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WWE All Stars: an early aughts arcade wrestling gem

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WWE All Stars: an early aughts arcade wrestling gem

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of wrestling game history under my belt, I must confess that WWE All-Stars was initially a game I scoffed at. It seemed like a mindless button masher, a far cry from the intricate mechanics and deep storylines that had come to define the genre. But, oh boy, was I wrong!

Upon the release of WWE All-Stars, I found it rather disappointing. It seemed to abandon the gravitas, authenticity, and technical aspects that wrestling typically embodies. Instead, it transformed signature moves into exaggerated Dragon Ball Z-like attacks, reducing the gameplay to simple button mashing. Since the 90s, the public has not experienced such cartoonish wrestling games, and I believe its return was unnecessary. THQ was attempting something innovative in their approach.

Just recently, I bought the fifteen-year-old game for Wii, feeling starved for a quality wrestling game. I am so glad I did. Wrestling games (especially the ones made by 2K) had gotten so predictable, over-complicated, and blah. It seems like the only reason that people turn them on anymore is to stream their eFed. Even with AEW: Fight Forever lightening the gameplay in favor of simplicity, WWE All Stars feels like a breath of fresh air.

As a devoted fan, I’d say WWE All-Stars was an innovative attempt that brought together the crème de la crème of wrestling legends and superstars. It simplified gameplay with intuitive controls – the A key for melee attacks and the B key for grapples. By holding down these buttons, you could unleash more powerful versions of the moves. When your power meter was fully charged, your wrestler would perform a signature move, catapulting the opponent towards the rafters before slamming them back down at breakneck speed. The combat mechanics bore a striking resemblance to Ultimate Muscle Versus New Generation.

The roster contains the usual draws: Cena, Miz, Sheamus, Undertaker, Jericho (ha), Punk, McIntyre, HHH, Austin, Rock, and Michaels. But you can also engage in fantasy matches with Hogan, Savage, Piper, Jake the Snake, Giant, Slaughter and Steamboat. Unfortunately, Divas were not considered for this game (but no one was getting excited about early 2010s Divas). With thirty wrestlers, there are a lot of favorites. You can even do a hardcore match between McIntyre and Punk.

In this game, the modes resemble AEW: Fight Forever in their lighter feel. However, unlike traditional wrestling matches, only four wrestlers can be in the ring at a time for tornado tag, singles, extreme, cage, triple, handicap, and fatal four battles. Regrettably, there’s no Royal Rumble this time around. It would have added an exciting twist to the game, but unfortunately, it’s not included.

The wrestlers appear excessively bulky due to steroids and an abundance of muscles. Any wrestler can perform a standing moonsault that sends them soaring onto a turnbuckle, then launching off the ring from about 40 feet to strike their opponent. I tend to inadvertently use this move often because I’m unsure of other grappling techniques. Fortunately, finishers and signature moves are relatively straightforward to execute. The game doesn’t require a clean pin for a win; a finisher that depletes the opponent’s health bar is sufficient instead. As these matches unfold, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler provide commentary as if it were just another ordinary day at work.

2020 saw the release of WWE 2K Battlegrounds, which is considered the follow-up to the classic All Stars. Unfortunately, it received a Metacritic score of 60%, while its predecessor scored 75%. Both games share many similarities, including a Royal Rumble, stylized wrestlers, Divas, and flamboyant final stage finishes. However, WWE All-Stars remains the more favored choice among fans. Battlegrounds introduced a tedious grinding element that made it feel like a win-by-grinding mobile game, although you could also purchase all content upfront. In contrast, All-Stars offers an easy-to-understand unlocking system and even a cheat code to access everything without completing the main campaign.

In simpler terms, the creation mode for All Stars is quite basic compared to other WWE games. It allows you to customize facial features, clothing, move sets, and finishers for your wrestler. THQ assumed that dedicated wrestling enthusiasts wouldn’t delve too deeply into character creation, but it would be fascinating to watch someone run an eFed (e-federation) using this game. I made a wrestler with 40-inch biceps, emulating the moves of Jack Swagger and the finisher of Bret Hart.

WWE All Stars stands out as a hidden champion among wrestling games that aim to be unique and innovative. It’s a shame there isn’t a modern update for current-generation consoles, but it appears 2K is focusing on simulation-style games instead. However, dreams never fade.

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2024-10-04 21:15

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