One is the exaggerated, over-the-top arcade-y action - it's to previous WWE games what NFL Blitz is to Madden - and the other is the premise itself: Past wrestling legends throwing down with modern superstars in dream matchups that could never have happened in reality. There are two main draws to THQ San Diego's upcoming WWE All-Stars. WWE All-Stars may not fit the bill, but its at least fun, friendly and enjoyable. It does have the greatest roster ever assembled, and for those of the arcade era, you will fall in love with this latest wrestling game offering.WWE All-Stars puts three decades of pro-wrestling superstars in one ring, and according to the senior designer, WWE fans could hardly ask for a better lineup. Wrestling needs a new generation of computer games. We need something that utilises the kinetic style involvement. There is little to keep you coming back night after night, in the same way as Red Dead Redemption or Metal Gear Solid. I for one think that while wrestling games have incredible graphics, they still lack the depth of other non-sports based games. Is it worth $50 though? The answer to that depends on how much you like wrestling games. Raw, but it was never meant to be a challenger to this coveted position. It may lack the detail of a Smackdown vs.
The appeal of this game is certainly there, its fun, its colourful, its friendly. The moves performed are pretty fun and the sight of Rey Mysterio flying into the air, is pretty amazing.
The PS3 version of All-Stars, in terms of its gameplay, is pretty simple, and it requires less skill than in the Smackdown franchise. Gone are the basic controls of simply moving a mouse up and down, and in its place we have sequences of X, triangle, Square and circle, which are so complex that you feel that for all that effort, you should be opening a bank vault.Įven further advances have come in the shape of Wii and then Kinetic, and it is this kind of interaction that wrestling games will need to consider in more detail if its product will continue to prosper. And so from that perspective, All-Stars once again has a selling point for different generations of fans.Ĭomputer games have come a long way since the days of Pong. The promise of Big Show versus Andre, or Hulk Hogan versus Stone Cold are matches that we as wrestling fans have only ever dreamt about. I, for one, though had to take a second look, as it looked strange to see Shawn Michaels as a legend, rather than a current superstar. But it also includes others, like Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat and Shawn Michaels. The game itself immediately sets its stalls in so much that it utilises the legends far more than other computer games. In recent advertisements, we have seen Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and the Ultimate Warrior. The second is the younger generation who will no doubt be attracted to the bright lights and colour of this more cartoon computer game. Nothing too complicated, simple controls and a basic format. The first is the generation who grew up on the likes of Mortal Kombat and for whom it was their game of choice. If its too complicated or detailed, it can affect the quality of the gameplay and put off some gaming fans who see modern games as too complex.īy going back to a basic concept, the WWE might be trying to connect with two different kinds of gaming fan. Sometimes computer games are most effective when they are simple. Mario, after all, jumped up and down on mushrooms. However having now played the new All-Stars game, it is clear that perhaps I have missed an important detail.