Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home

"B Y DUB Review"

Backyard Wresting: Don't try this at home was a game, way anticipated by Juggalos and Backyard Wrestling fans alike since way earlier in the year, when it was finally introduced. I personally have been waiting diligently, and had been pulling my hair out waiting for it, and I have to say that I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be, but I don't think that it sucked as bad as everyone was telling me. Here is what I thought about the game:

Graphics: 9/10

When I first saw the trailers for it on the Internet, and finally on Television (Also while I was mesmerized by the sight at EB Games), I thought that not only were the characters fresh looking, but as well as the background. Kevin Gill and his crew had made their time very well used to make sure that the levels were extremely interactive, whereas you could use just about anything to wail your opponent with, until he's lying in a pool of his own blood, sweat, and urine. Also, not only with the weapons aspect, but as well as climbing objects, and the dealios with fire and tables. If you wanna shimmy up the drainpipe to go up on the roof, go for it... Wanna climb a ladder to the top of the Semi, do it. You have a lot of suggestions to kill your opponent, basically. Not to mention, in addition to that, you have other people in the background that will kick your ass if you're not too careful. You get too close to the cook, he'll smack you upside your head with his grease infested spatula.

The Characters, on the other hand, could look like a cartoony rendition of themselves. But that doesn't really stop you from messing up your opponent. I thought it was funny that you could basically flick a fly off of Mad Man Pondo's head and he would start gushing blood, like he does in real life wrestling.

That's one other thing, which was blood. There was buckets of blood like you were watching a JCW match (JCW is ICP's own Wrestling promotion of pure insanity, for you no knowers out there). That was one thing that was fresh about this game, was the blood. It really makes the game that much more fresh.

Gameplay: 8/10

When it comes to the actual playing, you pretty much have to get a little bit used to the controls, before you decide that this game is mere crap. Give it 20 minutes or so. I felt that the handling on this game was very inventive, especially with being a company that never made a wrestling game this unique. One small flaw to the game play is basically when you're coasting away from the opponent to dodge something, and you accidentally press the Run button, you 180 and just fly towards your opponent to get smacked upside your fat head by a flying object or Josh Prohibition's foot. I think they could have honestly done better, but this is still good.

Interaction: 8/10

When you're playing against opponents, its easier than a hot knife thru butter to even grapple the guy, and the way to reverse seems a little bit more frustrating for the impatient who like to mash the X button. But with the many possibilities for wrestling and high flying moves, not to mention the Attacks with your fists, feet, or weapons, its still cool to see how the opponent reacts to the many abilities. Grab a guy and knock him out, put him on a table, and set him on fire, jump on him from the rooftops, as an example (and my personal favorite thing to do). But there are still some deals where the laws of Physics don't seem to come into play, where a guy could be ready to swing his barb wire coated baseball bat, and as he winds up, BOOM! He gets kicked, but he's still swinging (I got beat up for taking advantage of this in real life) and he begins to choke out his opponent with the bat. Its frustrating when you're playing against another player.

CAW Mode: 3/10

When it comes to CAW Mode, you'll just want to flush your copy right down the potty. I pretty much wanted to get in-depth CAW Mode; instead, it is sheer poopy. You have 12 samples of full body characters, with 15 body types and that's it. You can't change separate clothing parts. You can't customize face paint (A must for a Juggalo). You cant even make fat kids wear baggy clothes (which ALSO is a must for Juggalos). CAW Mode looks like something that Paradox just threw in cuz everyone was asking for it, and they didn't bother to try. Hope you do better for BYW 2, boys.

Story: 7/10

The storyline is crap, but it is held up with its hilarity. I never laughed so hard when I saw a drunken Santa being interviewed. The storyline basically is a Talk Show, where they are talking about the dangers of backyard Wrestling, and they interview people about their experiences. Those they interview have something to do with the separate environments. It is a fun little doohicky with extra little bonus achievements for each level. You have to take out 3 or 4 wrestlers in a row, and you have to take them all out one at a time before one of them takes you out. You defeat one, you gain a little energy, and you're on to the next one. You have 6 levels of this, and the 7th, you fight just one guy. The only fresh bomb thing about this is when they interview people.

Sound: 11/10

Eidos and Paradox put in some of the freshest music they could get their hands on, and they put in current music that most Backyarders, BYW video watchers, and gamers would listen to, with the likes of Sepultura, ICP, Twiztid, Zug Izland, Bowling for Soup, and the likes. Most of it is metal, but it always helps to listen to the wicked clowns while you wail a ninja in the head with a light bulb.

SFX: 8/10

SFX are sweet and they go well with their environments. It actually sounds like some dude got his face stuck in the grill when you bump into him. The table sounds like it exploded, tho. Punches, kicks, and slams sound awesome as they echo thru the room.

Extras: 8/10

The videos that are unlocked are wicked. They took the songs that they had for the game and made music videos based on Backyard Wrestling, the Promotional video which is also on the disk, and best of all, the Backyard Babes. No nudity in these videos, but there's still plenty enough to tease you with. The promotional video has some pretty good interviews with the game's characters Rude Boy, Mad Man Pondo, Josh Prohibition, Tylene Buck (AKA Major Gunns from WCW), Masked Horn Dogg, MDogg20, and Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope of the Insane Clown Posse. Not to mention the wrestling footage for the Promotional video is phat as well. The only bad thing is when you watch all the videos consecutively, they seem to look like they were rushed, so there's a lot of copied footage in the videos. But still fresh.

Replay 8/10

Replay? Well, you kinda have to if you wanna get all of the Hidden wrestlers to complete the roster. But even without that, its still fun to play it over and over again. You get your friends to make CAWs and let the fun begin. But sooner or later, it'll make you either reminisce, about the other wrestling games you play, or makes you wanna go out and clean your homie's clock with a stop sign... just kidding...

OVERALL: 8/10

All in All, i would have to say that this game could be one of the funniest games I have played. Its basic clean, wholesome, family entertainment that even your grandmother would love to play... even with her arthritis, she'd still play that game with ease, and maybe even kick your ass in it.

Granted the fact that this game was off the hook, I do have to say that I believe that it could have been a little better, with better handling, a way better CAW mode, maybe a ring and/or a trampoline, more match types, and more ICP songs in it. Even without these additional items, I pretty much play the game a lot with my homies, anyway. I'd still say go out and buy the game... You'll spend more money renting it.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/17/03