Even though it’s considered the best wrestling game series in the world, Fire Pro Wrestling hasn’t seen much success in North America. In an industry where elaborate 3D graphics, licensed brands, and heavy product placement reign supreme, it was a breath of fresh air to see that 2D character sprites, environments, and mentality still had a place in gaming’s present.

Fire Pro Wrestling: Returns boasts deep customization options that allows players to create their own organizations, wrestlers, wrestling rings, and even referees. As a hardcore wrestling fan, I customized every wrestler in the roster to look, and fight like their real counterparts. Ever felt like recreating the Monday Night Wars (WWF vs WCW)? How about pitting Hollywood Hulk Hogan against Japan’s Jushin “Thunder” Liger? How about having WWE take on TNA Impact Wrestling? Now you can do it with Fire Pro Wrestling: Returns for the PlayStation 2.

It was a treat to see many of the Japanese wrestlers like Masahiro Chono, Jushin Liger, and Tiger Mask were included as I’ve always loved the AJPW and NJPW promotions. Though keep in mind, they have not been licensed by the developer so they’ll be named something different, yet refreshingly similar.

I haven’t even started talking about the gameplay, which is to say, incredibly in-depth. This isn’t Smackdown vs. Raw easy to play. It’s a pro-wrestling simulation in the purest form. The game requires players to time their attacks, grapples and throws instead of button mashing. That only got you beat.

The game boasted a staggering 327 wrestlers and fighters, space for 500 created characters, thousands of moves, and even custom entrances with accompanying music. It also allows players to outfit their squared-circles with barbed wires, exploding floor mats, cages, and other hardcore wrestling staples that have satisfied wrestling fans’ bloodlust for more than two decades.

Character customization is deep as well. Players can choose from thousands of faces, costumes, body types, and entrances and of course, customized move sets. Basically, the game allows you to create luchadores, brawlers, powerhouses, and technical wrestlers, each character with literally hundreds of moves to choose from. If you feel like creating Brock Lesnar, you can do it and even fill his moveset with a combination of powerful wrestling slams with MMA-style ground-and-pound with submissions.

THE MMA CROSSOVER

Those who prefer MMA can also find enjoyment from the game as it features many global MMA fighters (Names changed of course) organizations and rule sets. Even before I knew about MMA, I knew about Fire Pro’s Pancrase fights, the octagon cage Gruesome fights, as well as the more hardcore electric fenced deathmatches.

If you’re a wrestling or MMA fan and haven’t tried the Fire Pro series, give it a shot. I guarantee you that it’ll take hundreds of hours to master the deep gameplay and to create your wrestlers.

You can find Fire Pro Wrestling: Returns (PS2) for $19.99 or less at most retailers.

Discuss:

Have you played Fire Pro Wrestling: Returns?