Legends of Wrestling II
Score: 80% ESRB: Teen Publisher: Acclaim Developer: Acclaim Media: CD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Fighting
Graphics & Sound: There is a slight improvement in graphics from the last iteration of this game, but overall Legends of Wrestling II looks pretty much the same. The wrestlers don't look as deformed as last time, and things are a little bit smoother. However, the casual observer wouldn't see anything different, while fans of the prequel will definitely notice the subtle changes. Sound-wise, much is still the same. Due to the new characters, there is more intro music, but besides that things remain similar. Unfortunately, the music during the fight is horribly out of place. Too many lyrics and an overall air of low quality hinder the score's effect on the game.
Gameplay: As the name implies, Legends of Wrestling II is not only a sequel, but a sequel to another wrestling game. The developers were quick to address the problems encountered in the first game, but this seems like more of an upgrade than an actual sequel. Aside from adding loads more wrestlers, there is now a way to unlock different items via a currency system. Arenas, alternate outfits, and more wrestlers can be unlocked this way, including the famous Intergender Champion, Andy Kaufman. Most of the options have remained the same. The Career mode takes your wrestler on a tour of wrestling matches, building up skills and gaining rank in the social wrestling circle. You must get good enough in order to get a shot at the Championship belt, and then you enter the World Region for a shot at the Heavyweight belt. The Create-a-Legend mode is still as diverse as ever. Here you take a basic body style and customize it right down to the shirt on their back. Moves, clothes, intro music, and even the manager can be decided upon here.
Difficulty: Being a wrestling guru doesn't mean you'll be great at this game. Anyone can pick up the controller, spend a little time with the instruction book, and be able to whoop up on any hard core fan. The difficult part is still the same as from the older game. Though the issue has been addressed, it still needs polishing. When there are more than two people in the ring, trying to switch between who you want to attack is confusing and barely touched on in the instruction book. Something to think about for the third installment.
Game Mechanics: Legends of Wrestling II isn't your typical fighting game. Due to the nature of wrestling, the game is full of grapples, counter grapples, blocks, throws and various other nasty little maneuvers you can pull off. The throwing system is done particularly well. When you initially grab someone, you have a number of options. For one, your opponent can counter it, or you can throw them, or you can run them into the ropes. Add a couple more people into the mix and things really get interesting. With the ability to climb the ropes, scale cage walls, and grab weapons from under the ring, Legends of Wrestling II definitely stands out from the original title. However, there are still a few issues that need work, giving little reason for owners of the first title to buy this new installment. It will totally depend on your dedication the world of wrestling, but for newcomers this isn't a bad place to start.
-Snow Chainz, GameVortex Communications AKA Andrew Horwitz
K-1 World Grand Prix Lethal Skies II