Showdown: Legends of Wrestling

"Showdown : Glitches Galore"

Showdown: Legends of Wrestling

Introduction
Acclaim brings back its Legends of Wrestling series for a third outing, displaying improved graphics and an impressive roster of wrestlers from the old-school days of wrestling. The hype for this game was unlike any of the previous LOW's, as wrestling fans now may have a suitable alternative to THQ's Smackdown games. With all the promise and potential this game had shown in screen shots and clips, it was obvious that this would be the best LOW to come and that Acclaim would finally deliver. Oh my..how naive were we to think that Acclaim would keep to their promises? Answer: Very

Gameplay: 3/10
A major issue with previous LOW games was the lack of moves that wrestlers had in their arsenal. Unfortunately this issue was not addressed, and to make matters worse, Acclaim actually cut the amount of moves a wrestler can do. This leaves matches to become extremely boring as it leaves you with no choice but to use the same moves over and over again. After a few matches you'll get bored of doing that scoop slam or brain buster. Showdown tweaked the reversal system, making it the weirdest reversal system in the history of any wrestling game.

The reversal system in previous LOW's worked fine, however the new one leaves one to scratch their heads. Acclaim ditched the popular meter based reversal and combo system to simply assigning one button to do block a punch or pin after a grapple. The problem is that it's hit or miss, as at times you can press the square button throughout the entire match and still never reverse or you can simply stand there pressing nothing and still reverses a devastating scoop slam attempt, revealing one of the many glitches infesting this game. Match variety is semi-decent, however no where near the variety as other next generation wrestling game.

Story: 2/10
Showdown Challenge is basically a modified exhibition mode. You start off in a decade and play a whooping five matches per decade until you reach the most legendary wrestler of them all (I'll let you figure that one out). Once or twice per decade you may find out a wrestler has been hitting on your girlfriend, which must mean you have to avenge her honor. Despite the utmost
suspense, you usually face off against a random wrestler of the decade two to three times until the obvious fifth match title shot. Yep folks, it's as entertaining as it sounds.

Graphics: 4/10
Many praise this game for its relatively good graphics, and I don't blame them, they are pretty to look at. But the main issue is the horrendous animations, mainly the slow robotic movement in the ring and the most idiotic running animation I have seen in a wrestling game. However wrestler do look somewhat like their real-life counterparts and the arenas are downright impressive. A huge issue regarding graphics is the glitches within the game, as wrestlers may appear with no head were the oddest of all glitches in this game, rounding out the final score.

Sound: 4/10
In my opinion, the highlight of the game, not that the in-game music is neither any good, nor the wrestlers theme entrance music. The commentary is truly the gem of this game; Tony Shiavone, Larry Zybszko, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan make up the best commentary team I have heard in any wrestling to date. While it is far from perfect, some genuinely good information is addressed from Bret Hart and his switching promotions and Warrior defeating Hogan at Wrestlemania XI. Unfortunately, even with great commentary, by itself it cannot raise the sound department below mediocrity.

Replay: 2/10
Hardly anything to bother with as there isn't anything worth playing over again. Once you're done with Showdown Challenge, all that's left is exhibition.
The Create a Wrestler is hardly worth the effort and should be avoided.

The Final Word: 3/10
The third disappointment in a row, this will hopefully mark the end of this series, filled with potential, another game bites the dust. Not worth a purchase, and a questionable rental.

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 07/13/04