Rumble Roses

"Half naked women + horrible plot = rumble roses"

Rumble Roses, released in 2004 by Konami. The concept was an all women's wrestling game. My curiosity got the best of me.. and I bought the game. Well, was the attempt in vain? Let's review.

Sound
Now, to be honest. I loved the music, as most of it comes from fellow Konami game, Dance Dance Revolution. Most of the music fits the characters. Reiko's theme, "Looking at the Sky", really stands out. Another one of my DDR favorites is here, "Keep On Liftin' Me", which is Anesthesia's theme. Most of the background music is rock, and may get a little repetitive. However, it doesn't get painfully annoying. The introduction to game plays Dixie's theme music, "Yankee Rose" (arguably the best song in the whole game). The voice acting though, this brings it down three points.. because it is so horrendous. Most of the VAs are so monotone it'll bother you after awhile. How come the Mongolian is the only one who can't speak English?! 6/10

Gameplay
Unlike WWE SmackDown!, this game's move set goes beyond your average wrestling game. You see double moonsaults, sick finishers, and not to mention, multiple ways to finish off your opponent. Story Mode, Normal Match, Mad Mud Match, Title Match, and Gallery are your options. Kinda limited... but eh, not bad for a first attempt, right? It's fun, nonetheless. Not exactly something you'd want to play in front of friends though. The Mud Match is basically Normal Match, but just in Bikinis and chocolate milk aka "mud". The gameplay is one of the more redeemable parts of the game. 8/10

Graphics
This game's graphics reflect Dead or Alive, and that, ladies and gentleman, is a compliment. However, the mud in Mud Match looks like... chocolate milk.. but moving on. The wrestlers look incredible, the details and entrances are amazing. Dixie Clements has a superstar and grand entrance to the song, "Yankee Rose". However, from here it just goes downhill. 8/10

Story
Reiko Hinomoto is the daughter of the late Kamikaze Rose, a legendary female wrestler. Reiko hopes to find her sister, Fujiko, at the Rumble Rose, a tournament to determine to best female wrestler in the world. What she doesn't know is: Anesthesia (aka Dr. Cutter), a mad scientist, needs DNA from the top female wrestlers in the world. When Reiko fights in the tournament, she confronts Evil Rose, a scantily clad, devil suit wearing maniac. Evil Rose apparently kills wrestlers, and the police are nowhere in sight.. huh? Logic doesn't matter in this game, I guess. Evil Rose saves Reiko, and reveals herself to be Fujiko. ::gasps:: Who would've thought? The plot is so cliched it's ridiculous. It dives into a pool of disaster. 4/10

Characters
You have your average female wrestler, a cowgirl from Texas, a black singer who *must* speak in *chopped* Ebonics, a ninja, a nomadic Mongolian, the im-so-innocent-i-cant-hurt-a-fly, a nurse, a schoolteacher, the schoolgirl, and the list goes on.. same stereotypes you'd find in the defunct women's fed, Women of Wrestling. The alter egos don't do anyone justice either. It only gets worse.. 5/10

Final Thoughts
Other than the bad stereotypical characters and horrific storyline, this game has its redeemable side. It has good replay value, it's graphics are excellent, and the music is good too. Unless you are a die-hard WWE Women's Wrestling/Dead or Alive fan, you'd want to stay from away from this game as far as possible. 6/10

Rent or Buy?
RENT!!!! You may play this once after buying it, and it may collect dust until you get bored enough to play it again.

Final Score: 6/10

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 10/30/06