Droppin' Plates With Sancho Makaveli Dellaventura Wasn't Meant To Be Easy...

After Months of practice you made it to the final round of the Atari
Wrestling Federation Championships. Now you stand gloriously in the ring,
sure to make enough dough from this title bout to retire to a farm in
Vermont. If you can survive.

The announcer, a little man with a voice like a muffler on a halfdead
pickup truck, reaches for the overhead microphone. He announces the name
of the champion, a 394-pound mountain who hasn't lost a match since Troy
was sacked. The crowd roars. Then, between giggles and snickers, the
announcer spits out your name. Your fan cheers as the undertaker edges
his way toward your corner and pulls out his measuring tape.

But you know you can do it. After all, you've made a science of the
Flying Body Press. So what if your opponent outweighs you by 286 pounds.

The opening bell clangs as the bout begins. The champion lumbers toward
you like a freight train gone berserk. This is not going to be easy. Do
you have the guts and the skill to defeat the mad man of mats? Will you
retire to that farm or spend the rest of your life in intensive care at
the local hospital? It's too late to back out now, so give it your best
shot. Good luck! You'll need it.

GETTING STARTED

1. Insert the Mat Mania Challenge cartridge into your Atari 7800 system
as explained in your owner's manual.

2. Plug a controller into the left port for a one-player game. Plug a
second controller into the right port for a two-player game.

3. Switch on your television. Then press POWER to switch on your system.
The Mat Mania Challenge title screen appears.

4. To begin game option selections, press a fire button. The first play
option displays along the bottom of the screen.

5. Move the controller in any direction (right, left, forward or
backward) to select a one or two-player game. After you've made your
selection, press a fire button.

6. Depending upon whether your selected a one or two-player game, the
following occurs:

If you selected a one-player game, then the difficulty level selection
option displays along the bottom of the screen. Move the controller in
any directions to select the difficulty level (easy, medium, or hard),
then press a fire button again to begin the match.

OR

If you selected a two-player game, the match begins once you press the
fire button.

Note: In a two-player game, you don't select the difficulty level. It's
only when you play against the computer that you must select the
computer's skill level.

7. If you want to return to the selections screen to change game options,
press SELECT. To reset with the current game options, press RESET.

8. Press PAUSE to pause the game. Press PAUSE again to return to the game.

PLAYING THE GAME

Mat Mania Challenge simulates a series of wrestling matches between
either two players or one player and the computer.

Wrestlers compete against challengers for a score. The top of the screen
displays each wrestler's current score and the time remaining in the match.

The object of the match is to either pin your opponent for a count of
three, keep him out of the ring for a twenty count, or outscore him.

Each match lasts three minutes. Your point accumulate throughout the
match. If neither wrestler is pinned for the count by the end of the
match, the player with the highest number of points wins.

Two-player games consist of up to three matches. If one player is pinned,
the game ends and the title screen appears. If no one is pinned by the
end of the third match, the player with the highest score wins.

In a one-player game, if you pin or outscore the computer opponent, you
will move on to the next match. If the computer wins, the game ends and
the title screen appears.

Use the controller to maneuver the fighters. When the wrestlers are close
to eachother, they go into grapple position.

WRESTLING MOVES

Mat Mania Challenge offers several bone-crushing moves designed to drop
your opponent for the count. The available moves at any given time depend
on the current situation. For example, if you have your opponent in a
head lock, press the right button to perform a pile driver. Or, while
running across the ring, move the controller any direction and press the
right button to clothesline your opponent.

Below is a table listing the possible moves and how to make them.

MOVE ACTION

Basic Moves Walk Controller any direction
Run Both Buttons
Punch Left Button
Kick Right Button
Climb Post Controller Up

While Running Shoulder Jab Left Button
Flying Kick Right Button
Sidekick Controller left/left button
Clothesline Controller right/right button

In Grapple Headlock Right or left button

Opponent in Hammer Throw Left button
Headlock Pile Driver Right button
Overhead Slam Controller left/left button

You are in Knee Drop Left button
Headlock Back Drop Right button

After Opponent Flying Kick Right Button
is Hammer Crouch Left button
Thrown off Elbow Controller left/left button
Ropes Clothesline Controller right/right button

>From Post Knee Drop Left Button
Back Drop Right Button

While Opponent Pick Up Left Button
is Down Pin Right Button

If your opponent throws you out of the ring, you have twenty seconds to
get back in the ring. Move your wrestler in front of the ring and climb
through the ropes by moving the controller up.

If one wrestler is thrown out of the ring, the other wrestler can jump
over the left or right side of the ring. Wrestlers can fight outside the
ring, but they must be back in the ring before the referee counts to twenty.

STRATEGY

It takes quick reactions and good timing to be a champion. Learn to
anticipate your opponent's move and react accordingly.

Wear your opponent down with repeated punches.

Don't try to pin your opponent every time he hits the floor. Pick him up
and destroy him. This increases your point total. Besides, it's more fun
to bash heads than to gain a quick victory.

Learn to use the ropes and the post. Throw your opponent against the
ropes. When he bounces back, give him a quick clothesline or similar
move. If he hits the floor in the right place, climb the post and drop on
him.

If your opponent has you up against the ropes and he's beating the tar
out of you, press both buttons to run. Of course, your opponent will be
in the way, but you may have a chance to escape and turn things around.

Remember, pain is good - when the other guy feels is. Don't go easy on
your opponent. Mercy may be sportsmanlike, but who wants to be nice?

SCORING

Below is a list of the number of points awarded for each move.

Pick Up 50
Punch 50
Clothesline 100
Hammer Throw 100
Kick 100
Elbow 200
Flying Kick 300
Overhead Slam 300
Running Clothesline 300
Shoulder Jab 300
Sidekick 300
Crouch 400
Back Drop from Headlock 800
Knee Drop from Headlock 800
Pile Driver 800
Running Flying Kick 800
Back Drop from Post 1000
Knee Drop from Post 1000
Pin 4000

Copyright 1990, Atari Corporation, Sunnyvale CA 94089-1302. All right
reserved.