Every so often, a game, that seemingly no one asked for, comes along leaving you not only pleasantly surprised. On top of that, it leaves you with an experience you did not quite know you needed. That game, for me at least, was WrestleQuest. Whether you’re curious about the game, don’t know what it is, or simply remain indecisive, do not fret. As always, we have you covered in this latest SGO review.
WrestleQuest PC Steam Review
An odd-couple pairing of professional wrestling and the RPG genre, WrestleQuest provides a gaming experience nearly unique to its own. Other games have certainly tried similar feats- think the career mode in Wrestlemania XIX for Gamecude. While certainly not failures, those games faced the unfortunate reality that kayfabe was dying art. Kayfabe being the act or convention of presenting staged performances as genuine or authentic. With wrestling games heading toward simulation rather, ultimately those attempts failed to leave lasting impressions. The aimed for RPG-style game mode often clashed with the simulation presentation of TV and the “Reality Era” of wrestling.
So, why does this matter? Simply put, this is where WrestleQuest excels.
The Good
At its core, WrestleQuest is what every game should be. Fun. In doing so, the game not only blends modern and retro game design but also retro and modern takes on professional wrestling. Instead of shying away from some of the often heated debates on keeping kayfabe alive, Mega Cat Studios embraced it.
Skybound Games’ WrestleQuest drops players into a world of toys (think Toy Story) where everyone aspires to climb the ladder to stardom. On the journey, players take control of “Muchacho Man” who believes kayfabe is life and will give everything to make it big. Along the way, an eccentric cast of characters joins players for tag team action. With your merry band and collection of iconic managers who (sometimes literally) tilt combat in your favor, you overcome obstacles on your way to becoming champion. Throughout the game, players encounter many who remark on Muchacho Man’s often comedic insistence that what you see in wrestling is very real. Some admire him for his earnest mentality, while others fall a hair’s width short of asking “You know wrestling is fake, right?”
The game doesn’t just focus on wrestling’s past. It also focuses on the idea of wrestling as it relates to those who grew up watching it and idolizing larger-than-life personalities. WrestleQuest is an indie game for sure, but to be able to capture aspects of wrestling from multiple perspectives, and do it successfully, is a feat worth celebrating.
Of course, like any RPG, as players progress, they can customize or rather choose their moves, style, taunts, and even entrance animation. Individually, these may not seem like much, but Mega Cat Studios’ expert blending of wrestling nostalgia and gaming nostalgia really sets WrestleQuest apart. First, the pixel graphic through players back to the early days of gaming. However, despite going pixel, the animations are very polished and very fluid. The moment players enter the game, it becomes readily noticeable that much passion and effort went into the fabric of the game itself.
The Bad
No game is perfect. Even so, I find it hard to say anything distinctly negative about WrestleQuest. One could argue a few points like replayability. In the end, it is likely to be a matter of preference in RPGs or wrestling games. I did find the lack of being able to create your own character to be a missed opportunity for the game. Being able to do so would personalize the journey to the top for the player. Especially, for any players who grew up watching the 80s era of wrestling with a dream of stepping into the ring. This could easily have taken them right back to their childhood. That is more than the game already does, even when the story goes off the rails.
Additionally, with how fluid the animations are, I cannot help but wish for the moves to have been animated similarly to Fire Pro Wrestling. Not style, WrestleQuest more than holds in there. However, in detail. Typically, those on the receiving end of moves flail wildly only to be rotated and dropped on the canvas before springing back to their idle animation. This by no means detracts from the game, but fully animated moves would certainly be attractive. Especially to those who are not looking for a nostalgia pop.
And the Verdict…
As an RPG, WresteQuest takes players on an epic quest filled with danger, action, adventure, and rewards. As a wrestling game, it holds as much character as an 80s wrestling throwback can. Perhaps maybe even more. If you are a wrestling games fan, this will certainly need to make it into your library. If you’re an 80s wrestling fan and love retro games, then WrestleQuest is an absolute must.
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