My review of virtual pro wrestling 2.

[Guest Jay]

Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 was released in January of 2000 for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. This game never saw a U.S. release. VPW 2 was developed by Aki, the same team that handled the development of of WCW vs. the World, Virtual Pro Wrestling, Virtual Pro Wrestling 64, WCW vs. NWO: World Tour, WWF Wrestlemania 2000, and WWF No Mercy. VPW 2 features an All Japan Pro Wrestling license, this is the first VPW game to feature licensed wrestlers.

 

On top of the plethora of AJPW stars featured in the game, there are stars of other promotions in the game as well. All non-AJPW wrestlers in the game have undergone name and appearance changes in an effort to prevent legal problems that would have lawyers revving up their briefcases in no time. Unlicensed stars include: Hayabusa, Keiji Mutoh (as well as his alter ego, the Great Muta), Mike Awesome, Masahiro Chono, Anonio Inoki, the Ultimo Dragon, Jushin “Thunder” Liger and the Dragon Kid; just to name a few. When all is said and done, the game’s roster balloons to over 100 wrestlers. On top of the 100+ wrestlers in the game, you can create 16 wrestlers of your very own on the cartridge. If you would like to create more, you can, you’ll just need to have some memory carts handy.

 

Created wrestlers are made in the game’s Edit mode. In this mode, you can change a wrestler’s appearance and names, as well as change their theme music, and the name they’re called by the ring announcer. This mode features the most user-friendly mask creations system ever in gaming. You can make any mask you want in this game. Considering the plethora of masked wrestlers in the game, such as Hayabusa, the Ultimo Dragon, Jushin Liger, and El Samurai, just to name a few, this is a Godsend.

 

VPW 2 uses the most refined form of Aki’s game engine, even surpassing WWF No Mercy’s use of it, a game that was released nine months after this one was. The running grapple, for Aki’s games, was first seen in this game. VPW 2 also features something that no other Aki wrestling game has featured: a fully-functional shoot-fighting mode. The 2D Fire Pro Wrestling games in Japan have featured one for years, but this is the first 3D wrestling game that has had one. Thanks to this mode, VPW 2 enables you to have fully-featured shoot-fights in a wrestling ring, much like Pride FC.

 

This game goes above and beyond the call of duty with this mode. You can customize everything about the fight to your specifications. You can set point totals for knockdowns, takedowns, knockouts, and submissions. VPW 2’s inclusion of shoot-fighting allows for some pretty interesting situations. You can have wrestling matches, shoot-fights, or hybrid-style fights. Hybrid-style fights come about when you apply wrestling rules to a match between two shoot-fighters, or when you give shoot-fighting rules to a match between pro wrestlers, you can also hold a match between a wrestler (or wrestlers, in the case of a tag match) and a shooter (or shooters, in the case of a tag match) and alternate rulesets based on their styles. This diversity in the game allows the player to explore what the game has to offer. The player, if they so desire, can make the most of the game and personalize it to suit their wants. So few games on the market give the player the ability to personalize a game, I’m glad to see that Aki took the time out to give the players control over the game, it’s very refreshing.

 

You can select from a number of stadiums to hold your epic battles, for either wrestling or shoot-fighting.. The arenas are, for the most part, based on real-life arenas, only with a slight name change to prevent legal issues. The Tokyo Dome (complete with entrance ramp for you to toss your opponent off of) and the legendary Nippon Bokudan are just a couple of the arenas featured in the game.

 

There are many different styles of wrestling featured in the game, on top of the excellent shoot-fighting featured in the game. Every wrestling style imaginable is featured in the game, thanks to the versatile game engine. High-flying wrestlers, such as the Dragon Kid and Hayabusa, feature aerial antics that would make most acrobats green with envy. Technical wrestlers, such as Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama are done justice thanks to the game’s superb attention to detail in regards to the psychology in wrestling. If you attack a body part, any body part, it will become weaker as time goes on. If you keep applying pressure to the body part, you’ll wear it out to the point at which an opponent won’t be able to withstand any more damage on said body part. At this time, you go for the kill and slap on a submission move to force your opponent to submit. Everything about the gameplay, from the diversity in wrestling styles, to the excellent use of wrestling psychology, comes together perfectly in this game.

 

The controls in the game are as refined as the gameplay. Despite the complex gameplay, the controls never feel cumbersome. The button layout is logical, and is very user-friendly. The controls are also very responsive, and will never skip a beat.

 

The graphics in the game are fantastic. The wrestlers’ bodies look great. They’re chock-full of little details, such as facial expressions, that really help to add a certain feel to a match. The wrestlers’ ring attire is an excellent example of how well-done the graphics are. The entrance robes are often bathed in color, with fine details that look amazing. The arenas in the game look about as life-like as one could expect. Each arena has a very unique look and feel to it. The Tokyo Dome, for example, features a more elaborate set thanks to the entranceway in it, as such, the matches in this arena tend to feel a bit more important than those held in other arenas.

 

The sound in the game is great, but it’s the weakest aspect of the game. The themes for a majority of the AJPW wrestlers have made it through unscathed, but, for some reason, part of the licensed roster, as well as every single non-licensed wrestler, is stuck with some very generic rock music as their entrance music. After a while, it will drive you nuts. The saving grace os the sound is the ring announcer’s pre-match intro. In this, he says the wrestler’s name, and which corner their fighting out of, in such a dramatic fashion, that it really helps make every match feel important. The in-game music isn’t all that bad, but it does get a bit repetitious after a while.

 

The replay value of VPW 2 is astronomical. The game is chock-full of things to unlock, such as hidden wrestlers, and items, as well as CAW parts. The secrets alone will keep you glued to your screen for weeks on end. The gameplay that takes advantage of the secrets will keep you glued for months. The game’s broad range of well-executed styles of wrestling, as well as the exceptional shoot-fighting engine, is sure to let you find you at least one style you can connect with.

 

All in all, Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 is the finest 3D wrestling game I’ve ever played. The game does so many things right, and it really gives back to the player. It makes you feel like you deserve to play this game, and believe me, you do. Everything about this game, except for the sound, is done flawlessly. Keep in mind, however, the game is an import game, if you don't have a GameShark, or an N64 adapter that will allow you to play the game on your N64, you'll need to buy one. Also, the game makes heavy use of Japanese, I would suggest that you make heavy use of any one of the fine FAQs on the game on GameFAQs in order to navigate your way through the game's seemingly endless series of menus.

[Guest Jay]

As per usual, feedback is appreciated.