A Legendary Demise: What Has Happened to Wrestling Games?

[RaychelSnr]

For fans of pro wrestling, or maybe just the WWE, this year will mark a very special anniversary. The Connecticut-based wrestling company is set to host the 25th installment of WrestleMania. And in celebration, the WWE will (probably) have an amazing card filled from top to bottom with great match-ups, a special hall of fame ceremony highlighted by the induction of Stone Cold Steve Austin, and yes, the release of the Legends of Wrestlemania (LoW) video game.

And as a gamer and all-around fan of wrestling games, the release of LoW interests me. I am fascinated by LoW’s potential features, roster and gameplay, but also by LoW’s subsequent release and potential overall quality -- or lack thereof.

This upcoming Mania anniversary also calls to mind another upcoming anniversary, this one set for November of next year. Figured it out yet?

Read More - A Legendary Demise: What Has Happened to Wrestling Games?

[vegaas]

What I dont understand is why there hasnt been a wrestling game released for the PS3 in Japan yet. Anyone have any news on upcoming japenese wrestling games for the PS3?

[ehh]

Great article, I haven't even considered buying a wrestling game since No Mercy, granted I stopped following wrestling shortly after that. I still play No Mercy or Wrestlemania 2K at least once a month. Great wrestling games are so much fun and addicting, I'm really looking forward to LoW and praying that it delivers.

[luv_mist]

I thought it was only me that didn't feel the appeal of the new titles. I picked up 2007 only to be turned off by the strange feel that it gave me. I'm definitely missing the N64 days when we would be up all night battling. Can only hope that the fun will make its way back.......

[asu666]

Fire Pro Returns is my favorite. I'd like to get a Legends game because I don't follow wrestling now, but loved it back in the Andre the Giant, Macho Man days.

[statum71]

Man I just wish WWE didn't have one of those exclusive license with THQ. I think competition would make for better games.

The graphics have improved but Here Comes The Pain was it for me.

[Mos1ted]

I was actually thinking about this very same subject over the weekend. I was having fond memories of my high school days playing wrestling games until 4 AM with my buddies. WWF War Zone and WWF No Mercy were my favorite. Before that, Royal Rumble for the Sega Genesis was the time burglar. Once THQ got ahold of the WWF/WWE license, I stopped playing wrestling games. Their gameplay is just too "unrealistic" for me. I love the fact one games such as War Zone and Attitude that my opponent didn't just pop right back up after I did a power move on him. The THQ engine is just too fast and too arcadey for my taste.

[Mayne Event 41]

I too have been in desperate need of a lastin' wrestling game since the days of World Tour/Revenge/Wrestlemaina2K/No Mercy.... Me and my friends are tryin' desperately to rekindle what we had with those games with Smackdown 09.... and yes, graphics-wise Smackdown is leaps and bounds ahead of the days of N64.... But I know, and I can speak for them as well, that we would be willin' to sacrifice graphics and all the other bells and whistles for down right good gameplay..... It was simple enough to get a noob in to the game and done just right to where you would have to know what you are doin' and won't button-mash to get the victory.... Maybe someday........ someday, big wigs at WWE will realize that and decide to revert back....... but then again that is really wishful thinkin'

[cake612]

Nice article, except for NHL 94 I may have played No Mercy more than any other game I've ever owned. You did forget to mention the Gamecube games(Wreestlemania 18 and 19 and Day of Reckoning 1 and 2) which were pretty solid and had pretty much the same gameplay as the N64 games if I remember correctly. I'd definitely recommend you give those a try if you never have.

[moeee]

Wrestlemaina 2000 is my favortie wrestling game. I remember using the Game Genie with this as people would alter the game (ie the first h*ll in a cell) cage created. It was awesome.

[larma]

KOC 2 and FPR are my favorite wrestling games. I haven't even watched wrestling in a few years but if either title got a sequel on the PS3 I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[DC]

Smackdown coming out EVERY year really hurts the series. No anticipating built up. I remember when Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 was about to come out; man I could not WAIT. I only bought one Smackdown and that was the one with Brock Lenser on the front. And I don't really "buy" that one.

Fire Pro
KOC
Virtual Pro
TOukon Retsuden

I am a Japanese wrestling fan

[DakkoN]

Re: A Legendary Demise: What Has Happened to Wrestling Games?

All Star Pro Wrestling was the best JP games.

[Double Deuce]

Here Comes the Pain was really the top of the Smackdown series, but even then, it was more about the features and less about the gameplay. Smackdown's gameplay has always been inferior to many other systems, IMO.

I think the biggest issue the series has had is the REMOVAL of great features year after year. HCTP had a really cool story mode. Then they dropped it in favor of other modes and ideas (like having a linear story mode where all the wrestlers had real-life audio... seriously, did that really enhance anyone's experience with the game, to hear crappy audio by wrestlers who you could tell didn't want to be doing audio captures?). These things just limited the creativity that the player could put into the game.

I remember in No Mercy, after I got bored of playing with all the regular wrestlers, I went through and edited EVERY WRESTLER in the game to be someone new that I had made up. You could edit their appearance and names, so I just created my own federation. My own feuds, my own storylines, everything was made up by me. It was the most fun I've ever had with any wrestling game, ever. If Smackdown allowed that, and had a solid CAW where they didn't remove features year to year, I might be interested again.

[LP]

Re: A Legendary Demise: What Has Happened to Wrestling Games?

This thread makes me sad. I really miss fun wrestling games. My brother and I used to log so many hours on these games; Man how time goes by.