Sgt. Slaughter's Mat Wars

Sgt. Slaughter's Mat Wars is a professional wrestling sports video game developed by Beam Software and published by Mindscape. It is based on the professional wrestler Sgt. Slaughter and was released on November 15, 1989, exclusively for the Commodore 64.

Gameplay

The game requires a Commodore 64 joystick to play and features a unique gameplay mechanic involving managers. Players can choose from five managers: Delores, Fast Ed, Big John, Abdul Makash, and Lucky. These managers play a crucial role in the game's trading system, allowing players to buy and trade wrestlers in Sgt. Slaughter's Auction House. The game also allows players to bet on matches and bribe other wrestlers to throw their matches.
Sgt. Slaughter does not appear as a playable character, although he is a referee during matches and makes occasional appearances as an in-game narrative device. The game includes multiple match types such as singles and tag team bouts, and features multiple game modes, including a narrative-driven story mode and an exhibition mode for quick matches.

Development

Nigel Spencer, the programmer behind the game shared insights into the game's development in an interview. Spencer highlighted the game's technical advancements, particularly the use of real-time scaling of high-resolution screens, a first for the C64.

Release

Sgt. Slaughter's Mat Wars was released on November 15, 1989, for the Commodore 64. The game was developed by Beam Software and published by Mindscape during the height of Sgt. Slaughter's popularity in the late 1980s.