Sports games have always been the scene of interesting rivalries: PES vs FIFA, NBA Live vs NBA 2K, etc. Definitely the return of Yukes inside the wrestling ring it will have aroused some interest in several fans. In fact, we are talking about the company that created all licensed fighting games from 2000 to 2018, but above all the author of the increasingly nostalgic WWE SmackDown. Here comes the pain. After 2K decided to develop WWE games in-house, Yuke turned to AEW, the McMahon family's rival company that offers weekly global television shows. So, will THQ Nordic have managed to bring a valid alternative to WWE 2K23 to the market?
Let's find out in the AEW: Fight Forever review.
Back to the Future
Let's start by saying that yes, Yuke's has not lost its ability to offer a complete experience when it comes to the world of wrestling. It is undeniable that what had magnetically captivated fans of the discipline so many years ago is also present in this AEW: Fight Forever. There won't be the managerial depth of the various Smackdown vs Raw, but you will certainly find the Fun of games from the early 2000s.
The idea behind this new wrestling title is simple: offer fans the chance to have a big one in their hands. variety of options To choose from. All this aimed at creating an experience as close as possible to the players' imagination. From simple 1v1 and 2v2, to the more canonical matches with weapons and cages, through AEW trademarks such as Casino Battle Royale. As in the television programs, the virtual version also does not lack blood and brutality with spiked sticks, explosives, thumbtacks and incendiary tables. Also interesting is the possibility of playing mini-games, more arcadey than the classic games and which offer fun ideas to pass the time.
From this point of view, there is nothing to say. The transposition is faithful and, in fact, the entertainment is truly tasty and profound. The possibility of creating fun moments, but also epic ones, is there and depends only on the player. This element is not insignificant, given that over the years it has been at the center of requests from wrestling fans. Therefore, without the offline and online experience (private, random and ranked matches), linked to the fun of individual games, to complete the range of modes present there is the possibility of creating creations (fighters, arenas, tickets, etc.) , a store to use with currency and game mode Path to the elite, which is the equivalent of career mode.
AEW: Fight Forever's main mode, which can be played with either an existing or created Superstar, is a reminder of Yuke's past. In fact, we find ourselves in a classic climb to success, with our protagonist who will have to take on the role of a first-year student under the auspices of the family. Khan and will have to fight until competing for the position of GOAT. Obviously, nothing we haven't already seen, but it's still an always nice way to make your choices. The segments in the locker rooms and backstage return and a whole series of nostalgic winks that have brought a smile to our faces several times, reminding us of the experiences of the early 2000s.
A limping game
Once the menu is abandoned, the idyll of nostalgic immersion in the past ends up brutally addressing several unfocused elements. The first problem is certainly visual: AEW: Fight Forever is definitely not an experience that keeps up with the times. The impression is that of seeing the puppets fighting in the ring. yakks. In 2003, these articulated action figures with which to create wrestling matches with friends were very popular among children. Well, in AEW: Fight Forever there is constantly the impression of large moving puppets, which also seem to be made of plastic. In short, the wood and gloss make AEW: Fight Forever not the most beautiful game of the generation.
Accompanying all this is the surreal choice of not proposing the athletes' complete registrations, but rather a reduced version that, in our opinion, breaks the magic. There's no doubt that wrestler entrances are one of the most iconic elements in the world of wrestling, so why miss these moments? With a field so full of memorable entries in both music and movements, this own goal is inexplicable.
Pad in hand, the game offers aenigmatic experience. The moves aren't very fluid and the range of wrestlers' moves, while certainly including some of the superstars' most iconic shots, is very limited. The interactions with various elements of the environment are excellent, but the general feeling is that of having a Ferrari stuck. To demonstrate this, there is a rather cumbersome and unintuitive key mapping. X/A for grappling, square/X for punching, and triangle/Y for kicking, plus the two upper lats used to block grapples (left) and strikes (right). A particular system that goes against the trend of what both rivals and other fighting titles have done. The choice therefore requires unusual complexity, mainly due to the separation between kicks and punches. Therefore, we would have preferred a vision similar to what 2K did with the assignment of light and powerful blows, but we understand that the choice is dictated by the absence of a high number of movements for the fighters.
With regards to list Instead, we are faced with a sufficient number of combatants. The television show, in fact, provides the opportunity to see AEW wrestlers fighting with Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestlers. In the video game, however, due to licensing issues, external federations will be completely absent and you will have to settle for those of AEW. We will see what the future holds, that is, if any DLC will solve the situation or if we will have to wait for a new chapter. Currently this is a quite limiting element.
Conclusions
Tested version PC with Windows digital delivery Steam, playstation store, Xbox Store Price 59.99 € Holygamerz.com 6.5 Readers (2) 7.3 your voteAEW: Fight Forever is a great wish but I can't. The technical deficiencies are evident and demonstrate how the software company's Achilles heel remains the technical aspect of its work. Conceptually, the game again proposes the madness and customization of the gaming experience that made the first wrestling titles great in the 2000s. But the technical limitations of the gameplay ruin AEW's first work. Perhaps the brand's future will be brighter, but in the meantime, the first chapter will have a hard time sticking in players' memories.
PRO
- Types of fun and crazy matches
- fun to play
AGAINST
- Graphically it is not up to par
- Very little in animations and movements.
