OXCGN’s WWE All-Stars Review

Slobberknocker or sleeper hold?

by: Belgavion

©2011 Gav Ross

Though the Smackdown vs Raw series from THQ has been the premiere WWE video game experience for several years now, they are largely simulations of Vince McMahon’s product and the controls can be a little daunting to newcomers, especially kids.

If the brand’s action figure sales are anything to go by, an even more over-the-top, stylized fantasy version of the WWE universe is close to being just as popular – and WWE All-Stars fits the bill perfectly.

One thing that WWE has no trouble in taking advantage of is their legacy – which now extends back over 27 years to the first Wrestlemania. A cable channel in the US runs ‘greatest hits’ collections of matches from the past and the company’s Hall Of Fame induction ceremony celebrates revered past superstars each year on the eve of Wrestlemania.

Obviously big name champions from the past cannot face current young bucks (unless you count the odd special occurrence like Hogan vs Rock or the future-scheduled Rock vs Cena), so pitting bygone legends against new talent by way of a video game is a no-brainer.

In this very ring…

All-Stars separates its roster in to two categories: Legends and Superstars.

Pretty much all of the names you’d expect sit comfortably in the Legends bracket, including Andre The Giant, Ultimate Warrior, Steve Austin, Jimmy Snuka and Randy Savage.

Being based on the current 2011 roster, the Superstars list is made up of still-competing veterans like Orton, Undertaker and the newly-retired Edge, but also throws in some fresh faces that wouldn’t have been seen in a WWE game as little as 1-2 years ago (Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger etc).

It’s an extensive, varied mix of the old and the new and although there are sure to be arguments made for why certain Legends weren’t included (where’s Hacksaw Jim Duggan?!), future DLC may help to fix that as there has already been an announcement of a free Honky Tonk Man addition with more to come.

Wrestling amplified

Everything in All-Stars is exaggerated to the max, whether it be body size, grapples, strikes or facial expressions.

When The Undertaker unleashes his finishing move, the ‘Tombstone Piledriver’, he doesn’t just simply drop onto his knees and drop his opponent down flat for the pin, he jumps 20 feet in the air and crushes their skull into the mat, sending reverberations throughout the ring and a deep bass ‘thud’ through the speakers.

Remember Eddie Guerrero’s often-imitated-but-never-replicated ‘Frog Splash’ from the top rope? In this game he manages to flip a few times in the air mid-jump for good measure.

Even the most mundane moves are given the fancy treatment, like Roddy Piper’s sleeper hold, in which rather than slowly letting the victim doze off under his clenched arms he gives them a spinning throw, making their neck look like it is being broken in the process.

• WWE All-Star screenshots slideshow

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All of this might sound a tad violent, but it’s done in a cartoony style and it’s still a very family-friendly game. In keeping with the WWE’s current business model of being more of a kid-friendly ‘entertainment’ company, there’s no blood or nasty weapons like baseball bats wrapped in barbed wire or flaming tables to be seen.

There are a few nice touches, however, such as red welts appearing on an opponent’s chest after you’ve smacked them a good number of times, and I might have just imagined it but it seemed like the bodies of the big men showed realistic signs of exertion by turning a dark pink as a match wore on.

Match styles are nicely varied, including 3 or 4 man Elimination, Handicap, Steel Cage and Tornado Tag Team bouts. The only story element in the game exists in ‘Path Of Champions’ – a series of three stories made up of about ten matches each that culminate in a showdown with either The Undertaker, Randy Orton or DX.

‘Fantasy Warfare’ mode is made up of 1-on-1 dream matches that, for the most part, have never happened, including Bret Hart vs Edge for the title of ‘Excellence Of Execution’ and Roddy Piper vs rookie Dwayne McIntyre for ‘The Pride Of Scotland’.

This is probably the best mode to start things off with as it also unlocks the rest of the roster in Exhibition Mode, plus there are video vignettes preceding each confrontation that make them seem a little more special.

What a maneuver!

Controls are more accessible than the SvR series with just a bit of practice needed to get used to timing.

The four face buttons deal out heavy or light strikes and several different grapple moves are available for each wrestler. By building a meter up and pressing two face buttons at the same time a more devastating special move can be activated, such as CM Punk’s flurry of kicks or Andre’s potent forearm across the chest.

The big daddy – the finishing move – is assigned to both shoulder buttons and can only be activated once a separate meter has built up during a match. Timing is critical for these and they can’t be triggered at any old time; usually they become possible to pull off towards the end of a bout when your opponent is slow to get up.

Reversals can be cleverly executed by tapping the right shoulder button at a precise moment; moves can’t constantly be reversed by mashing RB every time your wrestler gets grappled.

Overall it doesn’t take more than few matches to get a good idea of the timing needed and ways to properly vary maneuvers and not have your wrestler stuck in bad spots all of the time.

Commentary is delivered by the very capable Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler, but after years of recording this type of material it’s almost understandable that their voices aren’t injected with a great deal of enthusiasm. It’s by-the-numbers commentary with plenty of catchphrases from the pair.

There’s nothing unique to the online modes and the majority of match types and wrestlers available in single-player also can be used here. It’s probably advisable to not step foot into the lobbies until going through at least a handful of single-player bouts though, as you’ll no doubt cop a pounding and, in the Iron Sheik’s famous words, be left feeling humbled.

The ‘wow’ factor of watching outrageous maneuvers in a way never before seen in a wrestling game does sort of wear off after a few hours, and once every opponent has been faced on the roster and all modes checked out there isn’t a great deal of incentive to keep returning to the world of WWE All-Stars.

It’s a welcome diversion from the standard WWE game formula though and sure to be an easier sell to younger audiences.

Additional Accessories for WWE All-Stars from Mad-Catz

Official WWE All Stars Arcade BrawlStick

For the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft / PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Designed to offer authentic, arcade-style play, the WWE All Stars Arcade BrawlStick will offer gamers precision control and quality engineering, complete with official artwork from the videogame that depicts WWE Superstars and WWE Legends.

Dual-speed Turbo functionality for each button, complete with LED Indicators, will allow gamers to execute moves with impressive speed, while the eight-button arcade configuration will enable larger-than-life moves to be performed with precise execution.

An integrated D-Pad switch will allow gamers to alternate between D-Pad and Analog Sticks for maximum control flexibility, while the ergonomic slanted top panel will ensure comfort during sustained play.

In addition, Start and Select/Back Buttons will be located on the back of the BrawlStick, minimizing the risk of accidental interruptions.

MSRP: $US79.99

Official WWE All Stars BrawlPad

Ideal for gamers favoring a traditional console controller without wishing to compromise on features, the WWE All Stars BrawlPad will feature an ergonomic design with an enlarged circular eight-way floating D-Pad and arcade style six-button configuration.

An integrated D-Pad switch will allow gamers to alternate between D-Pad and Analog Sticks, and combined with official artwork from the videogame, gamers can grapple with the BrawlPad depicting their favorite WWE Legends and WWE Superstars!

MSRP: $US39.95

OXCGN’s Sliver Award

“7.5/10

©2011 Gav Ross 

xxxxxx

• WWE All-Stars Screeshots gallery

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