WrestleQuest Review – The Cream Rises to the Top

WrestleQuest on PC

For these well-versed in the world {of professional} wrestling, likelihood is you’ve seen each the surprise it’s able to creating and the ugliness that’s left many scarred. With all of the data now we have accessible to us, not to mention the reality that there’s a multi-season documentary collection entitled Dark Side of the Ring, it’s straightforward to get misplaced in the darkness. Perhaps the loveliest side of WrestleQuest, although, is its dedication to the goofiness of all of it.

Players are thrown into the fireplace nearly instantly, coaching for matches whereas enhancing their expertise on the microphone. There are numerous aspect quests to occupy one’s time, but this by no means stops reminding you what skilled wrestling is about. Good battling evil; the babyface wanting to defeat the heel.

Decades-long followers will possible smile from the starting, as one among our most important heroes — “Muchaco Man” Randy Santos — units off on their journey with the objective of changing into the best possible skilled wrestler the world has to supply. His inspiration, in fact, is none apart from the legendary “Macho Man” Randy Savage.

Maybe if there’s a draw back to be discovered, it’s that gamers are unable to create their very personal wrestler. Though, that doesn’t spell the finish of the world as the tales of Santos and Brink Logan supply loads of enjoyment. And via their trials and tribulations, limitless customization is current.

When I previewed WrestleQuest in July, I spoke glowingly about the legends this recreation leans on whereas praising the mixture of normal professional wrestling fare with fantastical and humorous parts. Names of the previous reminiscent of Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Andre the Giant, and Savage prominently function. So a lot in order that territories based mostly on their careers are there to be explored.

Whether it’s with Santos or Logan, gamers are going to face their share of unordinary encounters. You will usually discover that it isn’t simply your common human being wanting to hone their professional wrestling expertise. Oftentimes, you’ll be taught they’re not human beings in any respect.

For each handful of people, there will likely be bears, lizards, and rats to battle. Not to be omitted, aliens, post-apocalyptic raiders, and robots desire a piece of that motion. No matter the place this expertise takes you, everybody and every little thing will try to stand in your method. A rival group right here, a corrupt promoter there. It is all par for the course. After all, what’s skilled wrestling with no few sideshows?

That mentioned, WrestleQuest isn’t all about the motion inside the ring. Regarding story development, it’s so simple as following the quest traces word-for-word. If the story pathways appear easy, that’s as a result of they’re. At instances, aims will merely require you to go from location to location so as to advance the story. At others, gamers will want to depend on the teammates they’ve befriended beforehand.

Regardless of location, gamers won’t ever cease shifting. Map markers are straightforward to select, however not at all times straightforward to uncover. That is to say, obstacles current themselves in a lot of alternative ways, and that’s the place your steady of teammates comes into play. While making their method via the numerous territories, gamers are tasked with new methods to keep away from its pitfalls. And, as a result of quests constantly swap between playable characters, it by no means feels stale. It additionally doesn’t take lengthy to understand how totally different every of our central characters is.

Sometimes, it’ll be as straightforward as strolling to the marker on the map with nary an impediment in sight. Other instances, the state of affairs will name for a little bit little bit of cleverness and stealth. There will likely be switches to set off so as to open alternate pathways. Avoiding gunfire with well timed dodges ultimately turns into a essential ability, whereas searchlights will spot you in case you fail to flip them off first.

In each space a participant travels to, there will likely be objects to work together with that aid you full the puzzle. So sure, due to there being one goal to observe at a time, gamers will solely have to give attention to one map marker. But, getting there could require some cleverness. Even so, these dungeons or aspect areas could start to really feel extra tedious than partaking. It’s enjoyable to use all your accessible stablemates to discover a pathway ahead. It’s much less enjoyable to get misplaced with out the promise of a big payoff at the finish. That appears to be the motive why areas are suffering from treasure chests, objects, and participant boosts.

Starting from the very backside is commonly the method of the skilled wrestler, and WrestleQuest feels no want to stray from that specific system. It solely reminds us that we can not get to the place we would like to be with out assist. There is an opportunity gamers will develop annoyed when it comes to getting via sure dungeons, and that’s definitely one draw back to the expertise. But there’s a stability to be discovered between exploration and in-ring motion.

This particularly reveals via its gameplay. The in-ring mechanics is the place this entry shines brightest. Players may have loads of time to degree up by competing in one-on-one matches. Hyping up the crowd via numerous gimmick strikes is a method to make your mark, however a well-placed taunt goes a great distance with these cheering you on. The solely downside seems to solely be throughout sure boss fights, the place hype meter aims have a tendency to get in the method of the traditional match move.

Despite that, the fight system is gratifying to experiment with. Early on, toying with the taunt and gimmick techniques is a enjoyable method to put together your self for what hassle awaits. Individual encounters are a staple of early development, however tag staff bouts, trios matches, and even two-on-three battles change into extra prevalent quickly after.

This is the place these gimmick strikes change into extremely vital. A quantity’s drawback can really feel tough at first, however the proper mixture of strikes and taunts might help tip the scales in your favor. Just ensure to regulate your performer’s hit and motion factors. Despite the many objects merely mendacity round, together with duct tape to recuperate well being and slam shakes to regenerate motion factors, it’s crucial to have a plan of assault.

Tag staff assaults can deal extreme harm early, however you wouldn’t need to danger dropping all of your AP too shortly. This rings even more true inside the confines of a multi-person match. Depending on the severity of the transfer, tag staff assaults take up a number of AP. And, you’ll want to exhaust them with a number of wrestlers so as to pull off sure strikes. You’ll additionally discover that each character you come throughout, whether or not a good friend or an enemy, has just a few particular assaults up their sleeve.

But if it’s a one-on-one battle, we don’t advocate going via AP until you’re battling a singular boss. Players can use objects mid-match so as to recuperate mentioned talents, however not with out burning a flip. This is an RPG, in spite of everything. Stats recuperate on their very own upon leveling up, however you’ll have to monitor them alongside the method whereas progressing via dungeons and different enemies.

So in case you’re scuffling with a multi-person match, it’s vital to shortly determine which opponent you prefer to to dismantle first. Should you relatively focus all your staff’s vitality on one wrestler? Or, is a extra evenly-applied strategy the route to take? The selection is yours. Just keep in mind as you progress via these territories, opponents will undoubtedly get stronger. Not having a technique at the starting of your playthrough shouldn’t burn you too badly. But, getting too cavalier down the street may have you racing via objects and falling brief.

Yet even inside the confines of varied quests and matches, exploration is inspired. If you need to focus your vitality on discovering hidden treasure, have at it. If you’d relatively endlessly wander the territories searching for smaller fights to degree up, this doesn’t stand in your method. Players may have to proceed with the quest at hand ultimately, however not whereas worrying about any kind of time crunch.

This title serves as a love letter to skilled wrestling, nevertheless it additionally ensures that anyone who likes a little bit journey may have enjoyable. The RPG points are intricately woven all through, as the proper mixture of strikes, gimmicks, and taunts go away the viewers howling for extra Yes, your expertise will likely be enhanced in case you’re already a professional wrestling fan. There isn’t any getting round that. It is much from a requirement, although, and that’s down to the stability of this world and the gameplay it offers.

Long after we hold up our boots, the debate over the world’s most wonderful wrestling online game will rage. For many, 2000’s WWF No Mercy is the definitive selection. As the years handed, a few WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw titles made their mark. Even earlier this summer season, AEW Fight Forever made its debut, providing one thing a little bit totally different for followers than what they’ve come to count on from the WWE 2K collection.

Yet each on occasion, a recreation that prioritizes the core idea of its world really emerges. WrestleQuest, certainly not, is common fare. And in truth, thrives on this regard. It reveals as a lot love to skilled wrestling followers because it probably can with limitless references and spectacular spoofs. And but, it by no means leaves its RPG parts in the mud. This takes us on a hero’s journey, however not with out cautious consideration of the selections they need to make. Things go off the rails right here and there, however there may be loads of time to take a breather.

Not with out its irritating moments, WrestleQuest appears like a refreshing different to the traditional yearly simulations. A recreation for wrestling followers in the beginning, however not just for them. Through all its winks and nods and beneath all the nitty-gritty, it’s a recreation that reminds us all of the foundations of our fandom. Despite how foolish issues get, skilled wrestling thrives after we all have the potential to lean into a personality’s authenticity — irrespective of how over the prime.

About the writer

Shaun Ranft

Shaun Ranft is a Freelance Writer for Twinfinite, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who has been with the web site and writing about video games generally since 2022. While he sometimes covers any main sports activities title, he additionally can not get sufficient of Telltale’s The Walking Dead, Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds, Arkham, and the Horizon collection.