wrestling

I don't understand how this game has gotten such negative reviews. Sites such as IGN.com and Gamespy.com must not know what makes a good wrestling game. These critics complain that Showdown is a step back from the previous two Legends games; I just don't see that. This game is better than the previous Legends games in nearly every category. Showdown has improved graphics, a hugh roster of 73 wrestlers, three man commentary including Bobby "the Brain" Heenan, and about a dozen real-life arenas to wrestle in. As for the gameplay, Showdown utilizes a grappeling system not that different from THQs wrestling games. The bottom line is that this game is one the best wrestling games to come out recently and it is definately the best game in the Legends of Wrestling series. For whatever reason the critics don't like this series but they're wrong and any wrestling fan should own this game.

This game is what i've been waiting for since the first legends of wrestling game came out. Put it this way, the first too sucked out loud. But this one, come a lot of waiting from me, has defientely marked an improvement in terms of graphics, gameplay, sound, everything! Just put it this way, there are over 70 wrestlers. Thats crazzzzyyyy!!! Also, there is commentary, (although they repeat themselves waayyy to much), there is an ring anouncer and there is every single different kind of match known to man including first blood, table, ladder, TLC, 2v2, 3v3v3, 4v4, battle royal, cage, everything! The play models are defenitely better then before, and although they still have the arcade touch to them, don't look that stupid. The finishing moves couldn't be more realistic, the new enhanced grappling system is wayyyy better and more efficient then before, and for the people who say that they repeat their moves way to many times, read the rulebook or go through the tutorial. The classic matches are sweet, unlockables are cool, and best of all, the actuall CD is pretty cool, (Ok thats kinda random i know, but it is i mean look at the shattered glass, its tiiiight.)

Pros:

Good graphics
Nice gameplay
Classic matches
Every match type known to man
Commentary
Ring announcers
Unlockables
70+ wrestlers, highlight the +

Cons:

Commentary can repeat itself

Thats about it!

When the first installment came out more than a year ago I was extremely excited and couldn't wait. The game included legendary heroes of the squared circle such as Bret " The Hitman" Hart, Don Muraco, Tito Santana, Rick Steamboat, and last but certainly not least, Hulk Hogan. Being a longtime wrestling fan I was one of the ones who could appreciate a game like this which even though the gameplay wasn't exactly a wrestling fan's dream, it was fun none-the-less. One more thing about the engine that reviewers seem to overlook is the fact that old school wrestling is very basic compared to wrestling nowadays. That means you don't need this game to have a ton of moves for it to be good. People like Ted Dibiase wouldn't perform moves like frankensteiners and high cross bodys. It just isn't realistic that way. When Aclaim brought us the 2nd installment I was kind of dissapointed. The graphics were improved and so were other things like, the list of characters, the entrances along with the music, but the gameplay was much faster than the preceeding and that (atleast in my opinion)made it worse of a game. I don't know what they were thinking, like it would be improved with total non-stop action! The pace in the first game was slower and made it much more realistic. Being a fan of the others , you know I should have been on the edge of my seat for Showdown to hit stores, and I was, visiting my usual video gaming site to check for new screenshots and news. Anybody who is a fan of the other games and doesn't think this one blows them out of the water is rediculous. This game tops them all. Along with newly added long-time greats like Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Ultimate Warrior, Dusty Rhodes, and Sting, the game also is improved in other areas like the engine for instance. The camera views are much more intense then they were before. Other areas of improvement are with newly added commentating,new match-types,more arenas and blood. They even have Gary Michael Capetta doing the ring announcing as well. The game does have some flaws such as bugs, repetitive commentating, and a lack of moves. This makes the game not have long lasting appeal, but it "is" a fun game to play and hope they do add a fourth installment in the series!