter IV, Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, MVC3
Ultimate, Hokuto
No Ken |
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Gameplay Engine
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Story / Theme
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Overall Graphics
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Animation
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Music / Sound Effects
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Innovation
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Art Direction
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Customization
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Options / Extras
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Intro / Presentation
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Replayability / Fun
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"Ouch" Factor
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Characters
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BOTTOM LINE
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| Final
Words: |
Long ago when I created this website, I decided NOT to feature
"pro-wrestling" games on TFG... (even though I've a casual fan of
pro-wrestling since I was a little kid in the 80's). This standard for TFG's
Games library remains, however, I've obviously made an exception for Saturday
Night Slam Masters.
Firstly, because this title is the true "fighting game debut" for Final
Fight's Mike
Haggar, and secondly, because Capcom made it. Saturday Night Slam Masters certainly is a unique part of
fighting game history and deserves its spot in TFG's fighting games library at
the end of the day.
I do remember trying the original SNSM at the arcades way back when, but
it wasn't a game I played more than once or twice. I've never played either of
the sequels, but after hearing that ROD: Slam Masters 2 plays mostly like
a fighting game, I'm interested to try it out someday. If I ever get around to
doing so, I'll consider reviewing it.
Since this game technically takes place in the same universe as Final Fight
and Street Fighter... I do wonder where Hugo,
Poison, Zangief,
Darun & El
Fuerte fit in with the CPWA. Alright Capcom, how about a next-gen SNSM
sequel with all said characters. Hell, make it a crossover and include SNK &
Tekken wrestlers too. It could be like the awesome 80's all over again...
lol. One can dream.
~TFG
Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen
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