WWF Raw

WWF Raw

Overview & History

Released in 1994 by LJN and Probe Software, WWF Raw for the Sega Game Gear brought the bombastic energy of the World Wrestling Federation's flagship Monday night television program onto a portable 8-bit cartridge. Condensing a massive roster featuring icons like Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and Yokozuna into a handheld format was an ambitious technical feat. While LJN’s console iterations were often polarizing, the Game Gear version carved out a unique identity, stripping down the mechanics of the 16-bit versions into a fast-paced, pixelated spectacle that pushed Sega’s portable screen to its absolute limits with vivid color palettes and surprisingly recognizable digital sprite likenesses.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike the traditional arcade-style brawlers of the era, WWF Raw on the Game Gear focuses heavily on simulated pacing, stamina management, and timing-based grapple systems. Players select from a diverse roster—each possessing distinct signature moves, pacing attributes, and unique finisher animations—to compete in match types including One-on-One, Tag Team, and the chaotic Survivor Series elimination bouts. The gameplay loop revolves around locking up in grueling collar-and-elbow ties, executing lightning-fast strikes, and building up momentum to unleash devastating signature maneuvers such as Bret Hart's Sharpshooter or The Undertaker's Tombstone Piledriver. Matches often spill outside the squared circle into the ringside area, where unauthorized foreign objects like steel chairs can be retrieved to alter the tide of battle. Health meters deplete as wrestlers absorb punishment, requiring players to master the art of blocking, corner trapping, and strategic pinning combinations before the referee counts to three.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause