[Multiplatform] Best Pro Wrestling Game Engines (OH NOES, ANOTHER WRESTLING THREAD BY MORTIS!)

Hopefully this thread will do better than my Fire Pro Returns thread.

So, as today is the 13th, and gamers mostly everywhere are able to pick up Smackdown Vs Raw 2008, as well as possibly Fire PRo Wrestling Returns, I began to think about how the two game engines contrasted. Then, I began to think a great deal about some of the best engines, and why. With that in mind, I thought I'd give some thoughts on what the best three game engines are. Keep in mind some of these may not have been seen in the States.

1.) DoR, DoR2, Wrestlemania XIX, Wrestlemania XVIII (AKA Gamecube WWE Pro Wrestling Engine) - So why does this get the top choice? I suppose it's because of the excellent collision detection (well, past 'Mania 18, that had some issues I felt), and realism factors when it came to collisions. What do I mean by this? What i mean is if you superplex a guy off the top rope onto another guy, BOTH get knocked down. Not just the guy who got superplexed. Other fun things is being able to spear/gore a guy near a corner and instead of him/her just falling down flat, being almost 'shoved' into the turnbuckle as it should be.

Furthermore, the controls are relatively easy. HOld A, long grapple. Press A, short grapple. Control pad dictates which move you will use. Simple, but effective. Finishing moves only require pushing A and B together.

THe gameplay is also top notch. There is a lot of 'fluid' movement. Example would be with a created character, spearing them near the turnbuckle, spearing them again (having them walk groggily out of a turnbuckle), foot sweeping them down to the ground, and then immediately locking on some submission hold. I have noticed that each move is responsive, and you can do decent 'combinations' one on top of another.

THe control system also is decent. It seems responsive (as it should be) and can result in some really nice back and forth, counter-for-counter matches (not saying other games can't do that but this one I have noticed it more than others).

All and all, I place this engine as the top choice. Ultimately, I place the DoR 1 engine as the best of all...the stamina addition in DoR 2 was just annoying.

2.) KoCII (King of Collesium II) Engine - What is this? Basically, it's a 3-D version of the Fire Pro Wrestling Engine. WHile the Fire Pro Series might inch out due to having more modes, I feel the engine here is slightly better.

The game itself manages to mix both pro wrestling with MMA action. This leads to some thrilling back and forth matches where you might be in control only for your opponent to place you down in position for an armbar, head lock, etc. MMA-style, with you trying everything you can to counter it. In truth, it is VERY similar to the engine seen in the Ultimate Fight games (at least for Dreamcasat and Gamecube) with regards to MMA.

Aside from that, the wrestling engine is top notch. It requires correct timing, more or less just when your wrestler needs the most momentum to pull off a move. As an example, for a suplex, you must push the button JUST when your wrestler bends down the most to suplex his/her opponent over. This can be challenging at first, but after a while you'll get the hang of it and it will become second nature.

Of course, the engine is far more complex than that. While you might be able to do standing drop-toe-holds, arm drags, etc on a fresh opponent, the chances are slim for hitting other, more powerful moves like powerbombs, or even your finisher. Speaking of finishers, you basically have four powerballs, that can be used either a.) to hit one of your finishing moves (in which you must hit two buttons together in the right position at the right time) or b.) to kick out at the last moment.

Of course, as you get better at the game, you learn how to counter as well. Just about any move can be countered, whether it be a boston crab, or a top rope move.

Overall, this game's engine gets the number two spot. If it had the number of modes that the Smackdown! or Fire Pro games have, it would certainly have the number one spot, not just overseas, but perhaps in the States too.

3.) No Mercy/Wrestlemania 2000 Engine - So yeah, just about everyone remembers this game. Wrestling fan or not, the most important thing people remember is having so much fun with the engine. HEck, even my 'rents, who don't care for pro wrestling video games, really liked this game engine. And it's not hard to find out why.

Perhaps one of the first reasons is this is one of the FEW games where you can do moves ON chairs, stop signs, etc by laying them down. Smackdown series? You can do a grapple with a weapon, and with the latest incarnation you can do some more moves (i.e. chair ito the turnbuckle), but you can't suplex a guy on a chair. Fire Pro series? You can, but it's only for imagine, nothing more. KOC series? As far as I know, nope. ONly this game.

The engine is also relatively simple. Press A and you do a short grapple. HOld A for a long grapple. Directoin pushed determines the move used. B is used for quick and strong strike moves, and there are a couple of strike moves you can use, depending on whether you push a direction key or not.

The engine also allows you to do things like running grapple moves, running strike moves, etc. Basically what you can do in the Smackdown series today.

The collision detection isn't quite the greatest (I have seen in replays clearing missing my opponent with a move, but still knocking them down), but it isn't horrible either. Very rarely will you miss when you should have hit your opponent, which is probably the most important thing.

A two player or even three player match is fun. Hitting each other with moves...countering each other, breaking up pinfalls, etc is all fairly fluid. However, the game REALLY shines with a four player game, whethe rit be a four way match, a royal rumble, or a tag match (ladder or otherwise). There, the action is hectic, but fun. It isn't uncommon to clothesline an opponent down, get brought down with a release german suplex, and then that opponent gets taken down with a running spear. Those type sof matches go well, and of course there are several double team manuveurs.

Another thing that the game does well with is it's submission system. As you work on the leg, it wears down and your opponent becomes prone to submitting to moves on his/her leg. If you though work on the leg, but then place them into a move with their arms, don't expect a submission anytime soon. Fairly realistic. And of course certain grapples and strikes works on the legs/arms/etc. They (by Wrestlemania 2000) even made it that they got rid of the 'three chances and your out' thing that was seen when the engine was used for WCW games.

Overall, this game earns the number three spot. Even today people still play this game, and enjoy it. I am half surprised no one has found a way to make it multiplayer online, although recent rumors have suggest that might just happen-but in the terms of a possible No Mercy remake for NDS with wifi capabilities.

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You might be surprised to see I didn't include the SMackdown engine. That engine isn't horribly bad, but compared to the other three, in my opinion, just doesn't stack up. Granted, the Smackdown series has a slew of move match types, better graphics, a more updated (but for the most part not larger) roster, etc than the games mentioned above (save for perhaps KOC II which is might equal with regards to graphics at least), but the engine, while far more advanced than it was with the original Smackdown game long ago for PSX, pales with regards to the above three.

Comments? THoughts?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

The rom for No Mercy is actually used to make custom feds, or add existing feds. Some people with a lot of skill can actually edit the moves in the game too. (you can see some examples on youtube) IMO the pinncale of the N64 wrestling games was Virtual Pro Wrestling 2. That one just seemed way more fun than No Mercy IMO.

Fire Pro Wrestling is where it's at though. I just picked up my copy of Fire Pro Returns and can't wait to get back on that game. About damn time it made it over here! Heck just watching this match got me super hyped!
YouTube - Fire Pro Returns

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Impressive you were able to get a copy. Fire Pro related boards have members going nuts trying to find it. Apparently they didn't send enough copies out or whatnot.

I tried VP2, but for whatever reason, didn't enjoy the engine quite as much as No Mercy. Granted, it has some MMA mixed into it, but still, I couldn't quite get into it like I did for No Mercy.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

The chinatown in Manhattan always gets the hook ups.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?