Is this the only option for me?

[Full Cup]

I've been looking for a wrestling game that's more "competitive" than simulation. I'm partial to joshi wrestling, but I'm not aware of anything that has represented that format since Rumble Roses XX, which is practically ancient and locked to consoles. But I'm not sure if I'm sold on Fire Pro either.
I saw this has a DLC with an outdated Stardom roster, and it seems like there may be some more recent joshis in the workshop. However, I want to know if this game will be a fun "game" for me or if it's all about the production aspect of wrestling.

If this is not the game for me, is there any viable alternative to the official WWE/AEW games? I just can't say I'm impressed with those products, especially considering they are supposed to be AAA titles.

[Shadow Master]

Fire Pro-Wrestling can be played and simmed, respectively. Just like a traditional Wrestling game, every Wrestler has their own moves and finishers that the player can use. World also contains a number of different match types including 1 on 1, tag team matches, Royal Rumble and even a cage match.

Yes, the roster of Stardom Wrestlers is outdated, as it should be since Fire Pro's last supported DLC was released a few years ago. But, World's Workshop and community of players are actively releasing new Wrestlers, moves and attires on a consistent basis. So, even if your favourite Wrestler isn't in the Fire Pro Workshop, chances are, there's bound to be someone out there who will be kind enough to create the Wrestler for you.

As for story modes, Fire Pro has three of them.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling's story mode. (DLC).
The NJPW Jr. Heavyweight (DLC)
and Champion Road (DLC).

If you're looking for a simpler experience that veers towards lunacy, crazy match types, and features it's own workshop in 3D, check out Wrestling Empire. Joshi's I created in Empire lately:

Aja Kong, Dump Matsumoto, Bull Nakano, Akira Hokuto and Megumi Kudo.

[LordVermin[SoP]]

Can you explain a little bit more what you mean by competitive versus simulation?

Fire Pro can emulate a vast array of wrestling styles and even different kinds of MMA. It can do everything from straight-up kickboxing and MMA all the way to comedy wrestling.

If there's one place it lacks, it's in the bells and whistles. Entrances are pretty limited in what you can do, though I think the mod pack helps with that a little (I don't know, I don't use it). But when it comes to the in-ring action, there's not much out there (if anything) that can hang with Fire Pro once you learn the gameplay system.

[Guacamole Anderson]

I've been playing Fire Pro games since it was on Sega Saturn in the late 90s. This game is ultimately about managing your own expectations.

Playing the game is VERY difficult at first because its control scheme is not like other wrestling games. Then you get the hang of it, and it's fun...but after a while, it gets easy to win matches, even at the highest difficulty level.

So to keep it challenging, it becomes about getting the highest match ratings possible, which means you have to give as much at you take against your opponent so it's an exciting, see-saw match. Which means sometimes you might lose, so you have to be okay with that.

The Workshop, while very deep, is also all user-generated content. Which means you're going to have varying levels of quality. I only use wrestlers I've created because I know all my wrestler's stats will be proportional and mesh well together. (I will note that I sim most of the time on PC, but still play matches from time to time on the PlayStation version.)

If all of this sounds like something interesting to you, then this might be your game. The game and its DLC go on sale often and can be gotten for a fraction of its regular price.

Good luck!

[LordVermin[SoP]]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Guacamole Anderson:

I know all my wrestler's stats will be proportional and mesh well together.

This is incredibly important and something that can be easily overlooked. Regardless of the visual or moveset accuracy of an edit, if their points and/or logic are wildly out of proportion with the rest of the edits they are in there with, the matches will suffer for it.

[Full Cup]

Oprindeligt skrevet af LordVerminSoP:

Can you explain a little bit more what you mean by competitive versus simulation?

What I meant by that is about playing to win, like you would in a fighting game. It sounds like this game might be more from the standpoint of a promotion manager.

[Shadow Master]

I assure you, Fire Pro-Wrestling World can be played like an actual video game. That's how the franchise started 30+ years ago ...as a video game inspired by Arcade Wrestling titles from the 80's.

There is a GM manager mode. It's called Fire Promoter and it doesn't come with the base game.

Since you mentioned Rumble Roses on the PS2, I highly recommend getting a feel for Fire Pro World by playing Fire Pro-Wrestling Returns on PS2. It looks and plays almost the same as World.

[LordVermin[SoP]]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Full Cup:

Oprindeligt skrevet af LordVerminSoP:

Can you explain a little bit more what you mean by competitive versus simulation?

What I meant by that is about playing to win, like you would in a fighting game. It sounds like this game might be more from the standpoint of a promotion manager.

Yeah, you can definitely play it that way if you want. Not gonna lie, I spent a lot of hours doing battle royals versus guys I couldn't stand back in the 90's and just beating the dog out of them, no mercy, no attempt to make it a 'good match', just me playing until all the CPU guys are KO'd.