Game:

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (2005)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 13:01

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Fire Pro Wrestling Returns is currently one of the last games within the long-running Fi-Pro series (which has been around for approximately 20 years and started on the PC-Engine in 1989) and one of the few ever localized outside of Japan, though the series is critically acclaimed throughout several regions of the world and has long earned its place as one of the most sophisticated and hardcore wrestling series ever created. Many Western wrestling fans have experienced the series via importing through such greats as the Super Famicom's "Super Fire ProWrestling X Premium" or Sega Saturn's "Fire ProWrestling S: 6Men Scramble". The series, which was long held by Human Entertainment, is now carried on by Spike, which is comprised of many Human employees. The first game considered loosely part of the FPW series outside of Japan was "Hal Wrestling" for the Game Boy in 1990.

In the creation of Fire Pro Wrestling Returns, Spike & S-Neo wanted the series to go out with a bang, creating what is arguably the best game in the entire series (which is a good thing since it was released outside Japan). Featuring what many consider an unheard of amount of customization and depth, the game features 327 playable characters, the ability to make up to 500 of your own with tons of customizing features (for a total of 827 characters, many which you can fashion after real life wrestlers), tons of modes and editable features (such as referees, rings, etc.), and 1,649 wrestling moves. While most wrestlers are based on real wrestlers, they aren't named such due to licensing reasons (though you can rename them as you see fit).

While graphics were rarely a highlight within the series, FPWR has nice, large 2D sprites and everything is well-presented, though not impressive by any stretch of the imagination. The game has a good soundtrack and even a few references for the hardcore Human/Spike fan (such as the options theme, which is basically a theme from the mecha strategy game "Epica Stella", which was localized by Working Designs in the U.S. as "Vanguard Bandits"). There's a whole lot to love here.

If you're unfamiliar with the gameplay of the FPW series, it is quite complex and not for newcomers of wrestling games; it's also admiteddly not for everyone in general, even if you do happen to like other wrestling games. The biggest difference in FPW from most other wrestling games is the lack of button-mashing for commands and the "less than intuitive and more realistic" countering system. Grapples are initiated in timed sessions, with the first person to initiate their command + grab button succedding in a throw. The types of throws that can be done depend on location, proximity, your stamina, and how fatigued the opponent is.

In the beginning of a match, you'll only likely succeed with weak throws. As matches go on, you can execute medium and strong throws and even crtically wound a wrestler, which usually takes them out of the fight. Bigger, stronger opponents require more work to wear down and counter moves with more ease, but may be slower or more suceptible to certain moves/holds. It's up to you to figure out what works against who.

This is a video of one match in Battle Royale, broken up with several transitions to cover a "30 Minute" match. Enjoy.