Giant Gram 2000: All-Japan Pro Wrestling 3

"Great wrestling action but not enough substance."

Let me first start off by saying that I am not as familiar with All Japan as I am with New Japan or FMW. But this game is not as good as Toukon Retsuden 4 or Fire Pro Wrestling D.

Graphics: This is the games money maker right here. The graphics are very well done in this game but it does not seem like enough effort was put into using the Dreamcast's power to its full advantage. Let me explain. There are only two arenas Korakuen Hall and Boudokan they look great but Toukon 4 has most every major arena in Japan. They couldn't even put the Tokyo Dome in this game. The crowd is fantastic if not a little paper like. But the main thing here is the wrestlers right? They are all done extremely well and all look like their real life counter parts. Sometimes though you see break up and wrestlers feet look like they are going through the ring. Not to mention sometimes the wrestlers look a little blocky if they are doing certain submissions.

Control: This is kind of what killed it for me. The control scheme is well set up and basic moves are easy enough but for some of the advanced ones forget it. Unless you have lightning fast reflexes you will not be able to do the combos and huge power moves instead the computer will be kicking your ass with them. The insanely tough history mode in this game is also tough because you have to do certain moves at certain times and some times the controller just won't allow it. Eventually you will get aquainted and will be able to do some of the better moves but I have had the game about two months now and am still having trouble landing combos and some of the tougher power moves.

Gameplay: This game was originally an arcade game so expect fast paced arcade action in this one. I personally think making the game this way was a mistake because you can't have the classics that you can have in Fire or Toukon. If you want to you can you can win the entire arcade mode using Kawadas jumping high kick because the life meters deplete rather quickly. Thats another thing this game lacks severly in the mode department. Just arcade and super tough history mode for single player. (Note for history mode: get a faq right here on gamefaqs because unless you speak or read Japanese you will not be able to complete this mode) The game has no weapons what so ever and is really only fun in multiplayer but still the experience is to short.

Sound: Perfect! All the sounds of a wrestling match are here. Wrestlers scream in pain when in submission holds the commentator calls each move as it happens the wrestlers all have there real life theme music and entrances. Not to mention each punch,kick,slam and just about every other wrestling move sounds real also the crowd really gets into the match keep doing the same move they boo you get the match flowing and at a good pace they will chant your name.

Overall: As I said I am not much of an All Japan fan I stick to New Japan and FMW but I do know that All Japan does have the most hard hitting technical matches of any league in the world and this game does not replicate that. I have every Japanese wrestling game for Dreamcast that includes Fire D,Toukon 4, and both Giant Grams. This game is third best on my list. It simply is not up to par with Toukons moves entrances or more interesting wrestlers and definitely not up to par with Fires amusing deathmatches almost 200 wrestlers or technical gameplay. If you do not have any Japanese wrestling games don't spend the amount of money most places are asking for this game get Toukon or Fire instead I gurantee you will enjoy them much more. But if you have those two games by all means get this one.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 03/05/02, Updated 03/05/02