Giant Gram 2000: All-Japan Pro Wrestling 3

"A Different, Wonderful Kind Of Puroresu Game"

Well, because this is a Japanese Wrestling Game, i think i will go into detail on Japanese wrestling and then describe why this game is so perfect.
All Japan Pro Wrestling, one of two major Japanese Wrestling federations, is completely different from WCW or WWF. For the mostpart, I hate american pro wrestling, and the reason i started hating it is because of Puroresu(japanese professional wrestling). Puroresu, as i said before is different. I quote the Great Hisa(www.puroresu.com) in saying that if Japan has our wrestling it would be called Purofeshinaru Resuringu. So its definately different. The major difference is that in Japan, its all about Fighting Spirit. Its about going on and on through hideous situations. Its about breaking your leg and still going on and winning the match(ala Toshiaki Kawada). Its about giving it your all. Ever notice that the Super Crazy/Yoshihiro Tajiri matches in ECW(www.ecwwrestling.com) are much more entertaining than The Rock VS HHH in a dumpster match? Even if the SC/YT matches arent HardCore and consist of only inring and ringside skills? Well, if you do notice this, you are the perfect person for this type of game, also if you like arcade games, you will be into this one. You can find info very easily at the Great Hisa's Puroresu Dogo(puroresu.com) on some of the great stars of Puroresu(pronunced ProRes, by the way). Look into Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Jyushin Thunder Lyger(seen him in WCW?) Great Sasuke, Johnny Ace, Jun Akiyama, Kenta Kobashi, or anyone else, and you will have the FIGHTING SPIRIT.

Now onto the game.
In Giant Gram 2000, your objective is to drain the opponents energy meter with Punches, Kicks, Powerbombs, Tiger Drivers, Suplexes, Moonsaults, Firebird Specials, and whatever else you can figure out how to do and then pin them for a 3 count. Same basic idea. The twist is, this is a very fast paced game. Everything in this game is complete as it should be. Example, this has the best tag team mode ever. If two people really do a certain TeamUp move, they will do it in this game. More on that later. Anyway, this game runs very fast. You have to make up your mind quickly what button combo to press. You may be stopping me here and saying Button Combo? Isnt that like WWF ATTITUDE??? we hate those!!/we love those!!!. Either way, you will still like this. If you dont like to do down, forward B as in attitude, you can press A to grapple, and then do a simple 1 direction, 1 button move. Now here is the best part. I am using this as an example. If you dont know what a german suplex is, you should be reading this. If you dont know what a Blue Thunder is, i will xplain. Its where someone sets up their head under someone elses arm from behind, like a back suplex, then lifts them up sideways, turns them sideways into a powerbomb position, and sits down into a powerbomb pinning combo. Now let me show the example with Jun Akiyama(one of my favs)
Mission: Connect on a Blue Thunder
Press A to grapple. Press down, a to move to middle, press it again to get behind the opponent. Now, you can either get the blue thunder by pushing down+b or you can get a lot more energy another way. You decide to do a german suplex with back+b. Now you have 3 different choices. You can either hold down b for a pin, press b again for a release that takes off more, or you can press down and b at the same time right as the suplex hits to combo it into another suplex. You pick the 3rd choice. Now you have two suplexs so you are given the same choice as before, you pick down and b, and then you get a blue thunder after 2 suplexs for much more damage. This is just one move with one character, and each character has over 50 moves, and most can be combo'ed. Now can you feel how deep this game is?

Tag mode:
now onto the best part of the game, tag mode. This plays just like singles, with one major difference, you get two players that can tag in by slapping each other 5. Now heres what is good. If you are being pinned/placed in a submission lock, press two buttons at the same time to call in your partner to save you. Then the opponent will call in his partner to defend. You can now press 2 buttons at the same time, and both characters will connect with a signiture move hitting both the opponents, leaving one out of the ring and one open for double teaming. Some of the double team moves include:
Double German Suplex
Double Powerbomb
Double Diamand Cutter
Double Top Rope Lariat
Double dropkick
Double Superplex
Double top rope powerbomb
MUCH MORE.
Also this game has marvelous graphics. The graphics are the best of any wrestling game. The only thing lacking is a Battle Royal. Now on to create a wreslter
CAW
This game has a deep caw. You pick appearance(not much appearance to choose from at first, but gets much better). Then you pick a mentor, and you train. Sometimes when he nails you with a move you learn it. You can have more than one mentor, too. This lets you put together the best character. Take Akiyamas Suplex, put it with Kobashi's lariat, Misawa's tiger driver, Aces Ace Crusher, and Taue's Chokeslam, and you have a winner. This game is too good to be real, but it is real. Go Get it ASAP!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/11/00, Updated 08/11/00