Summary: Ahhh Yukes, it seems like you take one step forward with this genre and take 2 steps back. Not 6 months after SvsR 09 this title comes out and while it has some promise of bringing a whole boatload of legends and legendary matches in the mix, you change and omit things that just seem to frustrate the hell out of everybody. Just like this year's SvsR, while some creative ideas like create a finisher was added, you kill the whole GM mode (which I thought it was fun).
So, let me get into some of the highlights and lowlights of the game.
Controls and Game play: Definently a huge overhaul and a bone of contention with game enthusiasts. It went from being 'sim like' where you had to really know your wrestler's moves to a complete button masher and good for those who love playing games with a "God of War" feel...not that this is a good thing. While I kind of like the control setup somewhat, I feel that takes away a lot of control that you have with your wrestler and you wind up being more of an observer of the action rather than taking part in it. And, it doesn't always work when you need it to. It takes some time to get used to how the game plays using only the face buttons but with a little practice, anyone can pick it up...but in the grand scheme of things the one with the quicker reflexes wins. Also, I feel that with the create mode especially when you go to create moves, the folks at Yukes cut out waaaaay too many of the move sets especially the finishers that has been available in their other titles. To take away created finishers was one thing but to take out a whole slew of them that was in the pre made mode really impacts on who I want to create.
Funny thing is, with the controls set the way they are, this game would be perfect for the PSP.
The Roster itself is a pretty good who's who of 80's WWF (when it really WAS the WWF) personality. While it is great to see who made it in, it's also astonishing to see who DIDN'T make it in. I know that it may be a matter of licensing but here is my short list of folks who I was stunned to see wasn't in the game and if there is another iteration, hopefully they will make it:
1. Macho Man Randy Savage and Elizabeth
2. Irwin R Shyster
3. Demolition
4. The Natural Disasters
5. Capt. Lou Albano
6. George "The Animal" Steele
7. Harley Race
8. Razor Ramon
9. The Nasty Boys
10. OWEN HART !!
Now, on the plus side, if you did plunk down for SvsR 09 you can import the roster and even get previously locked characters and make some dream matches ( The Big Show vs Andre the Giant) fix some tag teams (put the correct Triple H and Shawn Michaels in DX) and more. I do wish they had left in the create a Stables mode as the 80's and 90's did tend to focus more on stables and their managers moreso than just tag teams.
Another issue I have that was absent is the damage indicator that was in SvsR. nothing was more fun than fighting a wrestler and the more you focused on a body part, the harder it was for them to wrestle, just in IRL of fake wrestling...LOL! This could've been implemented here as well but again going for the arcade-ness I guess was why this was left out.
Being able to save in game is also a big issue. Although I have played Legend Killer so far, I don't like that fact that you can't save mid game and come back later and then guess what, the final tier is ALL 38 WRESTLERS!
Thankfully though you can continue should you lose.
Graphically speaking, while the game looks great, most of the characters look uncharacteristically incorrect. Most of them have way too much definition muscle wise and some aren't quite represented the way they should. Hulk Hogan doesn't do his signature flex upon ring entry, the Undertaker is a little too animated as opposed to his 'acting dead' persona or his in ring sit up and something is a bit off with The Rock's entrance as well. Although some of these and other character idiosyncrasies are there to be found, it's up to the player to decide if it takes away from their gaming experience. The managers add flavor as well but the only minus is that you can't control when you need them. While the idea of them being game changers was a good one, I hope they improve player control for this in the next iterations of both games.
Overall it's in some ways what SvsR 09 could have been but just like that game, this also needs some polish and tightening and if Yukes ever gets the message, then one day we can a worthy wrestling title that can incorporate the past with the present.
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Legends of Wrestlemania (Xbox 360) 
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