Fire Pro Wrestling Returns

"Fi-Pro Returns is what a wrestling game SHOULD be. Action packed, customizable, and FUN."

I was dying a slow death inside. There weren't any new wrestling games coming out that didn't SUCK. It was killing me slowly. Smackdown vs. Raw? YEAH RIGHT! Day of Reckoning? yeah it was fun, but it didn't have what I want in a wrestling game. Ahem, excuse me, what SHOULD BE IN a wrestling game. That's when I got into Fire Pro Wrestling. I played Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium on the SNES and I was swept away. How could games that have been released on next-gen consoles like the PS2 or Gamecube or Xbox not be half as good as a game that was released on the Super NES YEEEEEAARS ago?

What have I been missing? Only the best wrestling series to come around in years!

I bought Fire Pro on the Gameboy Advance, and I loved it. I was even happier to find out a new one had come out on PS2, so I begged my mother, and sure enough, it arrived in the mail! This is the BEST wrestling game I've ever played. Now I gots ta tell ya why:

Gameplay:

This is where the game truly shines, and what has kept the series around for so many years. In Fire Pro Returns, everything just WORKS. You can fight on the apron, a duel to the death! Who shall fall off first? Who knows?!? The grappling system works, and it's easy for new players to get into, since it involves timing as opposed to button mashing. My friends come over to play this and they're able to just jump into the game with me and it's a blast. the striking is a little iffy, but it's very satisfying when you land a strike, such as a chop or a dropkick. Running moves to the outside are my favorite things to do, and the impacts give me a satisfaction that I've never felt in any other series of wrestling games. This game gets it right. Smackdown's gameplay is just BROKEN. Gameplay is the meat and veggies of any wrestling game, and this game has huge portions to go around.

Sound:

Ok, the music in this game is so cool. You get upbeat music during the menus, more soft-type music during options and creating, and you get sheer asskickery during actual matches. You'll be humming some of the themes after you play this for awhile, and you'll love it. Some of the move impacts are a bit weak though. The Shining Wizard being a prime example. It sounds like someone is scratching a pillow when good ole Keiji Mutoh's knee meets his opponents head. Many of the sounds of combat are a bit underwhelming, but I digress.

Presentation:

This is where the "American" wrestling games excel. Fire Pro does it pretty well too. You get cool menus and nice backgrounds. The arenas look pretty cool, and the entrances are cool enough to watch. All the themes are knockoffs of real themes, so it will be easy to create popular wrestlers, and the ones already ingame are very close to their real counterparts. I also like how there is no set "theme" in the presentation. The EA games try to have some theme every year, whether it's "urban" or "kindergarten doodles" or whatever. Smackdown vs Raw went with the whole TV show-style presentation. I'm glad Fire Pro just does whatever it wants.

Graphics:

Fire Pro has always been 2d, and this game does it best. The sprites are bright, and the game is full of bright colors, making it fun to look at and interesting. All the wrestlers look big onscreen and they are easily recognizable. The rings are full 3d, and the arenas are well rendered. The graphics in this game are awesome.

Features:

Here we are, another part of what makes a good wrestling game. the american games have so many features, but they have busted-ass gameplay to use them with. this game has what should be mandatory for ALL wrestling games. Six-man elimination tag? EIGHT-man elimination tag? Lighttube landmine deathmatch? Exploding barbwire ropes deathmatch? Judy Bagwell-on-a-pole-match? Dominik's custody papers-on-an-electrified-rocketbuster-Taz-trademarked-the-phrase-lol match? Ok, maybe not the last two, but there's always next game! The roster is also awesome, it's expansive and has all your favorite puro/american/lucha stars ready to go! Misawa? Kawada? Kobashi? Jarrett? Scott Mall? Kevin Rash? Ultimo Dragon? Low-Ki? Leonardo Spanky? Mil Mascaras? Dos Caras? Ricky Marvin? (I loved him when he was in Menudo! La Vida Loca!) They're all here! Sure, many American stars are missing, but the awesome edit (caw) mode is great. You can create almost anyone. I have so many wrestlers that I've downloaded off the net, it's crazy! Outrageous, I tell you! the number of moves available to your edits is also staggering! Almost any move you can imagine is available! Even if one isn't, there's a close enough substitute available.

Overall:

Why are you still reading? Go buy it already! It was well worth my money. the community supporting the games is also fantastic. The fans are always willing to help any newbies out, and new fans are always welcomed. Hurry up, and buy this game today. American wrestling are inferior, no matter how you put it. Get Fire Pro, and refresh your love of wrestling games. Do it for the children... for the CHILDREN!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/05/06