So, I’ve been messing around with this game, Fire Pro Wrestling World, and I gotta say, it’s been a wild ride. I initially dove in because I was curious – is this thing anything like MUGEN? I mean, MUGEN’s got that whole DIY, anything-goes vibe, and I was wondering if Fire Pro Wrestling could scratch that same itch.
First off, I started by just jumping into a few matches. The controls, they’re not your usual button-mashing deal. It’s more about timing, which, I’ll admit, threw me off at first. I spent a good chunk of time just getting my butt kicked, trying to figure out the rhythm of the grapples and strikes.
Then I dug into the creation suite. Holy smokes, the level of detail you can get into with your wrestlers is insane! I made some truly wacky characters – but you can also put the time in to create detailed replicas of famous wrestlers, its just insane. It’s not quite MUGEN level of freedom, but you can definitely get lost in there for hours, tweaking appearances and move sets.
- I tried out the different match types, too.
- Cage matches, battle royales, even those crazy exploding barbed wire deathmatches!
- Each one felt distinct and added a new layer to the gameplay.
Next, I checked out this “Mission Mode” thing. It’s kinda like a story mode, but it’s not super deep. You get these little picture cutscenes with text, and you work your way through a bunch of challenges. It’s alright, but nothing to write home about.
There’s also a “Fire Promoter” mode, which is basically a GM mode. You get to run your own promotion, book matches, manage your roster, and all that jazz. I played around with it for a bit, and it seems pretty in-depth. You can even rival other promotions, and they vary in size, adding a bit of depth to the game. It’s one of those modes that you can easily sink a ton of time into if you’re into that sort of thing.
So, back to the MUGEN comparison. They’re different beasts, for sure. Fire Pro Wrestling World is more about simulating actual wrestling, with a deep combat system and a focus on timing and strategy. MUGEN is more of a free-for-all, where you can throw in whatever characters and moves you want. But, Fire Pro does offer a ton of customization and a really satisfying gameplay loop. I actually had more fun with it than I expected.
The more I played, the more I appreciated the nuances of the gameplay. It’s not just about winning; it’s about putting on a good show. You start to learn how to work the crowd, how to build to a big spot, and how to tell a story in the ring. And with the ability to adjust the CPU difficulty, there’s always a decent challenge.
Ultimately
I think Fire Pro Wrestling World is a fantastic wrestling game, but maybe not a full-blown MUGEN replacement. If you’re looking for something with a bit more structure and a focus on wrestling itself, you’ll probably love it. If you want a complete sandbox where you can have Goku fight Ronald McDonald, stick with MUGEN. Personally I found myself coming back to it again and again, just to try out new characters and see what kind of crazy matches I could come up with.