Magazine Archives: Why the “Fire Pro Wrestling” Series Matters (Patreon)

by Rob Sutter from FightfulMag.com issue 4

***

In 1998, I was introduced to the world of wrestling video games with WCW/nWo Revenge for the Nintendo 64. This opened my mind to a genre that has stayed with me throughout my adult life. However, as I played the various games bearing the World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation licenses, little did my younger self know that another series had been ongoing a decade prior. Exclusive to Japan until 2000, the Fire Pro Wrestlingseries is nothing short of legendary.

Started in 1989 by developer Human Entertainment, the Fire Pro Wrestlingseries was a wrestling gaming saga all its own. I was introduced to it in 2001 with the title simply known as Fire Pro Wrestlingfor Game Boy Advance; coincidentally, this was the first entry that was given a commercial release in North America. Though its gameplay was far different from what other wrestling games presented to me, it wasn’t long until I saw Fire Pro Wrestling’s magic. In other words, this series matters. Consider this piece a love letter to arguably the most ambitious wrestling video game franchise ever.

Intuitive Gameplay

Playing a round of a WWE 2Kgame and shifting to Fire Pro Wrestlingwill be jarring, to say the least. Unlike most wrestling games that fans in the West may be familiar with, the Fire Pro Wrestlingseries is built upon its timing-based gameplay. This series doesn’t value mindless button mashing. Instead, it rewards players that carefully time their button inputs and, just as importantly, ramp up the impact of their moves. Simply put, a player won’t be able to pull off powerbombs, chokeslams, or package piledrivers immediately following the opening bell. This emphasis on timing may be familiar to those that have played RetroMania Wrestling, which was released this past February, as it boasts a similar approach.

While it may take time for the average WWE game fan to become accustomed to Fire Pro Wrestling’s gameplay, once it clicks, there’s nothing quite like it. The gameplay lends itself to more exciting matches, as players must strategize moves to use, when to execute them, and how to follow up. From leaving the ring to ascending to the top turnbuckle, every move has a risk and reward, either providing a player with the advantage or putting them on the back foot. No two matches feel the same, and though Fire Pro Wrestling’s core gameplay hasn’t changed as much over the years as one may think, it’s a formula that requires little tinkering.

Timeless Art Style

Speaking of aspects of the Fire Pro Wrestlingseries that haven’t changed much, its art style is another notable trademark. By and large, the series consists of two-dimensional sprites, not unlike what one would see on the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis. As portable and home console generations passed, technology becoming more refined, the Fire Pro Wrestlingfranchise maintained its visual style for the most part. One can argue that this makes the series appear as though it’s from another time, especially compared to the more realistic graphics of the WWE 2Kseries and the upcoming AEW home console game. However, a counterargument can be made that Fire Pro Wrestling’s pixelated art style gives it an identity all its own.

As alluded to earlier, however, there were instances when Fire Pro Wrestlingexperimented with its presentation. Case and point, the King of Colosseumseries, a Fire Pro Wrestlingoffshoot exclusive to Japan, featured 3D models and environments. In 2012, published by Microsoft Studios, a game titled Fire Pro Wrestlingwas released on Xbox Live Arcade. However, this was a Fire Pro Wrestlinggame in name only, as it carried over few to no aspects from the series and received mostly negative feedback. It, too, boasted 3D graphics, with Xbox Live avatars serving as the game’s wrestlers.

Uniqueness Between Games

Fire Pro Wrestlinggames largely maintain the same mechanics, but there is enough variety between titles to make them stand out from each other. A common complaint toward mainstream sports games is that, due to their annual release cycles, there are often few differences between subsequent entries. When looking through the series’ history, there is enough uniqueness between the games to justify visiting them at least once, such as rosters and campaign modes.

Super Fire Pro Wrestling: Queen’s Special, which was released on the Super Famicom in 1995, bore the All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling license. As a result, the game’s roster is a who’s who of early-to-mid 1990s joshi puroresu stars. These include, but aren’t limited to, Kyoko Inoue, Aja Kong, and Manami Toyota. When discussing campaign modes in the series, 1994’s Super Fire Pro Wrestling Specialis the most controversial. Written by Goichi Suda, better known in the gaming sphere as SUDA51, this story mode featured such themes as romance, betrayal, and tragedy. It’s not a story for the faint of heart, but for those that are curious, it must be experienced to be believed.

Seemingly Infinite Customization

Perhaps more than gameplay, what keeps Fire Pro Wrestlingfans coming back for more is its customization. In the hands of a creative player, the possibilities concerning matches, created wrestlers, designs, and the like are seemingly infinite. These are especially prevalent in the most recent series entry, Fire Pro Wrestling World, which was released in 2017. The sheer options available with match types are impressive, as everything from SWA Rules Matches — think MMA-style bouts decided by KO or decision — to Landmine Deathmatches are available. If a player can think of a match with even the most granular of details, chances are they can bring their concept to life.

Character creation and customization options aren’t uncommon in wrestling games, though the Fire Pro Wrestlingseries truly puts the player in the driver’s seat. The fact that FPWW allows players to customize not only wrestlers but championship belts, ring mats, referees, and more speaks to the user freedom this series is known for. Anyone can make the game entirely their own. Thus, its staying power is boundless. That is, of course, until the next entry in the Fire Pro Wrestlingseries hits store shelves and digital marketplaces.

It’s easy to gush about the history of Fire Pro Wrestling, though the main takeaway is that it’s a series that matters. Instead of following the conventions of mainstream wrestling video games, Fire Pro Wrestlingmolded a unique identity, maintaining the core of what made it special while fine-tuning it in the years that followed. Furthermore, with the existence of English language patches, multiple older titles in the series can be enjoyed to their fullest online. As mentioned earlier, those that are accustomed to WWE’s offerings may find the Fire Pro Wrestlingseries jarring, to begin with. Those that stick with it, though, will find a worthwhile alternative.

Rob Sutteris the current Editor and Department Manager at Last Word on Pro Wrestling and a contributor for Last Word on Gaming. He has extensive knowledge about the wrestling world as a fan for over 20 years.

Twitter: @KHsNotebook