All Star Pro Wrestling - IGN (original) (raw)

Over 30 new high-resolution shots and three movies of Square's attempt at a wrestling game.

Square is undoubtedly one of the most prominent RPG makers in the world, if not the most prominent. The company's Final Fantasy series is one of the best selling videogame franchises worldwide and it has achieved critical and commercial success with its other RPG's like Chrono Cross and FF Tactics for PlayStation and Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana for the SNES/Super Famicom.

However, while the company is definitely known for RPG's, it has managed to publish a good deal of action games that could be considered A titles. For example, on the Sony PlayStation, Square has published Tobal No. 1, Tobal 2, Bushido Blade 1 & 2 and Brave Fencer Musashi. While not considered typical Square titles, they were all solid games. Especially, Tobal 2, which is considered by many hardcore fighting game fans to be one of the very best 3D fighters on the system.

With the PlayStation2, Square is going all out and delivery both role-playing games (Final Fantasy X and XI) and a ton of action games. The most surprising action titles that it has announced for the PlayStation2, so far, is undoubtedly All Star Pro Wrestling.

Initial reactions from diehard Square fans were certainly mixed. Why is Square doing a wrestling? Well, apparently it's a good way to make some cash (it's certainly working for THQ here). For whatever reason, the reality of the matter is that Square is doing a wrestling game and the chances are fairly good that it'll be a quality title.

There's not really that much known about the game or what kind of grappling system will be used, but what is known is that it will real Japanese professional wrestlers. Furthermore, Square expects to make this one of the most realistically looking wrestling game ever created, with accurate replications of the aesthetics of the wrestlers. In fact, the details will be so amazing that players will be able to notice different muscles stretching and flexing as the characters move around the ring and perform moves.

The game was not show in playable form or on video at the Square Millennium event in Japan, but they did give out some high-resolution screenshots. While these shots won't show off the realistic animation and muscle movements that have been promised by Square, they still look fantastic. Enough with the reading go check out the screenshots!

All Star Pro Wrestling is currently scheduled for a Spring 2000 release in Japan for the PlayStation2.

- Dave Zdyrko

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