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Awesome Wrestling Series Make It's First Console Debut In The States

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 24 / 25
Date: November 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Fire Pro Wrestling is a really old wrestling series from Japan that has been around since the early 90s. So far only 2 versions have only ever been released in America, both of them on GBA.

Agetec decided to bring this two year old Japanese wrestling game to the states recently, and I couldn't be more grateful.

Yes this game looks bad, but the graphics are not where it shines. It is all about the amazing gameplay and extreme customization.

Some people may complain that their favorite WWE superstars are missing, but they are not. All your favorite WWE stars are there under a different alias, and if they do happen to be missing you can create them.

For $15 this is something any wrestling fan should pick up. It's amazingly deep and way better then the latest WWE game.

Finally!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: November 27, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Finally, the legend of Fire Pro envades the US. I have been playing this series since the NES days. The graphics are not going to wow you, but they are perfect for this game and more than gets the job done. This game is about depth, creativity, and building your dream match. When you read any comments from TRUE fire pro fans, that is the essence of this series. Many thanks to the Firepro community for always letting Human and eventually Spike know there was a huge demand for this game.

This game allows you to create any wrestler you can imagine. the game also has many different styles of matches. The controls may be a bit tricky to work initially, but nothing as confusing as RvS08. Once you get the feel and timing down, the controls are pretty easy and you are well on your way.

The game does not have the standard American super star wrestlers, but you can create their almost perfect likeness using there creative edit mode. I mean you can create almost every star down to there clothes, haircut, mask, signature moves, gestures, and ring entrance. That is awesome! if you happen to create Steve austin, he can wave hello in his special way :)

I think the graphics get a bad rap with this game. They are cartoonish, but they are pretty crisp and well drawn. The 2D mode works for this game. I would sacarafice 3D for all the other options offered in this game any day. bottom line, your avatar looks like the star they are supposed to.

The true value in the game is developing your wrestlers and creating their AI. This is a deep option and now finally having an American version, incredible experince.

You can even create your own titles. I belive you can create up to 8. the game keep strack of title history. If you like customization and being able to play something with the family and friends. This is the game for you. Enjoy

My Review Of Fire Pro Returns

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: November 20, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The 2007 edition of the classic Japanese video game series is everything I expect from Fire Pro Wrestling. FPR features over 300 pro wrestlers and MMA fighters, and several game modes like cage match, match maker, deathmatches and championship title matches. Of course, due to trademark laws from the WWE, etc., all the wrestlers' real names have been changed, but that did little to effect the enjoyment of FPR on PlayStation 2 and at an affordable price, it is a better alternative to either WWE SmackDown! VS Raw 2008 or the upcoming TNA video game.

Only serious gamers who are fans of Japanese Pro-Wrestlilng/NHB need apply...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: December 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Attention NHB fans who are also gamers,

I bought Fire Pro Wrestling Returns the other day... Apparently a Japanese Import, and popular in Japan.

BIG WARNING: There is a huge learning curve for gameplay, and the graphics and engine are more like the Nintendo "Pro-Wrestling" title from over two decades ago. The graphics, however, are top notch. Set the CP skill level to one, and that's plenty challenging enough to truly enjoy this game...

Hundreds of characters to chose to play with from the history of Japanese pro wrestling. But the biggest suprise was that many of the people who have participated in mixed martial arts in Japan are represented, as well as many suprises...

Within the game, there are several different fictional organizations loosely based on most every organization in Japan, including New Japan, NOAH/All Japan, Pancrase, Pride, K-1, Toryumon, Dragon's Gate, etc...

Within the organization based on Pride, there are playable characters that include Fedor (whose name is Blizzard and is black, but you can change him into the white Fedor). Others include Don Frye, Kazushi Sakuraba, Yoshihiro Takada, Hidehiko Yoshida, Randleman, Wanderlai, CroCop, Josh Barnett, Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Rampage, and others...

Other fighters include:
Andy Hug, Mike Bernardo, Mushashi, Masa Funaki, Yuki Kondo, Minoru Suzuki, ALEXANDR KARELIN (yes, that's right. His reverse body lift is glorious), Akira Maeda...

Other Japanese professional wrestling legends include:
Rikidozan, Lou Thesz, Inoki, Hashimoto, Muta, Hawk and Animal, Atsushi Onita, Mr. Pogo (complete with sickle attack), Abdullah the Butcher, Bruiser Brody, Liger, Tiger Mask, Black Tiger, Santo, Dos Caras, Dos Caras, Jr., Dr. Wagner, Jr., Negro Casas, Kendo KaShin, Kenta Kobashi (and the burning hammer), Mitsuhara Misawa (and the spinning elbow), Matsunga, Tarzan Goto, Terry Funk, Terry Gordy, Dr. Death Steve Williams, Ultimo Dragon, Jr., Dory Funk, Jr., Hall and Nash, Vader, A-Train/Prince Albert, .... pretty much name a big name from Japanese pro wrestling or an American that has traveled there, and you got him...

There are death matches (exploding barbed wire and time bomb deathmatches), barbed wire land mine deathmatches, K-1 style matches, and UFC style cage fights. Dream matches galore!

If you are a hardcore gamer and a fan of wrestling, especially Mexico and Japanese, take the time to learn the very basic controls and have an addicting amount of fun...

The three star rating is for simple graphics and controls learning curve. But the payoff is outstanding!

The best console wrestling game in quite some time

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: November 29, 2007
Author: Amazon User

After making two appearances on the GBA over here, the overseas hit series Fire Pro Wrestling makes it's console debut on the PS2 with Fire Pro Wrestling Returns, and be glad that it has. Even though it features 2-D character sprites (albeit they are well designed and animated 2-D sprites) and no big name wrestlers (although there are some characters that look noticably similar to fan favorites of yesteryear), Fire Pro Wrestling features one of the deepest combat systems you'll ever see in a wrestling video game. Instead of pushing button mashing gameplay, everything about Fire Pro Wrestling Returns comes down to timing and precision. However, this is where another flaw in the game comes about: the AI is challenging to say the least, maybe too challenging for those more used to the big name, big budget WWE titles that get all the attention. However, once you get over all the turn-offs, Fire Pro Wrestling Returns offers a wide variety of playing modes, wrestlers, options, styles, and an incredibly deep edit and creation mode as well. Not to mention that you can't beat the game's price tag, which makes Fire Pro Wrestling Returns all the sweeter. All in all, you may be turned off at first by it's presentation, but give Fire Pro Wrestling Returns a chance, and you'll be pleasently surprised.

Words cannot do it justice!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: March 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game may very well be the greatest wrestling game ever created. Infact, it's so deep, so customizable, that you can sit and watch the cpu fight eachother and possibly be more entertained than you would if you actually played it...can other wrestling games dish that out? heck no.

Fire Pro Returns has the absolute deepest edit/CaW system of any wrestling game. You can make literally *anybody* you want, from *any* era in wrestling, and they'll look so close to the real thing people wont believe you made them.

The game also comes with over 300 some odd wrestlers, most are from Japan/Mexico, but you'll recognize some American guys too, like Bret Hart, Sting, Kevin Nash, etc. The names have all been changed to avoid copyright issues.

Now back to edit/CaW's, you can actually create 500 wrestlers! 500! no joke.

Also, aside from wrestling, this is also an extremely good MMA/Ultimate Fighting simulator. Octagon cage, MMA fighters, complete MMA move sets, and more.

Enough cant be said about how great a game this is. It's an absolute jewel, and a MUST for any wrestling fan that owns a PS2.

The price? hell, it's laughable, 20 dollars, all the way down to 8 dollars, depending on where you get it.

There is life in 2D sprites, still.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I remember back when I was a kid, playing EPYX Pro Wrestling, on my Commodore 64, with it's horrible graphics, small list of moves, 3 minute time limits and simplistic game play...and loving every single second of it. I daydreamed about having the ability to hack that game, just for the purpose of being able to change around the character's colors, and add in "additional" wrestlers.

It was my gamer fantasy, to have a "complete", pro wrestling, video game package, which focused on the presentation of the pro wrestling industry, "as it is"...not as some flashy, super quick fighting game, but something which mirrors the actual world of pro wrestling.

I wanted the whole gambit...the high flyer's, brawlers, small guys, giants, technicians, cheaters and I wanted them to have realistic differences in stats, which meant something and had a serious impact. And moves/holds, I wanted hoards and hoards of them. This was my fantasy, pro wrestling game.

You can imagine my amazement, when I happened across (by chance) a web site, of a hard core fan of the Fire Pro series, back when Fire Pro G was the new addition. After reading all the features, I knew that I had the wonderful fortune of having found my fantasy wrestling game...and this game was better than anything I'd anticipated. It was so much deeper.

I have been a solid supporter and fan of the Fire Pro Wrestling series, ever since (though, technically, I did already own HAL wrestling for the gameboy, I just didn't realize their connection at the time)...and I've purchased every installment since. Each has been superb.

The thing which sets this series apart from all other pro wrestling video game series, is that the people who created it are pro wrestling fanatics, and this shines through in the end product. They have the same vision, of being faithful to the true presentation, which you find in the pro wrestling business.

The flow of the matches are wonderful. They run the gambit, just like the "real" industry. The flavor and style of every single match, feels almost endless in it's diversity, as there are so incredibly many variables which come into play. You never truly know how a match will outcome, until it is over...and there are enough moves per wrestler/fighter, to where you can fight substantially different matches, even in a series with the same wrestlers/fighters. The matches just "feel" right. Like you just experienced a "real" match.

Consequentially, some matches are snoozers, while others are freaking awesome (in a wide variety of ways)...and most fall somewhere in between the extremes...but they are very fun and enjoyable, for the most part.

Fire Pro Wrestling R, has been one of the single most addictive games in my library, because it is a world of pro wrestling, on one disk (and a memory card). There is virtually nobody (wrestler/fighter or not), who you can not create with this game. With 500 edit slots, you could spend years creating and editing new characters, and still not fill up the limit. And the editor is amazing in it's (relative) simplicity, yet powerful versatility (I would kill to have a character editor like this, in an RPG Maker game/software).

I have some very cool looking, original characters, who fit in seamlessly with the default roster (something which is hard to say about most edits, in other wrestling games). You just need creativity, imagination and the patience to explore and experiment. I also have several, unique promotions, some with their own rings.

One thing I love about this series, is that while the game consoles were becoming more powerful, and the better known game franchises were boasting about "how many more polygons they could waste processing power on, this year" (as though this were some type of new and amazing "feature"), Fire Pro always remained focused on what has always made it so great, and they only added in new, real features which actually improved the game.

This game is the standard setter, for pro wrestling simulation video games. That is why I love it so much. And, having grown up with really bad graphics in video games, what Fire Pro brings to the table is not painful or unsatisfying, in the least. The graphics are great for this kind of game.

Whether or not "you" should buy this title, depends on "you" and what "you" like in this type of game. This series was very clearly created for those who love pro wrestling simulators (the kinds of people who fantasize about running their own promotions, and want that experience in a video game). Those who lean more towards the break neck speed, "life like" graphics and gimmick matches of other game series may not like this title...

...Then again, maybe it will fill a personal niche for you.

[One last note: They tell you that you "cant" play this as a button masher, but my experience is that you can set the difficulty level low (I keep mine on 3 or 4), and do rather well, mashing your way to a victory.]

Fire Pro, Good game, but know what to expect...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game a week or so ago. It is becoming an addiction!

Graphics are not state of the art. This game has a real old school gaming feel, think something from Sega Genesis or Super Nintendo era. Or better yet an arcade like the Neo Geo machines. The graphics are super well drawn sprites with tons of customizing options. Again, graphics are good but not state of the art, a retro look.

Sound is not so good. During matches is O.K. Some of the sound effects are good, but that dang menu music will have you ready to tear you hair out. The menu music is complete GARBAGE. I have been on a few of the receiving ends of my wifes scoldings about that **** music. THIS WOULD BE A 5 STAR GAME EXCEPT THE TERRIBLE SOUND!

Game play is great fun. It is VERY difficult so far, as far as timing on grapples and such, but I get better with each session. I guess that's something missing from games now, the ability to improve you SKILLS, not just reload the data until you beat the bad guy! This aspect it is great for someone wanting a challenge.

It also features match maker mode, in which you act as a promoter setting up matches and the likes. That is pretty fun, and you have the option of playing as one wrestler in the match or just watching (actually many more options). It is actually fun to watch the computers go at it.

Another thing I have found, you can make almost any wrestler with some imagination. If you lack imagination and want to play your favorite wrestler of yesterday (or today, or tomorrow), there are also many packs available online which you can use on your playstation via a usb cheat device like a codebreaker.

Another option is up to 8 players in any match, with them being any combination of computer players or actual human players via a mulitap. When was the last time you saw an 8 player wrestling game?

All in all, its a great game, especially at such a low price point. Think about it, you could go see a movie at the theater or have an addicting game that you could probably play for years without boredom.

Awesome Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 08, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is the best wrestling game to pick up! If those of you who are disappointed in the WWE Raw vs. Smackdown Series, This is the game to play! You can create up to 500 superstars from the past to the present, as well as creating your own logos, referees, championship belts, and the wrestling rings. You can even save the same match type if you always play the same match type. The match types are amazing- from deathmatches to classic wrestling all the way down to MMA (UFC), which is so cool! You can even sort them based on the organization they belong to (WWE,TNA, ROH, etc.) It already comes pre-loaded with some american wrestlers as well as wrestlers from old and new japan pro wrestling! Great game! I Love It!!!

Not bad...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 9
Date: December 23, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I guess since we have been playing the full 3-D wrestling games such as the WWE series, for me it was hard going back to the 2-D wrestling games of old. The character selection is awesome, with some of the world's best wrestling and fighters that have ever stepped into the squared circle. The match selection is also great, like the barbed wire explosion matches you see in Japan and the wrestling holds are there, but the soundtrack and looks of it is going back to the 8-bit Nintendo days and I don't think I can go back to that. I wished I had my hands on this game 10 years ago, it would probably made a difference, but that's just my opinion.

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