萬代於 1985 年 11 月 8 日在任天堂 Famicom（紅白機）上推出的《筋肉人：摔角大賽》（キン肉マン マッスルタッグマッチ），是紅白機早期最具代表性的對戰格鬥遊戲之一，尤其以雙打摔角玩法聞名。雖然後來的續作如磁碟機上的《王位爭奪戰》以冠軍賽為主題，但《摔角大賽》才是讓老玩家熱血沸騰、造成無數搖桿損壞的經典之作。

在技術表現上，雖受限於 1985 年的硬體，但娛樂性仍非常出色。畫面簡單，採用矩形擂台設計，但每位角色的特徵都非常明顯，例如拉麵人的辮子、阿修羅人的六隻手等，都能清楚辨識。音樂旋律洗腦，搭配角色跳躍、攻擊與必殺技的電子音效，營造出緊張刺激的競技氛圍。

主要的一大特色是雙打系統，從八名超人中挑選兩位組成夢幻隊伍，並可隨時換手進行戰鬥，增加策略深度。劇情改編自《筋肉人》早期的「黃金面具篇」，描述來自世界各地的正義超人與惡魔超人齊聚擂台，爭奪摔角界最高榮譽。這是一場力量、技巧與友情的試煉，玩家必須擊敗所有敵方組合，最終成為宇宙最強的雙打冠軍。

操作設計上，遊戲簡單易學卻深具策略。基本攻擊和投摔操作使用 A 鍵攻擊、B 鍵跳躍，並可利用擂台繩索增加衝擊力。核心玩法是「力量之球（肉球）」系統，教練會隨機丟入閃爍的力量之球，拾取後角色會進入強化狀態，並可按特定鍵組合發動專屬必殺技。例如，筋肉人的「筋肉爆裂」、拉麵人的遠程噴火或腿踢、泰利人的小牛式摔角，以及沃茲曼的螺旋鑽頭等，每個招式都能左右比賽勝負。

在市場上享有極高人氣，特別是在台灣的小賣店中，因搶奪力量之球或角色必殺技的使用常引發玩家之間的爭執，被戲稱為「友誼破壞者」。拉麵人與沃茲曼因必殺技強悍且具遠程或快速位移，被公認為最強角色。

歷史地位上，本作是萬代最成功的授權遊戲之一，也開創「道具輔助必殺技」的先河，為後續更複雜的摔角遊戲系列，如《王位爭奪戰》奠定重要基礎，是紅白機時代對戰格鬥遊戲的經典代表。

Bandai released Kinnikuman: Muscle Tag Match (キン肉マン マッスルタッグマッチ) on the Nintendo Famicom (NES) on November 8, 1985. It stands as one of the most iconic early fighting games for the console, particularly in the tag-team wrestling genre. While later titles in the series, such as Kinnikuman: The Ultimate Choujin on the Famicom Disk System, focused on championship battles, Muscle Tag Match captured the hearts of early gamers with its intense two-on-two matches, leading to countless broken controllers from passionate play.

Technically, the game was impressive for 1985 hardware limitations, combining simple visuals with highly recognizable character designs. Each wrestler, from Ramenman with his distinctive braid to Ashuraman with his six arms, is rendered clearly, and the rectangular wrestling ring provides a straightforward arena for combat. The music is catchy, and the electronic sound effects of jumps, strikes, and finishing moves contribute to a tense, competitive atmosphere.

A standout feature was the tag-team system. Players could select two wrestlers from a roster of eight and switch between them during matches, creating tactical depth uncommon for its time. The story draws from the early “Golden Mask” arc of the Kinnikuman manga, bringing together heroic and evil superhuman wrestlers from around the world to compete for the ultimate wrestling championship. It’s a narrative built around strength, skill, and camaraderie, culminating in the quest to become the universe’s greatest tag-team champion.

Gameplay combines accessibility with depth. Basic attacks and throws are performed with the A button for strikes and B for jumps. Players can use the ring ropes to bounce and increase impact. The core mechanic, the “power ball” or Chikara no Tama, introduces a strategic layer: a coach randomly throws glowing power spheres into the ring, and grabbing one allows a wrestler to enter a powered-up state. In this state, executing specific button combinations unleashes signature finishing moves. Each character has unique techniques, such as Kinnikuman’s “Kinniku Buster,” Ramenman’s long-range or aerial attacks, Terryman’s Bulldog Headlock, and Warsman’s Screwdriver spin—moves that often defined the outcome of matches.

The game was beloved in Taiwan and Japan alike, earning a reputation as a “friendship destroyer” in arcades and small stores because matches often led to heated rivalries, especially over the power ball or when certain characters’ overpowered moves dominated play. The choice of wrestler was a strategic debate, with Ramenman and Warsman recognized as the strongest due to their combination of power, range, and mobility.

Historically, Kinnikuman: Muscle Tag Match is one of Bandai’s most successful licensed games. It pioneered the use of item-assisted finishing moves and laid the groundwork for more complex wrestling titles in the series, including later championship-focused sequels, cementing its legacy as a cornerstone of early Famicom fighting games.