WWE Legends of WrestleMania (PS3, Xbox 360) Preview
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 07.21.2008
E3: First look: Wrestling fans complained and THQ listened. The WWE Legends are coming!
"The unstoppable force meets the inmovable object" - Gorilla Monsoon
For years, wrestling fans have yearned for a wrestling game that would allow them to pit their old favorites against each other. Sure, we've seen unlockable legends within newer titles but nothing that could recreate the feeling of wrestling in the 80's. Well THQ has been listening and it hopes to finally bridge that gap with Legends of WrestleMania for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Speaking with the developers at E3 over the last few days, I was told that the team had been doing its own research, putting out surveys and focus tests to see what wrestling fans would want in a spin-off title to their own Smackdown vs. RAW franchise. I made sure to tell them that they made the right choice. We all know the 1980's enjoyed a massive boom in wrestling and it was only fitting that some day we'd get to enjoy it once again.
The developers are hoping to recreate that nostalgic feel of the era. They want gamers to be taken back to how they remember that period in time. For instance, as you gloss over Hulk Hogan (1 of 3 characters revealed in my meeting), you'll notice we're talking about a prime Hogan, who was around 300 pounds and sported 24" pythons. He looks huge and still has some hair on the top of his head....oh the memories! Andre the Giant, will also be the massive unstoppable force that we remember in the early 80's and even he is sporting some guns and a bit more definition.
As for the combat system, the developers have simplified everything. They're looking to bring back wrestling fans who got lost with some of the more recent wrestling games as well as nostalgic gamers who want an alternative. In relation to the controls, you just have one strike button and you can hold it to do a strong attack. There is one button to grapple, and a button to defend yourself and one to do your irish whip. So only the four face buttons are being utilized. You can do multiple strikes and if you're successful in putting together a string of attacks, you'll go into a new chain system where each player can push a series of buttons to get the upper hand. If you can pull off these chains of attack, depending on whether you're at a level 1, 2 or 3, you can perform your finishing move.
The HUD is also very simple as there is only one life meter and the name of the wrestler. Nothing overly complicated and done on purpose to give you the feel of an old school game. The other character that was revealed was Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. I was told that managers will play a vital role as they can interfere and also cheer you on or give you advice which gives you a stat boost. Remember, Bobby pulling on The Ultimate Warrior's foot at WrestleMania 5 against Ravishing Rick Rude? Well expect those kinds of shenanigans! Good stuff.
"Relive, Redefine, Rewrite". That's one of the game modes in the game where you'll have to relive a certain matchup such as Hogan vs. Andre at WrestleMania III. In relive, you'll have to win the match just as it occurred at WM III, while redefine asks you to take the role of the loser and win the match as well. Rewrite asks you to turn the tables and win as the loser while Rewrite will put you in the match with different stipulations such as a cage match.
I tried hard to get them to spill the beans on other wrestlers or managers that we can expect to see but their lips were sealed though we do know that around 40 wrestlers will be included. We do know that wrestlers that are under a Legends Contract with the WWE are likely to be in the game while others will have to be licensed separately. Original theme music is something they are pushing to be included 100% in the game and Hogan does come out to his "Real American" theme.
It's still very early in development but from what I saw the game looked very appealing. The hopes of playing with classic wrestlers in a WWE setting are on the way and the game looks great. The graphics are top notch and the game seems to be moving very fluidly. THQ is hoping to put the game out in the weeks leading up to next year's WrestleMania and you can bet we'll have more updates on this one along the way.
Makes me wonder, are they going to only have a select few legends, or will they really being going for the relive/redefine thing and include The Ultimate Warrior in some shape or form?
Posted By: aqwa (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 01:25 AM
Damn! It's too bad I only have a PS2. Sounds like it's going to be a great game.
Hey Ramon, I'm curious...in relive can you fight for or defend a title just like the real life match? For example can you be Hulk Hogan and defend the WWF title against Andre The Giant?
Posted By: Geoff (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 01:29 AM
Best be some Randy Savage in this game. Also, I know he will be in there, but Ric Flair has pretty much been in all the RVSD games(then again, so has Hogan)so it wont be much different. Then again, if its a young Ric Flair, that would be a vast improvement.
Posted By: We Hate Money (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 02:37 AM
I think there are a LOT of fans out there who want to see Savage in one of these games... and have him not be designed to be hogan's bitch.
Posted By: M:-X (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 08:28 AM
I ain't been so excited since my first date, with Sally Goode. Asides that, the facts are in. The man say "Dusty Rhodes, I am the proprietor of the heart break hotel. I am the man that wears the blue suede shoes. You can't sing, Ha ha prooved you wrong. You can't dance, you know I can dance circles around you. And now you say prove to me in pu-lic, if you will. Come and get it, at SummerSlam. Excitement Galore! So Honky Tonk, in just a few moments, you'll get your opportunity to show the pu-lic, that Dusty Rhodes caint rassle. Brother, you can mark this one down tonight. I'm gone kick yo booty! Ha!
Posted By: Dusty (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Hopefully this means keeping them out of Smackdown for the most part.
Posted By: T.G. Corke (Registered) on July 21, 2008 at 10:38 AM
RE: Geoff - Yeah Geoff in Relive, that would be the point...so if you are the champion, then you are defending that belt. You will HAVE to mimick what really happened in the match's outcome!
Posted By: Ramon Aranda (Registered) on July 21, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Call me old school (I'm sure some of you will), but I always got goose bumps when I heard the beginning of "Eye Of The Tiger", hence my preference.
Posted By: Guest#9407 (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 11:50 AM
ha! a blue cage, awesome
Posted By: Drue (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 12:47 PM
RE: Guest#9407 - You can!
Posted By: Ramon Aranda (Registered) on July 21, 2008 at 03:04 PM
I do believe this will be the first wrestling game I will ever purchase. Andre looks phenomenal, and I would love more than anything to reverse that match and have Andre win! I think they gave Hogan a little more hair than he actually had though lol! Seriously, it looks great. I am also hoping for some Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth. I also hope they can get Lord Alfred Hayes to do commentary - love hearing him talk! Looks like this is going to be worth the wait.
Posted By: AndreFan (Registered) on July 21, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Please God, do not let this game suck. I do fear that because of the title, it will only be WWF guys from the 80's. A THQ game with the major NWA guys from the 80's would pwn every wrestling game that ever existed. Can you imagine being able to play as a young Flair with the long hair, the Horsemen, Dusty, Nikita, Magnum, Luger, The Midnight Express, etc.? WarGames, Bunkhouse Stampede, real cages?
Posted By: Rob (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 04:59 PM
AndreFan
Alferd Hayes died a few years ago unfoutunately so he likely won't be in the game. It's a shame because he was great at what he did. Who knows though? Maybe the WWE can go into the archives, get some of his most insightful comments, program them into the game, create Hayes for the game, and pay his familly royalties for his likeness. It would be a wonderful tribute if they could pull it off or alrady have but it's a big if.
Posted By: Geoff (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Best be some Randy Savage in this game. Also, I know he will be in there, but Ric Flair has pretty much been in all the RVSD games(then again, so has Hogan)so it wont be much different. Then again, if its a young Ric Flair, that would be a vast improvement.
Posted By: We Hate Money (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 02:37 AM
There's such a thing as a YOUNG Ric Flair?? Must've been a real long time ago.
Posted By: cerulean (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Irob I hear you there I love to see WWE puts out a legends of the NWA video game!
Posted By: Matthew (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 09:10 PM
this game is an epic fail
Posted By: dachrisman (Guest) on July 21, 2008 at 09:47 PM
"this game is an epic fail"
You see, this is where the phrase starts to lose its meaning. When you have nothing relevant to say, so you shoot that one out. Good job! You're so original and smart and funny! Your posts are Epic Win!
Anyway, this game looks awesome. I like that they're simplifying the controls and I hope that Legends doesn't just include 80's legends. We need The Rock and Austin, as well as other great Wrestlemania guys like Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Razor Ramone, Bret Hart, and so on.
It'll be interesting to see.
Posted By: dachrismanisaloser (Guest) on July 22, 2008 at 05:17 AM
Geoff
Thanks for the catch, but I knew he passed away, I simply meant that they could use existing commentary for these matches. I guess I should have said - "I hope they will have Lord Alfred Hayes doing commentary".
I know it exists, because of WWE 24/7 and WWE Classics on MSG. I realize I wasn't quite clear in my post. Lord Alfred was one of my favorite commentators of all time, it would be wonderful if he were included.
Posted By: AndreFan (Registered) on July 22, 2008 at 10:38 PM
According to some other sources there will be "old school" commentary in the game.Just who is anyone's guess.
And to the a-hole who keeps saying"Epic Fail" ,well look in the mirror to see what one really looks like!!
Posted By: greggagnesucks (Guest) on July 22, 2008 at 11:29 PM
If Jesse The Body IS on this game doing COLOR COMMENTARY.....
EPIC WIN !!!!!
Posted By: Mr Freeze (Guest) on July 22, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Sounds like the wrestling engine is a bit like Wrestlemania 2000 for the N64. I hope this game turns out good. I am so sick of the Smackdown vs Raw games, I haven't played them in years.
Posted By: Whiteburbia (Guest) on July 28, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Brutus 'The Barbar' Beefcake, Legion of Doom, The Rockers, The Heart Foundation, Mr Perfect and Ultimate Worrior PLEASE, PLEASE!!! I can't wait!
Posted By: JCB (Guest) on August 08, 2008 at 10:46 AM
HAHAHAHA Sucks for the person who doesn't have a PS3. PS2 people had better upgrade
Posted By: lilV (Guest) on November 18, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I hope they make the controls like the N64 No Mercy or WWE Smackdown:Here comes the pain. The new wrestling games are too complicated to control. And also have a detailed create a wrestler.And everyone that has been in Wrestle Mania SHOULD be in the game!
Posted By: pimpin (Guest) on January 05, 2009 at 05:21 PM
will the the ultimate warrior be in it oh my god please please and rocky maivia be so fun to beat him up yeah
Posted By: king custard (Guest) on January 15, 2009 at 05:46 AM
The developers are hoping to recreate that nostalgic feel of the era. They want gamers to be taken back to how they remember that period in time. For instance, as you gloss over Hulk Hogan (1 of 3 characters revealed in my meeting), you'll notice we're talking about a prime Hogan, who was around 300 pounds and sported 24" pythons. He looks huge and still has some hair on the top of his head....oh the memories! Andre the Giant, will also be the massive unstoppable force that we remember in the early 80's and even he is sporting some guns and a bit more definition. 
