First Impressions: Get a chance to rewrite wrestling history!
One of the surprise hits for DVD fans in 2003 was the Ultimate Ric Flair Collection, a 3 disc set that has a special look back at his impressive 30 or so years in the wrestling business. Not only did the DVD have classic matches with legendary names like Terry Funk, Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, and Sting -- but The Ric Flair Collection became the best selling DVD in World Wrestling Entertainment (or WWE for short) history. That just goes to show you that even though a lot of people like the newer wrestlers like John Cena, AJ Styles, and Brock Lesnar, many still love to see the old school wrestlers from a different era. Who could forget when the mega popular Rock got booed out of the Toronto Skydome when he battled the legendary Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania X8. You can even see a few old wrestlers in the WWE’s Smackdown: Here comes the Pain. Let’s face it: old school wrestling is hot right now.
The main reason you don’t see too many of these cool older wrestlers anymore is either because the WWE doesn’t have any interest in bringing some of them back due to injures, or out of date gimmicks. Also, many left the business under bad circumstances as well. Just ask Bret Hart or Bruno Sammartino if they want to work for the WWE again? Acclaim’s original Legends of Wrestling title gave many old school favourites like Superfly Jimmy Snuka a chance to fight it out all over again in their very own game. The game was so successful that there was a Legends of Wrestling II, an even better title that had guys like Andre the Giant, Scott Steiner, Sid Vicious, and Eddie Guerrero making an appearance. Now the third game in this fun series is arriving, and it promises more legends, play-by-play commentary, and easier game play.
What would a new Legends of Wrestling game be without a new list of your past favourites now joining the cast, eh? Showdown won’t disappoint because you’ll see several big names like the American Dream Dusty Rhodes (who is featured a lot on the Ric Flair DVD), multi-time WWF and WCW world champion Macho Man Randy Savage, the always intense Ultimate Warrior, and three time WCW world champion Diamond Dallas Page!
One thing that really sets these Legends games apart from all the other grappling games is the whole cartoon-like look. Most of the characters here are either way too muscular (even former Hollywood actor Andy Kaufman looks ripped) or just too fat. I don’t really mind so much if the characters still look a little over-the-top, but I would like to see the animation and hit detection improved over the last games. That would help the action look more realistic this time around. I don’t want to see a 240 pound Rowdy Piper body slam a 520 plus pound Andre the Giant with relative ease, while he quickly gets up in mere seconds.
Showdown is also adding play-by-play commentary, which is being done by none other then Bobby the Brain Heehan, and Tony Schivonne. I remember how good of a job these two did when they did the commentary for the old EA game WCW Backstage. Sure, the game was complete garbage but at least there was one good thing about it.
