In today's world, we strive for realism and perfection, especially when it comes to our video games. Sports titles, particularly, have only really attempted to improve upon two basic structures - the graphical presentation and the quest for realism. Making a game as realistic as possible, imitating for a player the real experiences of a participant in their chosen field, seems almost par for the course. In terms of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), this has led to a roster with over 100 performers, several arenas, realistic commentary and someone driving someone else through the Spanish Announce Table.
But this wasn't always the case. Released in 1996, WWF In Your House followed on from the successful 'Wrestlemania; The Arcade Game' which had been both a staple of the arcade as well as the home console market. That game had appeared on both the Genesis and the SNES, before making a move to the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. It seemed only logical that publishers Acclaim and the WWF (as it was at the time) should have looked to capitalise and find a successor. In the fast paced world of WWF, a lot had changed in just a few short years, and 'Wrestlemania TAG' looked arguably outdated in it's choice of roster as well as even mentioning the Arcade in it's title.
Visually, IYH looks almost identical in nature to WM TAG, with some minor blemishes sown up. Featuring a roster of 10 playable characters, an improvement on the 6-8 featured in the previous game, it features what could probably be considered some of the most memorable characters of the mid 1990s. Wrestlers like The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart have since become household names; even for those not familiar with the inner workings of professional wrestling. Whilst Goldust, Vader and Ahmed Johnson might not seem like such major inclusions in hindsight; these characters were huge draws at the time and extremely influential personas. Early in development, there had been plans to include Jeff Jarrett, but much like Adam Bomb (Crush) in the game's previous title; he had left WWF before this happened.
Another inclusion in the games roster was The Ultimate Warrior, who had returned to the WWF in 1996, battling Hunter Hurst Hemsley (also included) at Wrestlemania. By the time the game hit North American shelves in October, however, the Warrior had already departed from WWF once more.
Wrestlers themselves are digital sprites in a gameplay method not unlike Mortal Kombat, standard 2D action, which each arena being modelled on a character in the game - Shawn Michaels' nightclub, Bret Hart's dojo etc...and each time the characters are struck they excrete symbols or icons associated with their personality - Shawn Michaels, for examples, drops hearts (Heartbreak Kid). For this reason, it's not a wrestling title in the traditional of senses and would certainly be more at home in the hands of someone who adored the original Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter titles on the SNES.
In a quest for dominance, WWF had launched the 'In Your House' PPV series in May 1995 - for them it was a departure from the usual four to six PPV events a year, and instead promised a monthly event on Box Office which would soon become a staple. The name of that event being used within the game made total marketing sense and also capitalised on the very real notion that you could only play this title within your homes, and it was that kind of personalised experience. Even today, in 2022, the 'In Your House' branding is seen as a vital part of the WWE NXT Calendar and invokes nostalgia and delight in fans when used.
IYH, however, has a more chequered past. When first realised, the game received little to no addition by the Gaming press, and wasn't even featured in official Sega Saturn Magazine. This was by design, as publishers Acclaim were the subject of investigation by the securities and exchange commission; and were instead focusing on their success through the latest instalment of the 'Turok' franchise.
At the time of release one review called this game "a title full of promise and potential that ultimately gets pinned in its quest for the championship." Personally, I feel this is an unfair assessment as unlike the graphics of games like WWF Attitude and Warzone, this has held up remarkably well. Even ignoring the visual look and feel, the game itself still plays very well in 2022, and you can easily imagine yourself spending a few hours with this. The simple moves and styles mean that it doesn't take long to 'get to grips' with the button combinations - and as you move up in rank to take the Championship there's no stopping you. One. Two. Three.