(This review is based off my 15 hours into playing where I have done most of what's available to play at launch without buying any DLC)
Wow! A good wrestling game! Not a GREAT wrestling game by any means but there's a ton of fun and interesting things about Fight Forever that I think merit a purchase from wrestling fans. Especially those frustrated by the WWE 2K series and those who remember how tight the AKI era games of No Mercy and Wrestlemania 2000 were.
I won't lie, some of this game is jank like the overworld map in story mode and other little things that clearly had low/no budget. Some of the outside environments look like were pulled from No More Heroes 3 on the Switch. That said, there's clearly visible passion and talent behind Yukes even after years of being tied up contractually making 2K wrestling games that are near worthless -- now that they are free from that, they are letting loose here and seeing what sticks. It's refreshing to see Yukes do new & old stuff even if it doesn't all land.
The roster is missing huge key players that you know will be DLC, some of the minigames are a bust and the story mode (which I should emphasize plays like the HERE COMES THE PAIN era of WWE games) all could be better but the game has made sure it's built upon a solid foundation which can be built upon and you'll see it too if you check it out. It's fun! -- and I can't genuinely remember the last time I had fun with a wrestling game (maybe Smackdown vs Raw 2009??).
If the story mode gets expanded in the future DLC I am 100% back in. For now, AEW Fight Forever will be one of my go-to games if I have company over. The value here is worth the price of admission, but the jury is still out if the DLC will be worth anything.
Wow! A good wrestling game! Not a GREAT wrestling game by any means but there's a ton of fun and interesting things about Fight Forever that I think merit a purchase from wrestling fans. Especially those frustrated by the WWE 2K series and those who remember how tight the AKI era games of No Mercy and Wrestlemania 2000 were.
I won't lie, some of this game is jank like the overworld map in story mode and other little things that clearly had low/no budget. Some of the outside environments look like were pulled from No More Heroes 3 on the Switch. That said, there's clearly visible passion and talent behind Yukes even after years of being tied up contractually making 2K wrestling games that are near worthless -- now that they are free from that, they are letting loose here and seeing what sticks. It's refreshing to see Yukes do new & old stuff even if it doesn't all land.
The roster is missing huge key players that you know will be DLC, some of the minigames are a bust and the story mode (which I should emphasize plays like the HERE COMES THE PAIN era of WWE games) all could be better but the game has made sure it's built upon a solid foundation which can be built upon and you'll see it too if you check it out. It's fun! -- and I can't genuinely remember the last time I had fun with a wrestling game (maybe Smackdown vs Raw 2009??).
If the story mode gets expanded in the future DLC I am 100% back in. For now, AEW Fight Forever will be one of my go-to games if I have company over. The value here is worth the price of admission, but the jury is still out if the DLC will be worth anything.