WWE All Stars has a lot to enjoy, but a lot to be desired at the same time.
"Macho Man" Randy Savage and the WWE Universe (mainly Vincent K. McMahon) were on bad terms up until recently, but the two sides made amends somewhat, to the point that Savage's legacy could be honored in video game form right before he passed away tragically last month in a Tampa suburb last month. To many fans, this could be the #1 reason to purchase this game.
In what is said to somewhat be a continuation of WWF No Mercy (2000), WWE All Stars actually feels like an amalgamation of several wrestling games. Some of us were lucky enough to grow up in the 80's and early 90's and play the old WWF arcade games.
WWE All Stars also feels like Wrestlemania Challenge released on the NES in the early 1990's. Over half of that roster is represented in WWE All Stars, but guys like Rick Rude and Brutus Beefcake are disappointingly conspicuous by their omission from this game.
Legends of Wrestlemania shares many of the same Legends roster as All Stars, but this time, the physiques are even more exaggerated, and the moves are highly exaggerated. There is no roster import feature with SVR 11, but there are several current WWE superstars on the All Stars roster. In order that consumers buy the upcoming WWE '12 game, stars like Alberto Del Rio and Daniel Bryan were omitted from All Stars. Strangely, Christian (who recently won the World Heavyweight Title), R-Truth (who might be in a DLC package or free download), and Dolph Ziggler are absent from this roster.
One of the developers of Midway's WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game worked on All Stars as well, and All Stars is much more enjoyable and a touch more realistic. Regardless, the action is zany and unpredictable.
Similarities to TNA iMPACT are noticeable as well; the collision system, reversals, abbreviated ring introductions, and other aspects are eerily reminiscent of the only TNA game to date.
The unrealistic movesets were reminiscent of the Legends of Wrestling series, but the gameplay is much better than the LOW series.
Regardless, my theory that whenever a company makes the first video game "of its kind", that company always makes sure that they can make the second one better, in order that people buy it. For example, Acclaim's WWF War Zone preceded WWF Attitude, and Attitude was much more inclusive. WCW/nWo vs. The World was excellent, but WCW/nWo Revenge was even better. In THQ's next installment, it's safe to say that the roster will be expanded, there will be more than 6 arenas to choose from, and there will be more than 15 create-a-wrestler slots. Besides, WWE All Stars does not allow for custom entrance songs from a user playlist, but the SVR series and Legends of Wrestlemania allow you to do so.
For lifelong wrestling fans, this game is a "must-have", since it features Randy Savage in a WWF/E ring for the first time since 1993, and it features a great mode where stars of today face legends, with video montages as previews. If you're a wishy-washy fan, I would recommend waiting for the next installment.
Either way, arcade style wrestling is back!Read full review
