As WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2009 draws ever closer and our hopes for a revitalised franchise that harks back to its glory days fade like a setting sun, it’s time to turn our attention to THQ/Yukes’ other WWE title, Legends of Wrestlemania. Unsurprisingly it uses the same game engine as SmackDown, but we’ve been reassured at every opportunity that’s it not simply a rehashed version with a retro edge, but very much its own game. Whilst we’re only giving such claims a certain amount of credence, we’ve already seen how EA tweaked its FIFA engine with great effect for UEFA Euro 2008, so let’s not get too dismissive too early.
As glimpses of gameplay and snippets of information drip steadily out, it’s clear that Legends is geared towards two entwined markets: Those that like wrestling, especially from the ‘80s and ‘90s, and those that like wrestling games, especially from the ‘80s and ‘90s. For whilst the next-gen engine will allow for some fancy visuals and neat cinematic close-ups, Legends is very much about taking wrestling back to its superstar roots, not just in terms of the roster of characters but also in its approach to gameplay.
Gone is the need to use your forefingers to jump between triggers and shoulders buttons, as everything simply falls back under the control of your two thumbs – just like in the old days, eh? Movement is controlled with the left stick or D-pad, whilst the four key moves (strike, block/reverse, grapple and Irish Whip) and mapped to the face buttons. And that’s it. Not that this limits the number of moves too much, as various combos (and we’re hoping some kind of intelligent context sensitivity) will mix things up nicely. As your combo builds, so a meter fills up; the fuller the meter, the more powerful your attacks are, leading all the way up to a finishing move.
It’s this simplicity that THQ and Yukes are hoping will appeal to the casual gamers who don’t fancy getting their butts kicked in SmackDown. The only sticking point for us is the decision to interrupt combos by flashing up a button, with the first to hit the appropriate button either blocking the move or continuing the barrage. We might turn out to be wrong, but the idea of a whole game relying purely on who has the best thumb reflex seems to be a little harsh.
Yukes has certainly got the authenticity for the occasion right though. All aspects of this bygone era of wrestling have been accounted for, from the crowd wearing suitable ‘80s and ‘90s clothing – including merchandise and those big foam hands – to including real video footage to set up and explain the classic matches and feuds you are able to recreate in the ring, either to successfully relive a moment in wrestling history or to rewrite it altogether. The full roster has yet to be confirmed (besides Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant seen in these screens), although rumour and a quite blatant listing on IMDb suggests most of the big names you’d expect will be there.
The only notable absentee which could frustrate wrestling fans is Randy ‘Macho Man/King’ Savage whose long-running feud with WWE bosses is a possible factor in his current omission.
However, there’s still a roster with more than 40 legends of the ring, each with their own signatures moves, classic entrances and some fantastic fights to recreate, which is sure to keep many a wrestling fan happy. We’ll just have to wait for that first hands-on to see how this simplified SmackDown stands up as a genuine contender on the videogame stage, but then maybe nostalgia alone is worth a million copies and a buck not to be missed?
