Software:Tag Team Match: M.U.S.C.L.E.

Tag Team Match: M.U.S.C.L.E.
North American cover art
Developer(s)	Tose
Publisher(s)	Bandai
Platform(s)	Nintendo Entertainment System
Release	JP: November 8, 1985 NA: October 1986
Genre(s)	Action, wrestling
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Tag Team Match: M.U.S.C.L.E., known in Japan as Kinnikuman: Muscle Tag Match, is a fighting game developed by Tose and published by Bandai for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The Japanese edition is based on Yudetamago's manga and anime series Kinnikuman, but the North American edition was not due to the source material being not well-known outside Japan.

It has eight playable characters, each with his own special move. The game was followed by a 1987 Japan-only sequel for the Famicom Disk System titled Kinnikuman: Kinniku-sei Ōi Sōdatsusen (キン肉マン キン肉星王位争奪戦, Kinnikuman: Scramble for the Throne).

Gameplay

The game has two modes, one requiring the player to defeat a computer opponent while the other requires two players to fight against each other.

The A button jumps, and B punches or activates a special move after collecting an energy ball that is randomly thrown by the boy called "Meat" (Kinnikuman's Trainer Meat Alexandria).

Several moves can be done in the game, such as punch, jump, drop kick, shove, shove into ropes, flying body attack (jump into ropes and rebound), lariat aka clothes line, shove enemy into ropes and then hit A, and back drop aka suplex (press B close behind the enemy).

Although the game goes on endlessly, it officially has 255 rounds. After those rounds, the player enters round 0 (completing the 8 bit variable for rounds number), on which the speed level resets and the time per round returns to 30:00 (from round 100 reduced to 10:00).

It is believed that the maximum score one could get from this game is 99,999,999 points, but it is unknown what will happen afterwards, but it will probably return to 0 as well.

Characters

Kinnikuman (North American version – Muscleman)

Finisher: Kinniku Driver, carries opponent and jumps off screen straight up and comes down. One of if not the most damage inducing moves in the game.

Terryman

Finisher: Calf Branding, basically a speedy version of the lariat move in the game without having to rebound off the ropes and can be done repeatedly.

Ramenman

Finisher: Leg Lariat, basically a faster longer version of the regular drop kick move.

Robin Mask

Finisher: Tower Bridge, Argentine back breaker.

Buffaloman (North American version – Terri-bull)

Finisher: Hurricane Mixer, for a short distance he can burst charge with his horned head.

Warsman

Finisher: Bear Claw, covers longer distance than the hurricane mixer.

Ashuraman

Finisher: Ashura Buster

Brocken Jr. (Japanese version only)

Finisher: Nazi Gas Attack

Geronimo (North American version only)

Finisher: Apache War Cry

Note that Brocken Jr. and Geronimo are the same in this game, just slightly different graphics.

Release

The game was released in Japan on November 8, 1985. It was released in North America on October 1986.

The Gold Edition of the Japanese version of the game has been a sought-after collector's item, and is considered the "Holy Grail" of the Famicom collection. In 2017, the Gold Edition of the Famicom version has been valued at ¥2,000,000 ($18,200 USD).

Reception

The game sold 1.05 million units in Japan.

See also

• Kinnikuman

External links

• M.U.S.C.L.E. at MobyGames