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(Note: Before getting this review underway, I must note that this review is based on the Playstation 3 version of the game, which was also released on the X-Box 360.)
In its first incarnation, WWE Legends Of Wrestlemania is not a terrible game by any means, but it is definitely inferior to the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw series. When you replace strategy with button mashing and current WWE stars with past wrestling legends, you are bound to run into some glitches, but also get a good amount of nostalgia.
-Gameplay-
As I stated earlier, WWE Legends Of Wrestlemania uses a lot of button mashing instead of the technique and strategy used in the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw series. The locking up and performing various holds are simple, just press the “X” button to lock up and that will lead to a maneuver being performed. Striking (punches, kicks, etc.) are done simply by pushing the square button, with the longer you hold the button down, the harder the strike becomes. The real challenge is running at your opponent and performing the Irish whip, which is almost impossible to do.
The button mashing comes into play in game modes like the steel cage match and the ladder match, which use button mashing more frequently then any other game mode. For example, in the steel cage match, after going near the cage door to escape, you must use button mashing to fill your meter up before your opponent does so you can escape the cage without getting caught.
-Graphics-
The characters and backgrounds in this game are easily comparable to that of the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw series. Most of the characters in the game are more muscular than their real life counterparts, which makes for some unintentional comedy. For example, Jake “The Snake” Roberts was never a muscular wrestler, but in this game, the dude looks like he has been in the gym twenty hours a day for the entire length of his career.
Various arena’s that held Wrestlemania’s throughout the years are recreated in this game, from Madison Square Garden to Trump Plaza are recreated. Some are done in a pretty recognizable ways, but some arenas, like Trump Plaza are done very loosely and don’t look much like their real life arenas.
-Sound-
The sound quality in this game is top notch, from the sounds of the wrestlers punching each other to the chair shots delivered to the wrestlers cranium. The sounds of the wrestlers hitting the steel cage walls and hell in the cell roof are pretty good to, even the grunts are pretty realistic.
The theme music is a mixture of good and bad, because the volume of the music could’ve been improved during the wrestlers entrance.. Wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, The Road Warriors, Brutus Beefcake and Honky Tonk Man amongst others get their original theme music. While wrestlers like Andre The Giant, King Kong Bundy, Junkyard Dog, Greg Valentine and Arn Anderson get cheap inferior theme songs. Also, for all you old school wrestling fans out there and Mike Johnson himself, Koko B. Ware comes out to the song “Pile Driver.”
-Roster-
For those who weren’t on WWE.com during the weeks leading up to the games release, the full roster on the game includes Andre The Giant, Animal, Arn Anderson, Bam Bam Bigelow, Big Bossman, Big John Studd, Bobby Heenan (non-playable), Bret Hart, British Bulldog, Brutus Beefcake, Dusty Rhodes, Greg Valentine, Jim Duggan, Hawk, Honky Tonk Man, Hulk Hogan, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Jimmy Hart (non-playable), Jake Roberts, Jim Neidhart, Jimmy Snuka, Junkyard Dog, Kamala, King Kong Bundy, Koko B. Ware, Michael Hayes, Mr. Fuji (non-playable), Mr. Perfect, Nikolai Volkoff, Paul Bearer (non-playable), Rick Rude, Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, Ted Dibiase, The Iron Sheik, The Rock, Ultimate Warrior, The Undertaker & Yokozuna.
What has angered me over my time playing the game was certain missing wrestlers like Ricky Steamboat, Randy Savage, Miss Elizabeth (non-playable), Paul Orndorff, Bob Orton Jr. or other wrestlers who were vital parts of past Wrestlemania’s. Hopefully in the future, via X-Box Live or The Playstation Store, their will be downloadable characters like those done for WWE Smackdown vs. Raw.
-Game Modes-
There are three different ways to play WWE Legends Of Wrestlemania, with the first being the exhibition mode, which you can play by yourself or with up to six friends (up to four online).
The matches in exhibition mode are singles match, tag team match, triple threat match, steel cage match, ladder match, hell in a cell match, iron man match, submission match, battle royal, handicapped match and royal rumble match.
The next mode is called the Legend Killer Mode, where you can compete as a created wrestler or wrestler transferred from WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 to battle ten WWE Legends in a gauntlet match. With each gauntlet match tier you complete, you earn medals to become the greatest WWE Legend of them all, there are seven tiers in all. The one complaint I have about this mode is that you cannot stop midway through and save your game, instead you must complete all ten matches before you can save and move onto the next tier, which could become frustrating for certain gamers.
The final mode is called the Wrestlemania Tour Mode, where you must complete three separate challenges to earn special rewards like new game modes, alternate costumes and highlight videos. The first challenge is called relive, where you replay past classic WWE Wrestlemania matches like Steve Austin vs. The Rock and Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant. The next challenge is called rewrite, where you replay a classic Wrestlemania match like Junkyard Dog vs. Greg Valentine, then see if you can redo history and change the way the match ended. The final challenge is called redefine, where you play a classic Wrestlemania match under different conditions. For example, you replay the Mr. Perfect vs. Big Bossman match from WWE Wrestlemania 7 as a ladder match and see how it would affect the result.
One interesting thing in the Wrestlemania Tour Mode is that instead of just winning the match, you must also complete side missions to gain points to earn bonuses. For example, in the matches, you must taunt your opponent, use a strong grapple, make your opponent bleed and do a move off of the tope rope to get points to unlock extra goodies.
-Final Word-
If you are a hardcore gamer who purchases every wrestling game that hit’s the store shelves, then this game is not going to be a bad addition to the collection. However, if you are not big into the wrestling video games, this game should at least be a weekend rental for the nostalgia alone. One thing you must check out about this game is the movie theater, which is where you can view short videos highlighting past Wrestlemania matches and occurrences.
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
You can send questions for MMA Q&A at bigtees360@yahoo.com
