Fire Pro Wrestling: A History Lesson
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 10.16.2007
As we countdown to the release of Fire Pro Wrestling Returns for the PlayStation 2, we take a quick history tour into one of the best wrestling game franchises.
The History of Fire Pro Wrestling
Every so often, we find ourselves lucky enough to come across an extraordinary game. Occasionally, we discover a game series that’s worth committing to. But only once in a blue moon do we find a gaming franchise that has a loyal fan base, has dodged cancellation multiple times, and is respected around the world.. Fire Pro Wrestling is just such a franchise, and it’s a force to be reckoned with.
Anyone who recognizes the name Fire Pro knows that the Fire Pro Wrestling series is legendary. Fire Pro Wrestling has made an appearance on a host of gaming consoles in Japan, including the PC Engine, Super Famicom, Saturn, PlayStation, Wonderswan, Game Boy Advance and PlayStation 2 (see complete list below). With almost two decades worth of games and fans standing strong behind the series, it’s easily the longest running wrestling game series in the world. With the series about to make its North American PlayStation 2 debut, the faithful fans are standing by.
The series has escalated in popularity throughout the generations, but its path to success was not always an easy one. Triumphs and let downs are inevitable in any company, so it now seems that it’s the appropriate time for fans—old and new—to reflect on Fire Pro’s long path to it’s towering success.
Japan’s appreciation of the sport of pro wrestling can be held at least partially responsible for the entire existence of the Fire Pro series. In general, the Japanese hold pro wrestling in a much higher regard, as both a sport and a form of competition, than those whom reside elsewhere.
There is no doubt that when HUMAN Entertainment was producing the first in its series, Fire Pro Wrestling Combination Tag, for the PC Engine, they took into account who and how gamers could control their wrestlers. In an attempt to connect the game with the masses of wrestling fans, the developers used what is now a classic tradition seen in all Fire Pro games, the resemblances of real wrestlers for the in-game characters. Real names were, and are still not, used.
With sixteen wrestlers on the roster to choose from and a game based on the tactical engagement and timing of the opponent rather than just simple button mashing, wrestling fans simply went wild. This new and innovative approach to wrestling games was an instant success. After the first game was released, two additional sequels, Fire Pro Wrestling Second Bout and Super Fire Pro Wrestling, were released on the PC Engine before moving over to the Super Famicom System. With new and improved versions of the Fire Pro Wrestling series came new features such as the creation and customization of new and existing pre-set wrestling characters. The series reached the pinnacle of its success whilst on Nintendo’s 16-bit console. Additional game enhancing features such as story mode, fantasy rings and weaponry were also made available in later games.
During the early nineties, importing games became increasingly popular and Fire Pro Wrestling could be found on shelves of import stores around the United States. With the release of Sega Saturn’s Fire Pro S: Six Men Scramble in 1996, the series finally began to become internationally recognized. This new version brought the wrestling roster and customization options to new heights. With 160 playable characters to choose from, fans really began to take notice of the series. Even gaming magazines in the United States acknowledged the series and brought it upon themselves to notify the public of the great new alternative to the average American wrestling video game.
In 1999, Fire Pro Wrestling G was released for the Sony PlayStation. The game reached a wider audience thanks to the popularity of Sony’s console, but longtime fans of the series felt that the game was a step back for the series. HUMAN Entertainment (the developer and publisher of the Fire Pro series at the time) folded shortly after the game’s release.
As everyone began to remorse for the end of one of greatest wrestling series in history, the unexpected happened. Another Japanese gaming company, Spike Co., took the initiative to bring the Fire Pro Wrestling series back to life. The company’s first release for the series was Fire Pro Wrestling D for the Sega Dreamcast. Vastly expanded content accompanied by enhanced visuals and un-thought of match options restored Fire Pro fans’ faith. Spike more than proved themselves as a worthy successor to HUMAN. Fire Pro Wrestling was now on an entirely new level.
By now, Fire Pro was an internationally recognized icon. The name ‘Fire Pro’ even began to be used as a comparable reference for how great a wrestling game could be. Fortunately for the series, an increasing number of gamers were becoming discontent with the current features of wrestling games distributed by competing companies. Thus began a steady stream of gamers that switched preferences from their previous wrestling series of choice to the influential Fire Pro Wrestling instead.
In an attempt to conclude the legendary series with an appropriate farewell, Fire Pro Wrestling Z was released for the Playstation 2 in 2003 as a last memento for the loyal and die-hard fans who had supported the Fire Pro series for all these years. Sadly, the game lacked the qualities of a superior Fire Pro game when compared to Fire Pro Wrestling D. With no major improvements, it was as if gamers were playing a lesser version of Fire Pro Wrestling D. Spike Co. then made the decision to give it another try, and set about to create a Fire Pro game that would exceed consumers’ expectations.
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns was the result: a game that gave fans more than they could have wished for. More wrestlers, more match types, more customizing options…more everything.
And now North America will finally and officially get its fair share of Fire Pro action. With so many successful games behind them, Spike Co., in association with Agetec, is bringing Fire Pro Wrestling Returns – the Fire Pro title many fans consider to be the pinnacle of the series – to North America. If ever there was a great place for wrestling fans to get their start in this storied series, this is it.
Title-Unofficial Translation
1989 :Fire Pro Wrestling Combination Tag (PC Engine)
1991: Fire Pro Wrestling Second Bout (PC Engine)
1991: Super Fire Pro Wrestling (Super Famicom)
1992: Fire Pro Wrestling Gaiden (Sega Mega Drive)
1992: Fire Pro Wrestling 3 Legend Bout (PC Engine)
1992: Super Fire Pro Wrestling 2 (Super Famicom)
1993: Super Fire Pro Wrestling 3 Final Bout (Super Famicom)
1994: Fire Pro Wrestling Woman All Star Dream (Super Famicom)
1994: Super Fire Pro Wrestling Special (Super Famicom)
1994: Fire Pro Gaiden: Blazing Tornado (Arcade)
1995: Fire Pro Gaiden: Blazing Tornado (Sega Saturn)
1995: Fire Pro Wrestling Great War:
All Star Dream Women Vs. JWP (Super Famicom)
1995: Super Fire Pro Wrestling Queen’s Special (Super Famicom)
1995: Super Fire Pro Wrestling X (Super Famicom)
1996: Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium (Super Famicom)
1996: Fire Pro Wrestling Iron Slam ‘96 (PlayStation)
1996: Fire Pro Wrestling S Six Men Scramble (Sega Saturn)
1999: Fire Pro Wrestling G (PlayStation)
2001: Fire Pro Wrestling D (Sega Dreamcast)
2001: Fire Pro Wrestling (Gameboy Advance)
2001: Fire Pro Wrestling 1 (Mobile Phones)
2002: Fire Pro Wrestling 2 (Gameboy Advance)
2002: Fire Pro Wrestling J (Mobile Phones)
2003: Fire Pro Wrestling Z (PlayStation 2)
2005: Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (PlayStation 2)
Anyone who recognizes the name Fire Pro knows that the Fire Pro Wrestling series is legendary. Fire Pro Wrestling has made an appearance on a host of gaming consoles in Japan, including the PC Engine, Super Famicom, Saturn, PlayStation, Wonderswan, Game Boy Advance and PlayStation 2 (see complete list below). With almost two decades worth of games and fans standing strong behind the series, it’s easily the longest running wrestling game series in the world. With the series about to make its North American PlayStation 2 debut, the faithful fans are standing by.
During the early nineties, importing games became increasingly popular and Fire Pro Wrestling could be found on shelves of import stores around the United States. With the release of Sega Saturn’s Fire Pro S: Six Men Scramble in 1996, the series finally began to become internationally recognized. This new version brought the wrestling roster and customization options to new heights. With 160 playable characters to choose from, fans really began to take notice of the series. Even gaming magazines in the United States acknowledged the series and brought it upon themselves to notify the public of the great new alternative to the average American wrestling video game.
