WrestleQuest Hands-on Preview – It’s Still Real to Us

The world {of professional} wrestling is at all times altering. Whether or not it’s a mix of differing types making their approach to the forefront; brand-new promotions surfacing with hopes of offering an inexpensive quantity of competitors; or legendary acts returning for nostalgia’s sake—there may be certain to be one thing for each single fan possible.

That’s simply the tip of the iceberg with regards to WrestleQuest, the soon-to-be-released wrestling recreation that makes use of fantasy RPG parts, courtesy of Skybound Video games and Mega Cat Studios.

Full disclosure: I’m extremely explicit with regards to my RPGs. Even once I suppose I’ll like one right here and there, I are inclined to take my candy time with getting round to ever taking part in by way of it. Now put the phrase fantasy in entrance of RPG, and also you’ll nearly miss me fully. Until after all, you handle to tie all of these parts into the world of wrestling, which is strictly what WrestleQuest has finished right here.

Maybe you’re nonetheless pining for the good ‘ol days {of professional} wrassling, lamenting the truth that right this moment’s panorama not resembles the 80s and 90s and that you’ve got, actually, aged. Effectively, you’re in luck, partially, as WrestleQuest begins with the long-lasting “Macho Man” Randy Savage saving an auditorium filled with followers from a reptilian creature bent on burning it to the bottom. I imply, simply have a look at the statue devoted to his heroics on the high of the web page.

This brings us to one in every of our leads, aspiring skilled wrestler Randy Santos, who very similar to Ash Ketchum units off to turn into the perfect—although, in a means that one man earlier than him very a lot already was. Santos attire, strikes, and speaks like “Macho Man.” He retains a poster of Savage on the wall contained in the gymnasium the place he each trains and evidently sleeps. And but, regardless of this larger-than-life persona, Santos doesn’t consider he’s portraying a personality.

Santos options prominently, however he isn’t the one character gamers will have the ability to discover. There may be additionally Brink Logan of the revered Logan household, whose intensive household tree and information of the craft, to not point out their Canadian roots, bear a resemblance to the legendary Hart household.

And don’t you are worried, old-school wrestling followers, there are notable names throughout this recreation. From Diamond Dallas Web page and Jake “The Snake” Roberts to Jeff Jarrett (he nonetheless wrestles, you understand) and Sprint Expertise, who’s one-hundred p.c “The Nature Boy” Ric Aptitude with out the title, you’re certain to acknowledge a good few of us all through your respective journeys. However we’re not right here to spoil each likeness. The place is the enjoyable in that?

The 2 areas I previewed have been Boxwood and Pondfork. The previous is the place Santos’ journey actually begins whereas the latter is the place the Logans reside. In Boxwood, streets are dimly lit and the outlets are worn down. Rats with tattered beanie hats run in packs. No one needs to be your pal, however will your skilled wrestling persona prevail?

In Pondfork, it by no means stops snowing. You’ll encounter moose waxing poetic about maple syrup. There will likely be burly lumberjacks pining for pancakes whereas wanting ahead to the night wrestling match. Everybody lives in a cabin. Is that this Canadian sufficient for you? Although, it’s tough to say the place the dinosaurs slot in. Irrespective of.

But in each areas, gamers will discover wrestling promotions. Treasure hunts exist. Hazard could also be lurking. And retaining with our loosely established Pokémon theme from earlier, in case you lock eyes with a fellow competitor, you’ll need to settle issues contained in the ring. Most significantly, as with all RPG, how one decides to construct from there turns into a sequence of decisions.

Fight in WrestleQuest couldn’t be a lot easier. Typically, a selected transfer will merely require the participant to nail the proper arrow button mixture. Different instances, you’ll need to be cautious of the Dramatic Moments aims. Whereas optionally available, they’re a great way to safe seemingly endlessly customizable gear and different equipment. Visually, gamers could discover similarities between Tecmo World Wrestling (1989) and RetroMania Wrestling, although the in-ring motion firmly resembles the previous.

For these acquainted with the jargon, gamers will uncover completely different territories as they give the impression of being to make it to the big-time promotions. Mixing the proper gimmick along with your wrestler’s hype kind is essential to overcoming any and all opponents, however different elements will should be taken into consideration whenever you’re teaming along with one and even two different aspiring wrestlers. Oh, and luxuriate in these entrance units. Fast query: Do you want the concept of a metal chair being thrown at you? A follow-up: How about a number of of them directly?

Getting again to fight, maintain these transfer mixtures in thoughts. Sure territories will comprise elemental benefits. One faction may even alter the climate remotely in case you can consider that. Standing strikes are essential. Taking part in with tag group mixtures shouldn’t be ignored.

There may be silliness so far as the attention can see. Potatoes freezing their pores and skin off for the sake of constructing a pun. Hazard at each flip, together with dinosaurs, lizards, rat goons, and post-apocalyptic raiders. Extra treasure hunts. Spotlights that will kill you. And the life-shattering notion that sure, whereas superior, skilled wrestling comes from a script. Effectively, relying on the place you might be.

Will probably be fascinating to see what number of territories can be found to seek out in WrestleQuest. Likewise, it is going to be enjoyable to notice simply what number of likenesses to wrestlers previous and current gamers will discover. Till then, every predominant quest feels distinctive. There may be an achievable objective on the finish of them. The basic story of fine versus evil, or moderately, babyface versus heel. Gamers could not have the ability to do it on their lonesome, however they will type a steady of a number of to assist ease the burden.

Skybound will at all times maintain a particular place in my coronary heart for stepping in to complete Telltale’s The Walking Dead, however now they’re permitting me to stay out my skilled wrestling fantasies in all their splendid glory. Plus, the place else can “Macho Man” battle aliens aside from in our desires?

WrestleQuest releases for Nintendo Swap, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Collection X|S on August 7.

In regards to the creator

Shaun Ranft

Shaun Ranft is a Freelance Author for Twinfinite, with a Bachelor of Arts Diploma in English and Artistic Writing from the College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who has been with the positioning and writing about video games normally since 2022. Whereas he usually covers any main sports activities title, he additionally can’t get sufficient of Telltale’s The Strolling Lifeless, Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds, Arkham, and the Horizon sequence.