Fire Pro Wrestling Returns

"My Pick for Greatest Wrestling Game Ever."

Fire Pro Wrestling R (or Fi-Pro), the return of the great Japanese Wrestling Series that is. After Fire Pro Wrestling Z was said to be the final of the series, R shocked the world with it's announcement of its return, two years after FPZ. And here's why I consider it the most fun wrestling game there is.

Graphics: 9/10: For a 2D Wrestling Game, the wrestlers look as perfect as can be. And with the most in-depth Edit Mode in a 2D game, allowing for layers of hair, facial hair, masks, or facepaint, it's nearly flawless. The moves are animated greatly. It isn't hard to see why this game is so great.

Sound: 8/10: Some people may find the menu music annoying but to me it's great. Great Fire Pro music. The background music is addictive and just great and the music used as Entrance Music, while I don't listen to it often, it is awesome for a game like this.

Gameplay: 10/10: It's not hard to learn the mechanics of the technique of Fire Pro. The controls go simply round the control. Square being the early in the match moves, X being the medium damage moves, O being the strong moves and Square+X being an even stronger move sometimes. Each character is unique in their own way. Oh, not to mention there's 328 wrestlers to choose from, plus 500 slots to create your own! The wide range of characters range from Chono, Tenzan, Liger of NJPW to Kojima, Kea, Sasaki of AJPW and to NOAH's Misawa, Kobashi or Akiyama and far beyond. You'll even find WWE stars such as Brian Kendrick and Umaga or TNA stars, AJ Styles, Petey Williams, Jeff Jarrett, Kevin Nash, and Sting. The roster is unbelievable. Fire Pro Wrestling R is the ultimate game for simulating your dream wrestling matches or putting on a classic of your own!

Replay Value: 10/10: If possible, I'd give it a 20/10, the replay value in this game is amazing. I literally play this game every chance I get. There's so many options. You can go 1 on 1 or 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 or even 4 on 4 in an 8 man tag. And you can also do it Survivor Series Elimination style. Not to mention you can put all 8 guys in a steel cage! War Games style! You can go oldschool or hardcore with an Electrified Barbed-Wire Ropes Exploding Ring deathmatch or a match with Boards in each corner with your choice of Barbed-Wire or Fluorescent Lighttubes and the ring surrounded by explosive landmines. There's also an 8 man battle royal mode or you can take things to the 8 sided Octagon for an ultimate fight. There's also K1 Boxing style Matches or "SWA Rules" match which is similar to a Last Man Standing Match. And if you ever don't want to do that you can create up to 500 of your own wrestlers! Plenty of arenas to wrestle in as well including the famed SPIKE (Tokyo) Dome where you can fight on the classic ramp.

Overall: 10/10: I'd advise each and every wrestling fan or video game fan around the world to get this game. It's an import from Japan but it's worth whatever trouble you may have to go through to get it. Running your own federation on it is just awesome. Creating guys is endless fun. And if you have friends that play it too you can have a huge 8 man tag team match or 8 man battle royal for endless hours of fun. I've had this game for 10 months and never once got tired of it. Greatness is what it is.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/10/06